At a Glance
A Washington Heights elementary where families show up in force — and test scores have more than doubled over seven years.
Best suited for
Families — especially bilingual or Spanish-speaking households — who want a tight-knit community elementary with strong parent engagement and a proven upward academic trajectory.
Overall Rating
Rating = average of NY State ELA + math proficiency, grades 3–8
Bands are Motley's thresholds on a 0–100 scale, not New York State performance levels.
How this is scored→What stands out
- Academic scores have more than doubled since 2017, signaling sustained school-wide improvement rather than a one-year bump
- 99% parent trust in the principal and 97% parent satisfaction — among the highest in the district
- Zero suspensions in each of the past three school years
- A 100% family survey response rate, which is genuinely rare and signals deep community buy-in
- Performance well above most District 6 peers, including P.S./I.S. 187, Washington Heights Academy, and Muscota
Things to consider
- Chronic absenteeism at 80.7% is a real concern, even if daily attendance itself is solid and the pattern is district-wide post-COVID
- Teacher-rated instruction quality (85%) trails the district average of 90%), a gap worth probing at a tour
- Small enrollment (404 students) means fewer classrooms and grade-level cohorts to choose from
- The name signals a bilingual or cross-cultural identity — families should confirm the language program matches their hopes
Based on 2024-25 data
School SummaryDistrict 6
Dos Puentes is one of the higher-performing schools in District 6, with a 2.56 overall score that comfortably outpaces the district average of 1.98. Among neighborhood peers, it sits alongside Zeta Inwood and Success Academy Washington Heights near the top of the local pack.
Academics
Both ELA (60.6%) and math (67.6%) proficiency land comfortably above the district averages of 47% and 52% respectively, and the overall score of 2.56/4 beats the district's 1.98. The trajectory tells the bigger story — in 2017, scores hovered around 28%; by 2025, they've more than doubled, with math rising especially fast in the past two years. Grade 4 results are the standout (70.8% ELA, 75.8% math), while grade 3 still has room to grow.
Culture
Parents clearly love this school — 99% trust the principal, 97% are satisfied, and 407 families responded to the survey, an extraordinary 100% response rate that suggests real engagement. Zero suspensions across three straight years is also notable. However, daily attendance is solid at 93.8% (above the district's 91%) yet chronic absenteeism runs high at 80.7%, and teacher-rated instruction quality (85%) sits below the district average of 90% — worth watching even as families rave.
Community
The student body is 73% Hispanic and 20% white, closely reflecting the surrounding Washington Heights neighborhood. About 62% of students qualify for economic need and 20% have IEPs, and with 404 students total the school is on the smaller side. The diversity index is moderate at 45%, and the school draws primarily from local families rather than commuting students.
Neighborhood
Washington Heights (North) is a working- and middle-class neighborhood where renters make up the majority (just 17.5% homeownership) and median household income sits at $76,919. Four-in-ten adults hold a bachelor's degree, and the area remains family-rooted, with a strong Hispanic cultural identity. Getting around is straightforward thanks to nearby subway access on both the 1 and A lines.
The 1 train at 181st Street is about a two-minute walk, the A at 181st is roughly five minutes, and the 1 at 191st is walkable in under ten minutes — one of the easier commutes in the area.
Academic Performance
ELA Proficiency
Students scoring proficient or above on the NY State ELA exam.
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Math Proficiency
Students scoring proficient or above on the NY State Math exam.
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Historical Trends
The dashed line marks 2023, when New York changed its grades 3–8 state tests. Scores before and after it aren’t directly comparable.
2020–2021 data unavailable due to COVID-19
Source: NYC DOE School Quality Reports
Survey Results
NYC School Survey (2025) · 407 families responded (100% rate)
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Discipline
NYSED Student & Educator Database (2023-24)
Economic Need & Special Populations
How to get in, step by step
Kindergarten
Dos Puentes Elementary School doesn't have an attendance zone of its own, so living nearby doesn't guarantee a seat here. Families apply on MySchools, and seats go to the school's priority groups first, then by random lottery.
Kindergarten application
- Opens
- Wed, Dec 9
- Closes
- Fri, Jan 22
- Offers
- Tue, Mar 30
The DOE’s published dates.
- 1Apply on MySchools during the kindergarten application.
- 2Rank this school with your zoned school, if you have one, and any others you'd take — in true preference order.
Open houses and tours
We haven’t seen open-house dates for this school yet.
From the MySchools admissions calendar, checked weekly.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Dos Puentes Elementary School a good school?
- On Motley, Dos Puentes Elementary School earns an overall rating of 64/100 — the average of the school's New York State ELA and math proficiency, grades 3–8, shown out of 100. Its state test results run above the District 6 average.
- What grades does Dos Puentes Elementary School serve?
- Dos Puentes Elementary School serves grades K to 5.
- Is Dos Puentes Elementary School public, charter, or private?
- Dos Puentes Elementary School is a public school in NYC Community School District 6.
- What neighborhood is Dos Puentes Elementary School in?
- Dos Puentes Elementary School is in Washington Heights (North), Manhattan.