FACT SHEET:

Global Enterprise High School (11X541)

December 2010

Fact Sheet: Proposed Phase-out and Replacement Scenario for

Global Enterprise High School
Overview
 Based on an extensive review of data and community feedback, the New York City Department of Education (DOE) has
determined that Global Enterprise High School (Global Enterprise) is unable to turn around and cannot provide a high-quality
education to its students. The DOE is proposing that Global Enterprise be phased out.
 Proposing to phase out a school is the most difficult decision we make. We are proposing this action because we think it’s
the right thing for current and future students in this community.
 The phase-out process would be gradual and happen over the next several years. Global Enterprise would complete phasing out
in June 2014.
 The replacement process would also be gradual. A new high school would be proposed to open in the building where Global
Enterprise is located and would begin enrolling ninth grade students. The new school would gradually grow as Global
Enterprise’s enrollment decreases.
 We hope you share our view that we can—and must—do better for students. The DOE will continue to work closely with
Global Enterprise staff and families to ensure that all students receive the support they need to succeed in school.

Summary
 Last year, the four-year graduation
1
rate (including August graduates) at Global Enterprise was 55%, well below the
citywide average of 63%.
 Last year, Global Enterprise earned an overall C grade on its Progress Report, with a D grade on Student Performance, a C
grade on Student Progress, and a B grade on School Environment. The Progress Report results for Global Enterprise put the
school in the bottom 19% of all high schools that received a 2009-2010 Progress Report.
 Global Enterprise was rated “Underdeveloped with Proficient Features” on its most recent Quality Review in 2008-2009,
suggesting serious deficiencies in the way that the school is organized to support student learning.
 Last winter, the Panel for Education Policy (PEP) voted to phase out Global Enterprise based on evidence that the school was
unable to improve student performance significantly. A lawsuit prevented the DOE from following through with those plans.
The performance of Global Enterprise over the last year reaffirms that Global Enterprise continues to struggle.
 Global Enterprise staff and families have worked hard to improve the school. The DOE also offered considerable support to
Global Enterprise, including extensive training for school leadership and teachers, helping Global Enterprise build strong
partnerships with community groups, and working with the school to help students who have fallen behind get back on track to
graduate. Unfortunately, these efforts have not turned the school around.
 During conversations with the Global Enterprise community, we heard concerns about inconsistent communications
between the school and families and a lack of parent involvement. Parents did have positive feedback about school’s
leadership and teachers. Teachers said the school has strong programs for English language learners. However, we do
not believe these positive attributes are enough to move the school in the right direction.

What would the proposal mean for current students?

If this proposal is approved, Global Enterprise would be phased out gradually over the next several years. Below are enrollment
plans for current Global Enterprise students, if the school is phased out.

 Current first-time ninth grade students would have the option of completing high school at Global Enterprise or may
participate in the High School Admissions Process and apply to attend a different school as a 10 th grader in September 2011.

1
The graduation rate cited here represents the City’s calculation of the four-year graduation rate on the school’s 2009-2010 Progress Reports. It is
similar to the State method, and typically there is only modest deviation between our calculation and the State rate. Citywide four-year graduation
rates for the Class of 2010 are still being audited by the New York State Education Department and will not likely be available until Spring 2011.
The most recent available four-year graduation rate (including August graduates) for New York City was 63% for the Class of 2009 and the
citywide Regents graduation rate for the same year was 46%.
NYC DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION • 52 CHAMBERS STREET • NEW YORK, NY 10007 •
WWW.NYC.GOV/SCHOOLS
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 Current repeat ninth grade students will complete high school at Global Enterprise if they earn credits on schedule. As the
school would become smaller, students would receive more individualized attention through graduation to ensure they are
receiving the support they need to succeed. Students are also encouraged to meet with their guidance counselor to review their
progress toward graduation and discuss their options, which may include applying to a transfer school.
 Current 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students who are on track to graduate will complete high school at Global Enterprise if
they continue to earn credits on schedule. As the school would become smaller, students would receive more individualized
attention through graduation to ensure they are receiving the support they need to succeed. Students are also encouraged to meet
with their guidance counselor to discuss all of their options.
 Current 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students who are not on track to graduate should meet with their guidance counselor to
discuss options. Students could complete high school at Global Enterprise or consider applying to a transfer high school.

If Global Enterprise is phased out, the school would no longer admit new ninth grade students after the end of this school year.
Global Enterprise would continue to serve students currently enrolled in the school until the school completes phasing out in June
2014.

Background
Global Enterprise Has Struggled for Years
 Last year, Global Enterprise’s four-year graduation rate (including August graduates) was 55%, well below the citywide
average of 63%. Global Enterprise’s graduation rate ranks in the bottom 15% of high schools citywide and in the bottom 24% of
high schools in the Bronx. In 2008-2009, the four-year graduation rate at Global Enterprise was 51%, placing the school in the
bottom 13% of high schools citywide and in the bottom 14% of high schools in the Bronx.
 If Regents diplomas alone counted toward graduation—as will be the case next year—the 2009-2010 four-year
graduation rate at Global Enterprise would drop to 24%, well below the citywide average of 46%.
 Global Enterprise earned an overall C grade on its Progress Report last year, with a D grade on Student Performance, a C grade
on Student Progress, and a B grade on School Environment. Global Enterprise’s Progress Report score ranks in the bottom 19%
of high schools citywide receiving a 2009-2010 Progress Report. Global Enterprise earned an overall C grade on its 2008-2009
Progress Report, with a B grade on Student Performance, a C grade on Student Progress, and a B grade on School Environment.
 Last year, only 69% of first-year students at Global Enterprise earned at least 10 credits. Global Enterprise ranks in the bottom
22% of high schools citywide and in the bottom 31% of high schools in the Bronx in credit accumulation for first-years
students. That same year, an even smaller percentage of students in their second and third years accumulated at least 10 credits.
Earning at least 10 credits is a key predictor of future student success because students who fall behind often have trouble
getting back on track to graduate.
 The school’s attendance rate continues to be low. Last year, the attendance rate was 81%, below the citywide average of
86% for high schools. In fact, this attendance rate is among the very lowest for any high school in New York City,
placing Global Enterprise in the bottom 18% of schools in regard to attendance rate. In 2008-2009, the attendance rate
was 81%, placing the school in the bottom 20% citywide.
 Global Enterprise was rated “Underdeveloped with Proficient Features” on its two most recent Quality Reviews in 2007-2008
and 2008-2009. During Quality Reviews, experienced educators spend several days visiting a school, observing classrooms, and
talking to staff, students, and parents. Schools are rated on a four-point scale, with “Well Developed” as the highest rating.
“Underdeveloped with Proficient Features” is equivalent to a score of two out of four.
 Safety issues have been a concern at Global Enterprise in recent years. On the 2009-2010 NYC School Survey, 24% of
students reported feeling unsafe in the hallways, bathrooms, and locker rooms. That same year, 8% of parents expressed
concerns about their children’s safety. In addition, 8% of teachers reported that discipline and order were not maintained at the
school.

Demand for the School is Low, Suggesting that Families Are Seeking Better Options2

2
Audited enrollment data are not yet available for the current school year. Enrollment data are from the 2009-2010 school year, audited as of
October 31, 2009. Demand data reflect high school admissions applications submitted in early December 2009 for students beginning high
school in September 2010. This data captures the demand for Global Enterprise prior to the DOE’s proposed phase-out of Global Enterprise. As a
result, these enrollment and demand figures do not reflect the impact of that proposed phase-out announcement.
NYC DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 3

 Demand for Global Enterprise has fallen in recent years. Global Enterprise has one limited unscreened program to which
students may apply through the High School Admissions Process. For September 2009, Global Enterprise received 7.3
applications per seat. This number dropped to 5.3 applications per seat for September 2010 enrolllment for the same number of
seats.

Despite Our Best Efforts, Performance at Global Enterprise Remains Low

We recognize that Global Enterprise staff members have worked hard to improve the school, but the school has not turned around.
Over the previous years, the DOE has offered numerous supports to Global Enterprise including:

Leadership Support:
 Supporting the principal in developing the school’s Comprehensive Education Plan and in setting school goals.
 Extensive leadership training for the principal.
 Connecting administrators with other schools to learn effective practices that could be replicated at Global Enterprise.
Instructional Support:
 Introducing the Instructional Rounds model to help teachers collaborate and learn from each other.
 Working with teacher teams to use formative assessments and data to improve instruction for English language learners, special
education students, and students performing below grade level.

Operational Support:
 Providing workshops and support for grant writing and developing partnerships with community-based organizations including
NYCares.
 Coaching on budgeting, human resources, recruiting and retaining talented teachers, and compliance issues.
Student Support:
 Providing training for guidance counselors on how to use scholarship reports and graduation tracking systems.
 Supporting the school’s efforts to let students know about their options after high school; these efforts have included the College
Now program and tours of college campuses for students.
 Developing partnerships with SoBRO (South Bronx Overall Economic Development Services) and Prep for Success to tutor at-
risk students and help support their families.
 Developing strategies, including mediation and crisis management, to improve student attendance and reduce suspensions.
We Know That We Can Do Better
Like most New York City public schools, Global Enterprise serves a high-need population: 19% of students require special
education services and 17% are English language learners. But other schools serving similar students have achieved better results.

 At Discovery High School, a Bronx school, 20% of students require special education services and 19% of students are English
language learners. That school achieved a 69% four-year graduation rate in 2009-2010, with 62% of students earning Regents
diplomas.
 At the Metropolitan High School, a Bronx school, 21% of students require special education services and 21% of students are
English language learners. That school achieved a 71% four-year graduation rate in 2009-2010, with 38% of students earning
Regents diplomas.
 While all students are still not where we’d like them to be, these schools are getting better results while serving a similar mix of
students to Global Enterprise.

Community Feedback
On November 15, 2010, High School Superintendent Geraldine Taylor-Brown held meetings with the School Leadership Team
and parents at the school to discuss what is working at Global Enterprise, what isn’t working, and how to work together to serve
students better. Approximately 25 parents attended. While they had positive comments about the school’s leadership and teachers,
they also expressed concerns about a few issues. Parents said:
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 Communication is inconsistent. While the school does a good job communicating with families about some things, it fails to
keep parents informed about others.
 Parental involvement is low and must be improved.

Teachers had concerns about the school’s low attendance rate and how it affects the school’s performance. They did have positive
things to say about the school’s programs for English language learners and partnerships with outside organizations. However, we
do not believe these positive components are enough to turn Global Enterprise around.

Supporting Current and Future Students

We Remain Focused on Helping Global Enterprise Students to Succeed
During the proposed phase out, the DOE will build on our past efforts to help the school by:
 Providing teacher training around issues including curriculum planning, improving teaching practices, and tailoring instruction
to individual student needs.
 Fostering opportunities for teachers and administrators to connect with colleagues in other more successful schools, allowing
them to learn from one another, improve teaching, and better support students.
 Facilitating partnerships with community-based organizations to support youth development initiatives at the school.
Plans for New Schools for the Global Enterprise Community
As we work together to create better options for the Global Enterprise community, we will keep in mind what had worked at
Global Enterprise and do our best to incorporate those positive elements into replacement plans. For example:
 We will work with the community to retain partnerships with community based organizations that are offering valuable services
to the school community.
 We will consider what elements of the school structure are working and do our best to include those features in a replacement
school, if Global Enterprise is phased out.

What You Can Expect

Within the next two weeks, you will receive a letter notifying you that the formal proposal to phase out Global Enterprise has been
published and that a joint public hearing to be held at the school has been scheduled. Replacement plans will be published in a
separate proposal. The joint public hearing will be held in January 2011 by the DOE, District 11 Community Education Council
and Global Enterprise’s School Leadership Team, among others. The Citywide Council for High Schools will be invited to
participate in the joint public hearing. During this hearing, community members, including parents and students, will be able to
share their thoughts on the phase-out proposal.

The proposal to phase out Global Enterprise will be voted on by the Panel for Educational Policy (PEP), which is composed of
members appointed by Mayor Bloomberg and the five Borough Presidents, during a public meeting scheduled for the first week of
February 2011. During this meeting, the public will have another opportunity to comment on the proposal. If the PEP approves the
proposal, Global Enterprise will not accept new ninth grade students next school year.

Sharing Your Concerns and Questions

The DOE is seeking your feedback on the proposal. We will record your comments and include them in our analysis of public
feedback, which is presented to the PEP prior to their vote on the proposal. Please submit any comments you have at:

Phone: 212-374-3466
E-mail: HS.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov

We also encourage you to visit the Web site created to serve Global Enterprise at
http://schools.nyc.gov/community/planning/changes/bronx/globalenterprise . We will update that Web site regularly with important
dates, answers to frequently asked questions, and new information as it becomes available.