Is Rocheter School 8 really "dangerous"?

Last school year Taylor walked her seven-year old daughter Janeya to School 8 everyday. “For her safety because she's only seven, so I'd rather for me to take her to school that her walk by herself. And I pick her up from school,” Taylor said.

This year Janeya will be going to the same school but there is a difference. The state just added Roberto Clemente Elementary to its list of "persistently dangerous" schools. The designation comes as a surprise to Taylor. "That's the first time I ever heard of it since she's been going there. None of the teachers or the principal said anything about it. So, actually it is giving me a kind of concern,” Taylor said.

Taylor's not the only one surprised. John Lee lives just across the street from the school. He says although the school may have had its share of problems he's believes most of the violence is coming from outside the school's walls. “I wouldn't say that its' directly related to the school but indirectly because you got so many kids coming back and forth, older kids come pick up younger kids and they're getting into fights with older kids and so it kind of labels the school when I think that's kind of unfair,” Lee said.

Rochester School officials say they plan to implement a series of measures to help reduce violent incidents at the school such as an Alternative to Suspension Program, establishing a Family and Student Support Center, and an on-site case manager from the Urban League. Even with all these measures Taylor says she'll continue to walk Janeya to and from school, list or no list.