The tremendous effort put forth by the students, staff and alumni of Dewitt Clinton High School has paid off after the Department of Education announced plans to ax the historic yet troubled school were no longer part of the discussion. But changes, including a change in leadership, could be on the horizon.

The DOE threatened to close the school after it was served its second consecutive “F” grade on the 2011-2012 progress report. The department gave the school a “B” on College and Career Readiness, but an “F” in student progress, student performance, and school environment, making Clinton’s overall score 37.2 out of 100.

“Based on the feedback from the community as well as a thorough review of multiple types of school data, the DOE decided that developing an action place will lead to the best outcome for current and future students,” DOE spokesman David Pena wrote in an e-mail.

A forum was held in November where hundreds including, City Council Member Oliver Koppell and a slew of students, teachers and community members, flooded Clinton’s auditorium to show their support on saving the school from the chopping block. A “Stand Up For DeWitt Clinton” facebook page was also created along with petitions on gopetition.com and change.org.

Gerald Pelisson, former Clinton teacher and co-author of “The Castle on the Parkway: The Story of New York City’s Dewitt Clinton High School and its Extraordinary Influence on American Life”, was in high-spirits with the decision to keep Clinton opened but was skeptical on the department’s future plans with the school.

“I’m very pleased that it will remain opened but we don’t know in what fashion,” said Pelisson. “Just hoping the Department of Education will keep it as one school, as one building.”

Pena outlined the course of action that would be taken to restore the “failing” school back to its original glory. (It was ranked one of the top 100 high schools in the country just 13 years ago.)

“The school will work in partnership with its support network to develop an action plan,” Pena wrote. “The plan may include things like: leadership coaching, professional development on instructional strategies for struggling students, identifying grants aimed at specific needs of the school, introducing new programs, supporting the development of a smaller learning environment by reducing enrollment, and possible leadership changes.”