Collaborative Arts Middle School

Test scores remain below district averages — ELA at 47% versus 57% district-wide, math at just 23% compared to the district's 54%. The school has made real progress: ELA has climbed steadily from 17% in 2016 to its current level, and math jumped dramatically from 18.5% in 2019 to 34.7% in 2024 before dropping back down in 2025. Grade 8 shows the strongest ELA performance at 51%, but math in that same grade plummets to just 15%, suggesting a particular weakness in upper-grade math instruction or retention. Science scores at 51% are more competitive. The overall 1.41/4 score places this school firmly in the lower third of District 29.

The survey data tells a striking story: teachers rate instruction quality at 98%, and both parents and teachers express overwhelming trust in leadership (95% parent-principal trust, 92% teacher-principal trust). This is a school where the adults feel supported. Attendance, however, is a serious concern — only 90% overall, with chronic absenteeism at a staggering 66%, driven particularly by female students (74% chronic absence) and Black students (70%). Suspensions have been trending down (from 26 in 2021-22 to 17 last year), and at 6% remain higher than the district average but are moving in the right direction. The day-to-day culture appears collaborative and trusting, but chronic absenteeism suggests families may be struggling to get kids to school consistently.

The student body is 82% Black, 13% Hispanic, with very small Asian and white populations — making this one of the more demographically homogeneous middle schools in Queens. Three percent of students are Native American, a smaller but notable presence. Nearly 70% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, and 22% have IEPs, indicating significant populations with special needs. The neighborhood surrounding the school tells a different story: 64% homeownership, median income over $109,000, and only 10% poverty — suggesting many families in the area may not be the ones attending this zoned public middle school, or that economic stratification exists within the zone.

Springfield Gardens is a predominantly homeowner neighborhood in southeastern Queens where families have lived for decades — 65% home ownership and low poverty (10%) create stability, though education orientation ranks low at 28th percentile. The area is car-dependent (transit score just 18) with limited subway access, making getting to school a consideration for families without vehicles. Safety scores are moderate at 62, and health environment scores are strong at 82, though asthma rates are elevated. The neighborhood has a suburban feel with single-family homes, rather than the density of other Queens areas.

Springfield Gardens is not a walkable neighborhood by NYC standards — transit access is minimal, and families will likely need a car or rely on bus service. The school sits along Springfield Boulevard, a main commercial drag, but the surrounding area is low-density residential.