US News

ELEMENTRY, MIDDLE SCHOOLS SCORE GOOD GRADES

Nearly 94 percent of the city’s elementary and middle schools earned an A, B or C on the second annual school report cards.

Just 50 out of 1040 schools were rated a D — down from 88 schools last year — while the number of F-rated schools dropped by more than half since last year, from 43 to 18.

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The seismic upward shift of grades arose in part from the unprecedented gains in state math and reading scores of kids in third through eighth grades earlier this year.

The grading system — the first of its kind in the country — is one the pillars of reforms of the school system by Mayor Bloomberg and Chancellor Joel Klein, who have pushed for a focus on accountability.

Schools that received D’s or F’s for two years running could be shut or face leadership changes, while many of this year’s 394 A-rated schools could earn extra money.

Principals at the top 25 percent of the rating scale can earn bonuses as high as $25,000, while teachers at 205 low-performing schools are eligible for bonuses of about $3,000 if their school met student performance targets set last year.

Three out of the top five-rated schools this year were charter schools, including KIPP Infinity Charter School in Harlem, which for the second-year running received the highest grade in the city.

None of last year’s F-rated schools repeated that dubious feat this year.

Of the 34 middle and elementary schools given an F last year, 27 — or nearly 80 percent — moved up to an A or B grade.

The overall gains are sure to be highlighted as an argument for retaining mayoral control of the schools, which was granted to Bloomberg in 2002 but which sunsets at the end of the school year.

High school grades are expected to be released in the coming weeks.