A.C.E. Academy for Scholars at the Geraldine Ferraro Campus

Test scores here run about 10 percentage points above the District 24 average in both ELA (61.5% vs. 51.1%) and math (65.1% vs. 54.8%), placing the school solidly above its peers. However, the academic trajectory shows volatility — scores peaked in 2018 at 71% ELA and 72% math, dipped during the pandemic, and have fluctuated since, sitting currently below that 2018 peak. The 2025 results show a slight recovery from 2024, suggesting stabilization rather than sharp decline. Grade-level breakdown shows 5th graders performing strongest in ELA (71.2%) while 4th graders lead in math (74.1%), indicating strong upper-elementary instruction.

The survey data tells a remarkable story: 96% of families are satisfied, 98% trust teachers, and 99% trust the principal — numbers that put this school in the top tier of family confidence. Teachers report 99% feeling safe at work and 95% rate instruction quality as strong. The discipline record is spotless with zero suspensions for three consecutive years. However, chronic absenteeism sits at a troubling 81% — well above district norms — suggesting that while families trust the school, getting kids there consistently remains a challenge. The 39% family survey response rate is moderate, so these strong numbers represent a majority but not a universal voice.

The student body reflects Ridgewood's demographics: roughly half Hispanic (51%), about a third white (30%), with meaningful Asian representation (14%) and very small Black (2%) and Native American (1%) populations. The diversity index of 66% is solid. Ten percent of students have IEPs, and the economic need index sits at 54.9%, indicating a moderate-to-high need population. The PTA raised $69 per student — more than double the district average — suggesting active family engagement and fundraising capacity.

Ridgewood sits in central Queens with excellent transit access (73rd percentile) and a family density score in the 60th percentile — meaning lots of kids in the area, though homeownership is low at 20%. The median home value exceeds $1 million, but poverty sits at a modest 12.6%. Safety scores are below average (40th percentile), reflecting urban Queens conditions, while the health environment rates moderately well. Families will find the neighborhood walkable and well-connected by bus and train, with local parks and commercial corridors along Metropolitan Avenue.

The school is located on Metropolitan Avenue in a walkable, transit-rich pocket of Ridgewood — families can reasonably rely on walking, biking, or public transit rather than driving.