Forest Hills High School currently receives only 87 cents on the dollar of funding from the city. Meanwhile, 25 schools across New York City are receiving $1.25 per student. I think the time has come for us to take action and receive full funding.

Did You Know:

• 13 elite schools in New York City are receiving extra allocations of up to $1,000 per student, which equates to over $18 million more per year than our school receives above the normal “Fair Student Funding”. Since 2012, these 13 schools have received almost $100 million from this special allocation.

• Specialized schools are part of a larger group of schools that get extra money from “Fair Student Funding” because they offer screened models of education that cost more to operate.

• Specialized schools also have a financial advantage even without the city bonus. They have well-connected parents with ample resources and alumni who donate money annually to their schools. Brooklyn Tech, Bronx Science and Stuyvesant maintain endowments of $13 million, $6 million and $2.4 million, respectively, to help fund extracurricular activities.

• The differential in funding has the biggest impact on schools like ours. Forest Hills High School isn’t considered elite enough to qualify for the bonus, but doesn’t have the failure rates that trigger extra money that Renewal Schools receive. In comparison, Townsend Harris High School receives a specialized academic bonus of almost $600 more per student from the formula than we do, even though it had only four students below grade level and only two students learning English as a New Language this school year, according to the department’s data.

Why should already thriving schools receive extra funding than other schools?

I am asking that you join us in our fight to receive equal funding from the city by signing your name on the petition. It’s time to put a stop to this inequality!

Thank you for your support!

Greg Silver I.S.S. Teacher Forest Hills High School