Murry Bergtraum High School faces decline in NYC

Murry Bergtraum High School for Business Careers, once an academic standout with 3,000 students, has declined to approximately 90 students, making it New York City’s smallest traditional high school. Despite receiving over $46,000 per student last year—roughly double the citywide average—the school faces significant academic and operational struggles.

An investigation by Chalkbeat reveals the school is in the bottom 1% of city high schools regarding attendance and four-year graduation rates. Challenges include a lack of extracurricular activities and insufficient staffing, such as a single math teacher unable to cover all required courses, forcing some students to attend night school elsewhere.

While high-ranking officials have reportedly acknowledged that the school should be closed or merged, city officials have not taken meaningful action to address the decline over the past two decades. Former Manhattan high school superintendent Vivian Orlen stated she raised the possibility of closing or merging the institution annually during her tenure from 2018 to 2022.