BELL Academy

BELL Academy's proficiency rates of 81.4% in ELA and 81.2% in math place it roughly 16-17 percentage points above the District 25 average — a meaningful gap that reflects consistent academic strength. The school's performance has climbed steadily from 2016 (ELA 65.9%, Math 70.6%) to its peak around 2023-2024, with a slight dip in 2025 that remains well above historical baselines. Grade-level scores are remarkably consistent, with Grade 6 slightly leading and Grade 8 math showing a modest drop to 76.8%. The 3.25 overall score reflects solid performance across multiple quality dimensions, exceeding the district average of 2.69.

The school reports exceptional family trust metrics — 96% parent satisfaction, 97% parent-teacher trust, and 99% parent-principal trust are nearly unheard of in district schools. Teachers report strong collegial trust (98%) and solid instruction quality (90%), though teacher-principal trust sits lower at 80%. The discipline record is spotless with zero suspensions across three consecutive years. However, chronic absenteeism at 86.4% is remarkably high, and while the attendance rate (95.4%) is slightly above district average, the discrepancy suggests many students are technically present but frequently missing instruction. Asian students show notably higher attendance (94.7%) compared to Hispanic (78.3%) and White (82.2%) students, indicating potential equity gaps in engagement.

With 355 students across grades 6-8, BELL Academy is a mid-sized middle school with a demographically diverse student body: 41% Asian, 27% Hispanic, 25% White, 4% Black, and 2% multi-racial. The diversity index of 72% reflects this mix. At 37.5% economic need index, the school serves a student population that is less economically disadvantaged than many Queens schools, which aligns with the surrounding neighborhood's higher median income and homeownership rates. About 19% of students have IEPs, and the school offers ELL support.

Bay Terrace-Clearview is a quiet, residential neighborhood in eastern Queens characterized by single-family homes, tree-lined streets, and a high homeownership rate of 78.4%. The median household income of $109,078 and low 6.4% poverty rate make it one of the more affluent areas in Queens. Families with children comprise 15.6% of households, and half of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Safety scores are solid at 77 (above average), though transit access is limited (38) — this is very much a car-dependent area. The health environment scores nearly perfectly at 98, reflecting clean air and good environmental conditions.

The neighborhood is primarily residential and walkable within its quiet streets, but families outside the immediate area will likely depend on cars for the school commute, given the limited transit options.