City’s Schools Dangerous, Sober

Twenty-seven elementary, middle and high schools in New York State have been [identified as “persistently dangerous”]—up from 18 last year—and 25 of those 27 are located right here in NYC, according to a list released earlier today by the New York State Education Commissioner. “Persistently dangerous” schools are schools that report [at least 60 serious incidents](http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=1&aid=72824) at least two years in a row. Serious incidents include crimes such as homicide, robbery and sexual assault.

This year’s list, which is required by the No Child Left Behind Act, added sixteen city schools to the nine that were already included. “It’s critically important that school leaders intervene quickly to keep children safe,” State Education Commissioner Richard Mills said during the announcement. Schools that make the list receive $100,000 to help improve conditions. You can click [here] for the full list and more details.

And while many of the city’s public schools may be dangerous, college students seem to be playing it safer. According to the new [Princeton Review Annual College Rankings], Queens College is [the 9th most “stone cold sober” school in the country](http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=1&aid=72834), down one spot from last year. SUNY Albany was the only school in the state that made the party list, coming in at number 20 on the list of top-party schools. West Virginia University, meanwhile, was declared the number one party school in the nation and also ranked in the top ten for beer and hard liquor. It came in at a respectable 11th for marijuana use.

Photo courtesy of [greenmelinda on Flickr]