New York parents in Queens are speaking out against the city’s Department of Education, claiming it has failed their children due to mismanagement and neglect.

In a report in The New York Post, families from District 29 — which includes the predominantly-Black neighborhoods of Hollis, Rosedale and Cambria Heights. The schools have long had low math and English proficiency rates, despite high per-student spending. A community activist Michael Duncan who’s apart of a group that formed the new Student Improvement Association told the newspaper he decided to put his children in private schools.

“There are a lot of black middle-class homeowners here,” said Duncan. “These are successful people, successful families. The results in our schools are not reflective of the community. Something is wrong here.”

The organization has been collecting and analyzing data from the district to promote awareness of student scores with local parents.

The Post report that PS 34, an elementary in Hollis, spends approx. $27,000 per student. A mere 6% of its fifth-graders passed their 2019 math proficiency test, and only 17% passed the proficiency in English. At two other elementary schools in the district, less than a quarter of fifth-graders passed the proficiency exams.

Overall 37% of Black students in the district in grades three through eight are proficient in English, and only 28% are proficient in math.

Duncan claims the Department of Education has insisted the low scores are the result of schools being “under-resourced.” He asserts that private schools charge less than the annual funding per student of the public schools, however, perform at a far higher rate.

The Department of Education told The Post that they are engaging with parents in the district. DOE spokesperson Sarah Casasnovas told The Post, “All students deserve a rigorous education that sets them up for success in school and life, and we have met with parent leaders in District 29 to hear their feedback and discuss their priorities.”