Justin Murphy

@citizenmurphy

East High School must close or be replaced by another school or a charter after failing to make sufficient academic progress for three years, according to a March 14 letter from the state education department.

The high school, Rochester's largest, has been labeled for three years as a "priority school," meaning it has failed to meet certain academic benchmarks. According to state data from 2011-12, its four-year graduation rate was 43 percent.

The letter to Rochester Superintendent Bolgen Vargas demands the district begin to take action toward one of five options for East, one of Rochester's oldest schools, before the 2014-15 school year begins: close it and relocate students; phase it out and replace it with a new school in the same building; contract with an outside organization to run it; convert it to a charter school; or turn it over to the State University of New York. A plan is due by April 30.

Career and technical education services also must be relocated, either to BOCES or to another school.

In a letter mailed to East families T uesday , Vargas wrote: "This is difficult news to share ... It is my hope that through this process, we can keep all that is great about East High today and create a better school for the future."

The district has not decided on a course of action yet, Vargas wrote. A town hall meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. March 26 in the school auditorium.

JMURPHY7@DemocratandChronicle.com