NYC Plans to Close Manhattan Middle Schools Face Pushback

Parents say the process feels rushed as the fight becomes an early test for Mayor Mamdani's pledge to give communities more say.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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New York City is weighing plans to close three small middle school programs and relocate another coveted school in Manhattan's District 3, which includes the Upper West Side, Morningside Heights, and parts of Harlem. The proposals, set in motion before the new chancellor Kamar Samuels took over, are generating pushback from families who hope to persuade officials to reconsider. The fight represents an early test of Mayor Zohran Mamdani's campaign promise to give communities a greater voice in decisions affecting their schools.

Why it matters

The District 3 plans reflect broader issues facing the New York City public school system, including declining enrollment and the need to comply with state class size mandates. However, families view the proposed changes as grave threats to beloved community institutions, including schools known for welcoming students with disabilities and emphasizing social-emotional learning. How the Education Department responds will shape perceptions of the new administration's approach to community engagement.

The details

The plans call for closing the Community Action School and the middle school grades of the Manhattan School for Children at the Joan of Arc campus, as well as relocating the popular Center School to a building occupied by P.S./I.S. 191, which would then lose its middle school grades. District officials argue the moves would help address issues like the growing number of small campuses that are difficult to sustain. But families are concerned about losing programs that cater to vulnerable student populations and provide strong social-emotional support.

  • The plans have been discussed with parent leaders but not yet released publicly.
  • The Education Department's proposals would likely come up for a vote by the Panel for Educational Policy in April.

The players

Kamar Samuels

The new chancellor of the New York City public school system, who set in motion the plans to close and relocate middle schools in District 3 before being elevated to lead the system.

Zohran Mamdani

The mayor of New York City, who campaigned on a promise to give communities more say in decisions affecting their schools, but is now pushing to extend mayoral control of the school system.

Reginald Higgins

The acting superintendent in District 3, who acknowledged that families felt the process was opaque and frustrating, and vowed to hear school communities out.

Greg Faulkner

The chair of the Panel for Educational Policy, the board that makes the final decision on school closures and relocations, who said the board will carefully weigh the Education Department's proposals.

Olivia Greer

A parent who has children at two schools that would be significantly altered by the proposals, and who worries about what will be lost if the current plans go through.

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What they’re saying

“We're not taking this sitting down.”

— Tiffany Rodriguez-Noel, Parent at P.S./I.S. 191 (Chalkbeat)

“All of the teachers are highly engaged. My child went from having no self-esteem academically to making honor roll twice.”

— Nicki Holtzman, Parent of a sixth grader at the Community Action School (Chalkbeat)

“It's not that there has been no listening and incorporation of feedback. But my sense is that there has been a plan in place from the beginning and a view about what the preferred outcome is.”

— Olivia Greer, Parent (Chalkbeat)

What’s next

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The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.