Central Park East High School

With state test data unavailable for this profile, the academic picture comes through in other metrics: the school offers AP Courses and a Humanities program, maintains a class size of 20.1 students (exactly matching the district average), and operates with an economic need index of 74.1% — meaning this school is succeeding academically with a student body that faces significantly more challenges than the typical Manhattan district school. Teacher instruction quality scores at 93%, well above the district average of 87%.

The numbers here are striking: 97% of parents report satisfaction with the school, 94% trust their children's teachers, and 97% trust the principal. Teachers mirror that confidence — 95% trust the principal and 89% report collegial trust among staff. With zero suspensions, the discipline approach appears restorative rather than punitive. The family survey response rate of 37% (174 responses) and teacher response rate of 36 provide meaningful samples. This is a school where the day-to-day feel is clearly one of mutual respect between families, teachers, and leadership.

The student body reflects its East Harlem neighborhood: 49% Hispanic, 20% Black, 19% Asian, and 8% White, with a diversity index of 71%. Twenty percent of students have IEPs, indicating robust special education services. The economic need index of 74.1% shows this is a school serving predominantly low-income families — not the typical demographic for a highly selective screened school, which makes the academic outcomes and trust metrics even more notable. Families here are invested: the 174 family survey responses represent meaningful participation.

East Harlem is a neighborhood of contrasts: extremely high family density (96th percentile) and excellent transit access (80th percentile), but real challenges including a safety score in the 12th percentile and a health environment score in the 12th percentile. The poverty rate sits at 29.5% with a median household income of $44,054, while median home values reach $828,171 — reflecting the broader NYC housing market pressures. Lead exposure rates (7.9%) and asthma emergency department visits (155 per 10,000) are elevated, pointing to environmental health concerns common in lower-income urban areas. Despite these challenges, the education orientation score of 66 indicates families here prioritize schooling.

The school is accessible via excellent transit (80th percentile transit score), and the neighborhood's high family density means many students likely walk or take short commutes. Madison Avenue location places it in the heart of East Harlem with multiple subway lines nearby.