Proposed Middle School Merger Rankles UWS: Report

UPPER WEST SIDE — The city is moving forward on plans to unite two local middle schools despite strong pushback from parents and teachers on the Upper West Side, according to a new report.

The city seeks to merge the two small schools — West Side Collaborative on West End Avenue and 95th Street and Lafayette Academy at West 93rd and Amsterdam Avenue — as part of its efforts to battle budget and enrollment woes, Chalkbeat reports.

“The district superintendent and his team have worked to engage the community in regards to this merger for months," an Education department spokesperson told Chalkbeat. "It is designed to give students the best access to new programs and additional supports."

But parents Lafayette Academy — known for its French dual language program — worry the campus will lose its small school feel, the education news outlet reported.

And the progressive West Side Collaborative, which has seen enrollment drop recently to 75 students, fears unique programs such as its coaching initiative will be swallowed up by the larger school, Chalkbeat reports.

“The idea that you can pick up those practices and transplant them into another school...is just not viable," teacher Paul Kehoe told Chartbeat. "In effect, this would be a closure."

Read more about the proposed merger here.