Academy for New Americans

Test scores remain well below district averages — 10% ELA proficiency versus the district average of 60.67%, and 44.2% math proficiency versus 62.15% district average. However, the trajectory matters: math scores have climbed from 2.6% in 2022 to 44.2% in 2025, a dramatic jump that suggests the school is finding what works. Grade 8 math (57.1%) is notably stronger than Grade 7 (36.4%), indicating students make meaningful progress over their three years here. The overall quality score of 1.08/4 reflects how far the school has to go, but the direction of travel is upward.

This is where the story gets interesting. Parents report near-unanimous satisfaction (99%), with 100% trust in teachers and 98% trust in the principal. Teachers themselves rate instruction quality at 100%. There's a genuine warmth here — the school has zero suspensions, down from 2 in each of the previous two years, suggesting a restorative approach to discipline. However, chronic absenteeism is a serious concern at 67.4%, particularly among female students (78.3%). This may reflect family circumstances, transportation challenges, or cultural differences in attendance norms — something parents should probe during a visit.

The student body is 84% Hispanic, reflecting both the school's mission to serve immigrant families and Astoria's demographic evolution. Economic need is very high at 73.4%, and a striking 80% of students have IEPs — far above typical middle schools. This isn't a screened academic powerhouse; it's a school where the majority of students arrive with learning differences, language barriers, or both. The diversity index is low (35%) because the population is overwhelmingly Hispanic, but the small size means students of different backgrounds know each other well.

Astoria is a family-dense neighborhood with strong education orientation (66.67 percentile) and a relatively affluent median household income of $103,839. However, safety scores are low (33.33 percentile), and the area has elevated environmental health concerns, including above-average asthma rates and PM2.5 exposure. Families should know these environmental factors exist regardless of school choice in this area. The neighborhood has good access to parks and cultural resources, and the community feel is distinctly family-oriented despite urban challenges.

Astoria is generally walkable and well-served by public transit. Families report good access to the N/W and R trains, though the specific location near 30th Street means checking routes carefully from your starting point.