Dear editor,

Your article (BroadsheetDAILY March 28, 2018) highlights the two middle schools in the area that are part of a K-8 school where kids have the option to matriculate up versus leaving.

 A more fair comparison would have been to highlight IS289 or LMC which are also in the area and as stand alone middle schools are more representative.

Both of those middle schools are over 100% of capacity and therefore overcrowded; They have 44-57% students who qualify for free lunch but the attendance rates are good and their schools perform better than city averages on state tests.

Both Spruce and 276 are zoned elementary schools and since students have the option to choose to stay the rate for attracting applicants is different due to limited availability.

In addition, neither school can “select” who remains.  Comparing K -8 schools with stand alone middle schools is as skewed as comparing apples with oranges.