Rochester Schools Consolidate Classes Amid Teacher Exodus
The Rochester City School District is merging some classes as dozens of teachers have resigned since July.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Administration
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The Rochester City School District is consolidating classes in some schools, including fifth-grade classes at the elementary level. The Rochester teachers union cites 83 teachers who have resigned from the district since July 1.
Why it matters
The district has hundreds of teaching vacancies it cannot fill with new teachers, and the union links the consolidations to a teacher departure rate worse than in prior years. Residents of Rochester face the prospect of larger class sizes and staffing shortfalls in city schools.
The Rochester teachers union reports 83 resignations since July 1, a figure that counts only departures the union cited and does not capture total district staffing. The district has not disclosed how many classes have been consolidated or how many vacancies it is currently staffing with substitutes.
The players
Rochester City School District
The public school district serving the city of Rochester, New York, which is consolidating classes and staffing vacancies with substitutes.
Rochester teachers union
The union representing Rochester city teachers, which cites the 83 resignations and is in contract negotiations with the district.
The details
The district is staffing vacancies with substitutes and teachers who have not completed certification while the teachers union and the district remain in contract negotiations. Consolidating fifth-grade classes at the elementary level is one way the district is responding to the shortage.
Timeline
July 1, 2026: The count of 83 teacher resignations begins.
Last four years: Mid-year teacher resignations have increased.
Big Picture
The 83 resignations since July 1 extend a four-year rise in mid-year teacher departures in the Rochester City School District. Teachers seeking smaller classes may look to suburban districts if class sizes grow.
Families with children in Rochester city schools may see larger classes and rotating substitutes as consolidations proceed. Parents should watch for district notices on class assignments.
The takeaway
Staffing shortages in urban districts can reshape classroom conditions quickly, and parents of Rochester students should track class assignments and certification status of instructors.
Further reading
For more on how schools are run, see Administration coverage of Rochester.
Source note: This article includes information reported by RochesterFirst.
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