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I.S. 061 William A Morris

Grades: 6-8
445 Castleton Avenue
Staten Island NY 10301
Phone: 718-727-8481

Our Insights

What’s Special

Performing arts, Spanish-English dual language

The Downside

Academics have a ways to go

Located on the north shore of Staten Island, IS 61 is a zoned school that admits children from outside the neighborhood to a performing arts program and to a dual language program designed to make children fluent in both Spanish and English.

Students may take band, orchestra, choir, drama, dance, visual arts, photography, filmmaking and journalism. The dual language program is open to children who speak Spanish at home as well as graduates of dual language elementary schools.   

While some IS 61 teachers and students complain about discipline problems, others praise what they call the school’s warm and inclusive culture.

“I used to be shy but through dance I am able to command a room,” a Department of Education evaluation called the Quality Review quoted a child as saying. Another student said: “I came out of my shell because of band.”

Many students enter with weak academic skills and test scores are below average for the city. However, some students score “Level 4,” the highest level on state tests.

Admissions: Zoned school. Students are admitted at random to the performing arts program. (Clara Hemphill, web reports, April 2019)

Read more

School Stats

Citywide Average Key
This school is Better Near Worse than the citywide average

Is this school safe and well-run?

From the 2020-21 NYC School Survey

How many students say they feel safe in the hallways, bathrooms and locker rooms?
64%
78% Citywide Average
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
77%
58% Citywide Average
How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
57%
84% Citywide Average

From the 2019-20 NY State Report Card

How many students were suspended?
2%
4% Citywide Average

From this school's most recent Quality Review Report

Are teachers effective?

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
83%
79% Citywide Average
Years of principal experience at this school
1.2

How do students perform academically?

From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database

How many middle school students scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
24%
46% Citywide Average
How many middle school students scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
40%
51% Citywide Average

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

How many 8th-graders earn high school credit?
27%
39% Citywide Average

Who does this school serve?

From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot

Enrollment
939
Asian
3%
Black
32%
Hispanic
51%
White
11%
Other
4%
Free or reduced priced lunch
82%
Students with disabilities
30%
English language learners
10%

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

Average daily attendance
84%
90% Citywide Average
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
61%
38% Citywide Average

From the 2020 School Directories

Uniforms required?
No
This school offers Dual Language classes in Spanish.

How does this school serve special populations?

From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database

How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
5%
15% Citywide Average


For more information about our data sources, see About Our Data · More DOE statistics for this school

Contact & Location

Location

North Shore (District 31)
Buses: S42, S44, S46, S48, S94, S96, S98, X30

Contact

Principal
Kuzaliwa Campbell
Parent Coordinator
Kim Lucchesi

Other Details

Shared campus?
No
This school is in its own building.
Uniforms required?
No
Metal detectors?
No

Zone for the 2019-2020 school year. Call school to confirm.

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