Middle school and high school students returned for in-person learning Thursday, completing the city's third and final phase of reopening schools.

On Tuesday, it was students who opted for blended learning in grades kindergarten through fifth and kindergarten through eighth grade buildings reporting for their first days of in-person instruction. Today, students in city public middle and high schools will be joining them.

After two delayed starts to the school year, middle school and high schoolers in public schools are finally heading back into the classroom. Mayor Bill de Blasio says that today a total of 1,600 schools will be open.

This comes amid growing concerns from teachers and parents that schools are not ready for in person leaning. Earlier this month staff at the Taft Campus in the Bronx told News 12 they are short on supplies and staff and COVID-19 cases are already spreading, making some teachers opt to work outside.

Nearly half of families have opted out of in-person learning and chosen to study entirely remotely, but the city assures parents they are ready with enacting multiple safety measures.

The city plans to close the schools if the infection rate hits 3% based on a seven-day average.