Transmission electron micrograph of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles, isolated from a patient. Image captured and color-enhanced at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. Credit: NIAID
As schools re-open, the Gothamist/WNYC newsroom is using statistics to shape our education coverage. Here we're presenting data graphics we've made based on information received from the New York City Department of Education.
We will add new graphics here as we create them, and note when they were last updated.
COVID Cases in Schools
This map is based on emails the Department of Education has sent out, containing the names of schools which have seen at least one case of COVID, as well as notes on whether the school has reopened.
Notes: If the percentage of positive tests for New York City hits 3%, using a 7-day average, all schools will close. The rules for handling cases at individual schools are complex, and range from closing a classroom for 14 days and quarantining close-contacts if a single case is discovered, to closing the entire school if two cases are discovered in different classrooms.
Starting on September 18th, the DOE switched from reporting individual schools to reporting buildings, because a case in a building affects all the schools inside (there are 1,300 buildings, which contain about 1,600 public schools and over 200 charter schools). The city has set up a "Situation Room" to verify COVID cases at schools.
Teachers returned to schools on September 8th to prepare for the pandemic school year. Monday, September 21st, 90,000 students in 3-K, pre-K, and District 75 schools are returning for in-person learning. K-5 and K-8 students will be in schools starting on September 29th; October 1st is the first day students in middle and high schools, as well as transfer schools/adult education schools, will attend in-person classes.
You can look up individual schools on the New York State School Dashboard, but the information there does not appear to be complete.
We have had to individually verify location information based on school and building codes provided by the DOE, but in at least one instance, the code provided was incorrect, and, in a few other cases, the city's information about school location appears to be outdated— please let us know if you spot any other inconsistencies- you can examine the data in the table below (We'll update as the city provides additional information.)
Remote Learning
In some New York City school districts, over 50% of the students are doing remote-only learning. The map below summarizes the percentages by school district.
Notes: As of September 18th, about 460,000 students are signed up for remote-only learning; there are about 1 million public school students. You can see how widespread remote learning has become since August in this animation.
