High number of expulsions at Western New York Maritime Charter School draw questions
High attrition rate draws criticism in some quarters
The charter school located in a former warehouse on Genesee Street isn’t like other Buffalo charter schools.
That’s obvious from the uniform inspections students face as they walk through the door, and the framed photos that line the entryway, outlining the chain of command.
It’s obvious by the students who walk the halls, proudly wearing crisp, $500 uniforms with name tags, ribbons, bars and stars, courtesy of the U.S. Navy.
It’s also obvious by the students who aren’t there – the dozens every year who withdraw or get expelled at a rate two to five times higher than most other local charter schools.
“We don’t try to cover up anything,” said Lt. Col. Lawrence Astyk, the school’s commandant. “This is who we are.”
Western New York Maritime Charter School is either one of the most successful charters in Buffalo or one of the most controversial, depending on who you ask and how you view their data.
Many who attend the military-themed school clearly love it, having found a safe haven, clear expectations, academic support and a caring community of teachers and friends. The high school, founded in 2004, boasts a graduation rate of 85 percent – far above that of the Buffalo Public Schools and better than the state average.
But Maritime also has the highest attrition rate by far of any of Buffalo’s 15 charters. Roughly one out of every four students enrolled in Maritime last year were either expelled, suspended or withdrew, according to data tracked by the Buffalo district. Maritime administrators also acknowledge that the current senior class is only half the size of its freshman class.
That makes Maritime most susceptible to the criticism often lobbed by traditional public school advocates against charter schools: these independent schools excel because they have the freedom to throw out troublemakers and underachievers or persuade them to leave.
“Kids with discipline issues either are not accepted or are immediately told to leave,” said Larry Scott, a school psychologist in the Kenmore-Tonawanda school district and co-chairman of the Buffalo Parent-Teacher Organization. “Here you’re taking money from a traditional school district and sending those kids back to a traditional public school or not accepting them at all.”
Not all charter schools have high attrition rates. In fact, some of the highest performing Buffalo charters have attrition rates of 5 percent or less.
But Maritime is different; its leaders don’t pretend otherwise. Astyk said that if a charter school can’t have admissions criteria like City Honors School or Buffalo Academy of Visual and Performing Arts, then a military school like Maritime can at least have precise standards and consequences for students already enrolled.
That’s what makes it Maritime.
“They have to meet our standards of conduct,” Astyk said, referring to the school’s detailed rules that emphasize moral integrity and leadership, as well as academic effort and physical fitness. “You can be on the honor roll, but if you’re not meeting the other standards, you’re going to be out of here.”
It works for many
There’s no denying that for some students, Maritime is a blessing. Students who have struggled in other public and charter school settings have found a path to success within the walls of a school adorned with old flags, naval posters and other nautical displays.
Maritime was established 10 years ago for high school students who could benefit from the discipline, structure and support offered by a school affiliated with the Navy Junior ROTC program. Maritime’s student cadets are all JROTC participants; more than three-quarters come from the city.
In the early days, many kids were enrolled at Maritime against their will by fed-up parents who saw the school as a place where their kids would be forced to shape up. Astyk said that’s not the case any longer.
Senior Nadia Perri is a good example. The 18-year-old was flunking at Niagara Falls High High number of expulsions at Western New York Maritime Charter School draw questions - City & Region - The Buffalo News: