Cynthia Jenkins School

Jenkins sits just below district averages — 54.6% ELA proficiency versus a district average near 57%, and 46.8% math versus roughly 54% — but those numbers hide the real story. In 2022, only about 23% of students were ELA-proficient and 17% math-proficient. Three years later, ELA has more than doubled and math has nearly tripled. The trajectory is sharp and recent. The grade-by-grade breakdown shows a third-grade cohort performing well (62% ELA, 68% math), while fifth-grade math proficiency drops to 29% — a gap worth watching as this cohort moves up.

The day-to-day feel here appears warm and orderly. Zero suspensions across three years is genuinely rare and points to a behavior approach that does not lean on removals. Surveys paint a notably positive picture of relationships: 100% of families reported strong relationships with the school, parent trust in teachers and the principal both land at 97% or higher, and 98% of teachers say they feel safe — above the district average of around 94%. Teacher-to-principal trust at 81% is the one softer spot, as is the small 16-teacher survey sample, which limits how much weight that score can carry. Parent satisfaction at 94% runs well above the district's 91% average.

The student body is 88% Black, 8% Hispanic, and 2% Asian, with about 19% of students having IEPs and a high economic need index of 73.5 — meaning most students come from households facing economic challenges. The broader neighborhood of St. Albans looks middle-class on paper (median household income around $98K, 75% homeownership), which suggests the school's population reflects a mix of long-rooted families and households experiencing tighter economic circumstances. Family survey response was strong at 42%, indicating parents here are actively engaged and willing to be heard.

St. Albans is a predominantly homeowner, middle-income corner of southeast Queens — nearly 75% of households own their homes, the median home value sits near $597,000, and median household income is roughly $98,000. Only about 9% of residents live below the poverty line, and a quarter hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Households with children make up 13% of the area, signaling a settled family base rather than a transient population.

There are no subway stations within a 20-minute walk of the school, so families who choose Jenkins are choosing car commutes, school bus, or local bus service. This is not a transit-accessible pickup.