Benjamin N. Cardozo High School

Cardozo's specialized programs draw thousands of applicants for a few hundred seats, which tells you something about how the school is perceived academically. With AP courses, ELL support, and programs like the DaVinci Science/Math Biomedical track and School of Journalism and Media Studies, the academic menu is broader than most large high schools. The peer elementary schools in District 26 routinely score in the 90s, so families sending kids here expect rigorous coursework. The school's program richness score of 100/100 reflects that depth, with real offerings in STEM, world languages, and the arts rather than token electives.

What's striking here is the discipline picture: zero suspensions, against a district average suspension rate of 0.1%. That's not a typo — Cardozo has effectively no formal discipline removals, which is unusual for a school this large. Teachers rate instructional quality at 92%, above the district average of roughly 90%, and collegial trust among staff sits at 87%. Parent satisfaction is solid at 87%, though below the district average of 92%, and the family survey response rate of just 21% means that number reflects a relatively narrow slice of the community. Teacher-principal trust at 80% is a bit lower than parent-principal trust (90%), worth noting.

The student body is notably Asian at 42%, with substantial Black (21%) and Hispanic (23%) populations and a smaller White contingent (11%). That mix is more diverse than many suburban-feeling District 26 campuses but less so than the citywide average. The economic need index of 56.3 places Cardozo in the middle — not a high-poverty school, not a low-poverty one. About 15% of students have IEPs, and the school offers ELL support, which suggests a real range of learners. The diversity index of 77% indicates meaningful representation across groups.

Bayside is a quiet, middle- to upper-middle-class residential neighborhood in eastern Queens. The median household income is roughly $105,000, the poverty rate is just 8.7%, and nearly two-thirds of homes are owner-occupied with a median value close to $957,000. About 20% of households have children, and 47% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. It feels suburban more than urban — tree-lined blocks, driveways, and a pace that doesn't match most of New York City.

There are no subway stations within a 20-minute walk of the school, so most families drive, get dropped off, or use bus service. Car dependence is the reality for anyone attending Cardozo.