Year-over-year moversFull briefing
Five years later, where did the Renewal Schools land?
The longer form of the briefing for this story: the original thesis, the supporting findings the data team flagged, and the reporting directions a journalist could follow. For the short version and the data analysis, see the main story page.
Thesis
The de Blasio Renewal Schools program (2014-2019) targeted ~94 chronically-low-performing NYC schools with intensive funding and support. The program was officially declared a failure in 2019. Now in 2025 — with attendance, test scores, and graduation data through 2024-25 — what do the long-term trajectories actually show?
Supporting findings
- 94 schools were in the Renewal program (full list available from NYC DOE 2018 reports).
- Some closed mid-program; many were 'reset' as Community Schools.
- Track the schools still open in 2024-25 — what are their outcomes vs comparable non-Renewal schools?
- Was the program a failure overall, or did it move some subset of schools and not others?
- Renewal schools cost ~$400M over 5 years. Per-pupil dose effect?
- Compare with the 2019 Mayor's report card on Renewal — does our 2025 data validate or refute?
- Pre-Renewal baseline (2013-14) vs post-Renewal latest (2024-25) — long-window comparison.
- Use our peer-group methodology to test whether Renewal schools out-improved their peer groups.
- Compare with similar district turnaround programs (Memphis ASD, Tennessee, LA).
- Frame: 'Renewal didn't deliver what it promised. Here's what it did deliver, and at what cost per kid.'
Reporting directions
- Pull the official Renewal school roster from NYC DOE 2018 report.
- Join to our metric data and produce a peer-adjusted comparison.
- Interview Aaron Pallas (Teachers College) — long-time Renewal critic.
- Interview former NYC DOE Office of School Improvement leaders.