Rates of lead-paint inspections for all elementary school classrooms

According to city law, New York City Public Schools is required to inspect classrooms serving students ages 6 and younger three times a year. But a Gothamist analysis finds that a smaller share of classrooms serving students with disabilities are inspected.

The education department does not distinguish between grade levels for special education classrooms the same way it does for other students. Children in special education are often in classes with a mix of age groups that match their developmental level, not the year they were born.
This bar chart shows lead-paint inspection rates for general-education and special-education classrooms in 2025.
categoryinspection_rate
General Education20%
Special Education10%
Chart by Joe Hong
Source: NYC DOE and NYC School Construction Authority
Last updated on: August 3, 2026