Poorly rated teachers are concentrated in public schools in poorer neighborhoods in the Bronx and Brooklyn, a Daily News analysis of state Education Department data released Thursday shows.
Of the top 10 school districts with the worst-rated teachers, seven are in those neighborhoods.
District 16, which includes a large section of Bedford-Stuyvesant, took the dubious honor of top ranking, followed by District 17 in Crown Heights, District 5 in Central Harlem, District 23 in Brownsville, District 19 in East New York and Districts 7 and 8 — both in the Bronx.
Advocates said the situation isn’t fair.
“There is an unequal distribution of quality teachers in this city, and our low-income students are getting our lowest-performing teachers,” said Jenny Sedlis, executive director of StudentsFirstNY, a pro-charter group.
But city Education Department officials said the agency is working to improve instruction across the boroughs.
“We have made significant investments in teacher training and are making sure principals know how to accurately rate and rigorously develop teachers to improve student learning,” said Education Department spokeswoman Devora Kaye. “Every student must have a strong teacher at the front of the classroom, regardless of the zip code they live in.”
Districts with the lowest number of poorly rated teachers include more affluent District 20 in Bay Ridge, District 26 in Bayside and District 31 on Staten Island.
