By Kate McNeil

Three-quarters of Riverdale and Kingsbridge eighth-graders chose to stay at their local high schools next year, according to MS/HS 141 and MS/HS 368 Principals Lori O'Mara and Rose Fairweather-Clunie.

Of the 179 eighth-graders at the INTech Academy, MS/HS 368, 130 chose to stay for their high school years. Four students won admission to specialized high schools and the remaining 45 will attend other public high schools.

Of the 208 eighth-graders at the David A. Stein Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy, MS/HS 141, 160 will stay, 22 will attend specialized high schools, 21 will attend other public high schools and five will not attend a city public high school.

Both principals were pleased that such a large percentage chose to stay.

"The number has been rising," Ms. Clunie said. "People realize our school is doing very well. We've proven that the school remains a safe choice for parents."

"That's very encouraging," said Councilman Oliver Koppell, who had a hand in the creation of both high schools.

"It shows confidence in the local schools which was exactly the goal in the first place," said Randi Martos, former parent association president at MS/HS 141.

The news comes on the heels of the annual lottery for seats at the two neighborhood schools.

Since 1999, 25 sixth-grade seats at both MS/HS 141 and MS/HS 368 have been held open for students living in one another's zones. The lottery was envisioned as a way to foster a good relationship between the neighborhoods, a relationship strained by the rezoning of the Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy, which excluded families who lived in Marble Hill and part of Kingsbridge.

This year's lottery, held May 2, resulted in 20 Riverdale fifthgraders opting to attend MS/HS 368 for middle school. Forty-nine Kingsbridge fifth-graders picked MS/HS 141 over MS/HS 368, but only 25 were chosen for seats.

"I feel it should be abolished," Ms. Clunie said of the lottery. "It's been manipulated and misrepresented."