City College Magnet School of the Arts

Test scores hover around the district average in ELA (48.5% vs. 47.1%) but lag notably in math (40.2% vs. 52.1%). The school showed significant recovery after a pandemic dip — math plummeted to 13.9% in 2022 but rebounded to 40.2% by 2025. Science proficiency sits at 28.1%, which is below typical district benchmarks. The overall quality score of 1.77/4 falls slightly below the district average of 1.98. Grade-level data shows strong middle school performance (Grade 8 math at 63.4%), suggesting the academic program works well for younger students.

Survey results reveal a genuinely positive school culture: 92% parent satisfaction, 94% parent-principal trust, and 90% teacher-reported instruction quality. Teachers report strong collegial trust (83%) and trust in leadership (89%). Perhaps most notably, there were zero suspensions — a stark contrast to the district average. However, the chronic absenteeism rate of 73.5% is alarming and suggests attendance enforcement may be weak or that families face significant barriers to getting kids to school consistently.

The student body is predominantly Hispanic (94%), reflecting the surrounding Washington Heights neighborhood. With an economic need index of 84.1% and 19% of students having IEPs, this is a high-need population. The diversity index is low at 17%, meaning the school is not particularly diverse internally — almost all students share similar backgrounds. This can foster strong community bonds but also means students have limited exposure to diverse perspectives.

Washington Heights is a transit-rich, family-dense neighborhood in Upper Manhattan with a strong Dominican cultural presence. The area offers solid educational infrastructure (education orientation score: 60) and good public transit options (76.25). Median household income of $76,919 and a homeownership rate of just 17.5% indicate a working-to-middle-class community. The neighborhood has elevated asthma rates and some environmental concerns (PM2.5 levels), but safety scores are relatively stable.

The school is located on Broadway in northern Manhattan, well-served by the A train and several bus routes. Many families from the neighborhood walk or take public transit, though students accepted from outside the area may face longer commutes.