NYC Schools Reopen After Historic Blizzard, But 37% of Students Stay Home
New York City’s massive public school system is back open after a historic blizzard, but the classrooms are far from full and the debate over safety is only getting louder.
After days of record snowfall that buried neighborhoods under nearly 28 inches of snow in some areas, city officials made the call to resume in-person learning. But when doors opened, only 63 percent of students showed up. In Staten Island, one of the hardest-hit boroughs, attendance reportedly dropped to around 16 percent. That is not just a dip. That is a sign of deep concern among families.
The storm strained nearly every part of the city. More than 12,000 teachers called out sick out of roughly 78,000. Only about 5,000 substitute teachers were available to fill the gaps. At one high school alone, 180 staff members were absent. Many educators live outside the districts where they work and some were dealing with closed schools in their own communities. Others simply could not travel safely.
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Mayor Zohran Mamdani defended the decision to reopen. He argued that the nation’s largest school system was not ready to pivot back to remote learning immediately after midwinter break. Devices were not guaranteed for every student. And beyond academics, schools provide meals, mental health services and childcare for nearly 900,000 children. For many families, that support is essential.
But critics say the city underestimated the risks. Roads in parts of Staten Island were still difficult to navigate. Parents described side streets covered in snow and debris. More than 169,000 people signed a petition urging officials to shift to remote learning for at least another day. Borough leaders warned that forcing families to travel in dangerous conditions was unnecessary.
Meanwhile, sanitation crews worked around the clock. Thousands of reports of fallen trees came in. Emergency vehicles were pulled from snowdrifts. Trash collection was suspended. Shelters operated under enhanced winter protocols to protect vulnerable residents.
This is more than a snow story. It is a test of how major cities balance safety, logistics and essential services in extreme weather. It raises bigger questions about preparedness, remote learning infrastructure and public trust.
The snow will eventually melt. But the conversation about how New York handled this moment is just beginning. Stay with us as we continue to track the cleanup, the political fallout and what this means for families across the region and beyond.
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