Instruction and expectation levels are so low at three high schools that the city should shut them down, according to a review commissioned by the state Education Department.
The visits by independent experts to the troubled Jane Addams HS in The Bronx, August Martin HS in Queens and W.H. Maxwell HS in Brooklyn found students sleeping or listening to MP3 players in class, coming to class late with no consequences, or lacking in basic resources such as textbooks and science labs.
The unusually harsh and detailed reviews, conducted in the fall, came after the schools were flagged by the state early last year as “persistently low-achieving.”
The reports are meant to suggest one of several overhauls for each school tied to federal funding, including staff and principal replacements or closure.
Interventions short of closure were proposed for seven other struggling city high schools — including a change in administration at the HS of Graphic Communications Arts in Manhattan. City officials said they had until late April to determine which overhauls they would undertake.
READ STATE REVIEW REPORTS ON ‘PERSISTENTLY LOW-ACHIEVING’ SCHOOLS
“After visiting 51 classes, the team determined that there was little evidence of learning taking place,” reviewers wrote about Jane Addams HS, which graduated just 48 percent of its students last year.
“Students were observed listening to headphones and communicating on mobile devices — including telephone and text messages — in hallways and in classrooms,” the reviewers added. “Students were observed asleep in many classes.”
The reviews also blasted teachers and principals at several schools for letting the lax environments persist.
At Maxwell HS, which got a reprieve from closure this school year, “lateness appeared to be expected, and was accepted by the staff.”
At Graphic Communications Arts HS, “teachers committed grammatical and spelling errors that provided poor modeling for students.”
And at August Martin HS, “most classes were involved in copying notes, looking up definitions and other low-level thinking activities,” the reviewers wrote — a problem several students said pervades the school.
“I could just go into class and sit there and still pass,” said August Martin HS junior Jonathan Davis, 16.
Kids were more supportive at Jane Addams HS, although they admitted student engagement was a problem.
“The kids text and stuff — it happens a lot. I don’t think teachers are doing enough about it,” said nursing student Ashley Cabrera, 17.
“But I don’t think it should close. The majors that we have here are good, and we’re more into our classes now.”
Jane Addams Principal Sharron Smalls said the poor review has actually helped push the school in the right direction.
“The report shows there’s work to do, but I know our staff is eager to make the changes that are needed,” she told The Post.
August Martin HS Principal Anthony Cromer said, “We’re doing wonderful things in this building. We get enough negative press.”
The principals at Maxwell and Graphic Communications did not respond to e-mails seeking comment.