In the wake of the blizzard of 2026, New York City public schools began reopening this week — but attendance plummeted, especially on Staten Island, where snowy roads and unplowed streets kept many students and staff at home.
City officials and school leaders had decided to resume in-person learning Tuesday, less than 24 hours after the storm barreled through the region. However, the move has been met with frustration from families, teachers, and local leaders alike, who say conditions remain challenging despite cleanup efforts.
Storm Aftermath Still Being Felt
The winter storm dumped up to 28–29 inches of snow on some Staten Island neighborhoods, leaving narrow, hilly roads difficult for sanitation trucks to access and causing transportation disruptions across the borough.
Residents shared that sidewalks and residential streets were still covered in snow on Tuesday morning, making travel treacherous for families trying to get to school or work.
Sanitation crews have been working around the clock, with hundreds of additional workers and equipment deployed to clear snow from roads and narrow side streets — but many neighborhoods remain tough to navigate.
Attendance Rates Plunge
Across the city, public schools saw only about 63 % of students return for in-person learning after the blizzard — a sharp drop from typical attendance levels.
On Staten Island, the turnout was far lower, with estimates ranging from 16 % to under 20 % of students making it to class for the school day.
The lower attendance reflects ongoing transportation challenges, with some families and school staff unable to safely travel through snowy conditions. A number of school buses and faculty members were also unable to report for work, compounding the disruption.
Mixed Reactions to Reopening
Mayor Zohran Mamdani defended the decision to reopen schools, noting that city policymakers believed conditions were safe enough to resume classes and emphasizing that schools offer critical services — including meals, mental health support, and childcare — for hundreds of thousands of students.
However, critics — including Staten Island elected officials and union leaders — argued that the decision was premature given uneven snow cleanup and lingering hazards on city streets. Many parents signed an online petition urging the city to delay reopening or shift to remote learning, citing safety concerns.
Moving Forward
City agencies continue to work to clear snow and ice, with sanitation crews striving to make roads fully passable and transit systems restoring regular service. Alternate-side parking rules and trash collection schedules have also been adjusted to support recovery efforts.
As cleanup efforts persist and temperatures fluctuate, officials say they will monitor conditions closely in case additional adjustments to school schedules or services become necessary.
