Department of Education officials released on Monday their first list of 17 city schools they want to phase out or close, based on school report cards, students' academic performance and assessments of school environments.

Four of the schools are in Brooklyn, five are in the Bronx, six are in Brooklyn and two are in Queens.

Six are middle schools, seven are high schools and three are elementary schools.

Only two of the schools, M.S. 45/S.T.A.R.S. Prep Academy in Manhattan and Freedom Academy High School in Brooklyn, will be immediately closed.

The other 15 schools will eventually be phased out.

Six of the schools on Monday's list were among 24 schools proposed for closure last year.

Those schools were kept open by court order over the summer.

More proposed closures are expected to be announced Tuesday.

Education officials said the students' performance were lackluster in those schools, despite their being given "comprehensive support."

The DOE identified 60 struggling schools in November, and education officials said they spent the rest of the year getting feedback from local communities on the schools' performances.

In a statement, Schools Deputy Chancellor Marc Sternberg says, "Ultimately, we know we can better serve our students and families with new options and a new start. These are difficult decisions that we’ve arrived at after thoroughly evaluating each school's record – and now is the time to take action. We expect every school to deliver for our students, and are working hard to offer families more high performing choices."

The announced closings came under fire Monday night.

Bronx Councilman Jimmy Vacca says of Lehman High School's possible closure, "DOE needs to give their own supports a real chance to succeed. If DOE needs someone to blame for Lehman's troubles, I know where they can find a mirror."

The United Federation of Teachers says in a statement, "The suggestion that the DOE has provided 'comprehensive supports' to the struggling schools on this list is absurd."

Since the beginning of Bloomberg's administration in 2002, close to 140 schools have been closed.