Elm Community Charter School

This school is performing well above the District 24 average — ELA proficiency of 68.3% versus the district's 51.1%, and math at 72.7% versus 54.8%. Looking at the three-year trend, both subjects have climbed substantially from 2022 baseline of 53.8% in each. Math has been particularly strong, jumping from 53.8% to 72.7% over three years. The standout performer is Grade 3, where students are hitting 84% math proficiency and 76.3% ELA — suggesting strong early elementary instruction. Grade 5 math dips to 61%, which is solid but lower than the younger grades, hinting that the upper elementary years may need more attention or that the early grades are particularly strong.

The survey data tells a nuanced story. Families are clearly happy — 95% parent satisfaction and 97% trust in both teachers and principal is exceptional, and 100% of teachers report feeling safe at work. Instruction quality scores are strong at 92%. But there's a divide in how teachers view leadership: teacher-principal trust sits at 78% while teacher collegial trust is higher at 88%. The attendance picture is concerning — while the overall attendance rate of 92.2% is essentially flat with the district average, chronic absenteeism is staggeringly high at 72.7%, meaning nearly three-quarters of students are missing significant school time. This isn't a discipline problem — it's a showing-up problem that cuts across all demographic groups, though Black students miss more often (87% chronic absenteeism).

The student body is predominantly Hispanic (75%), reflecting Elmhurst's large Latino population. The school serves a high-need population with 72.1% economic need index and 13% students with IEPs — nearly 1 in 8 children receive special education services. Diversity within the school is moderate (50% diversity index), with Black (9%), Asian (8%), and White (6%) students making up the remainder. At 285 students across grades K-5 with an average class size of 24.7, this is a small-to-medium elementary school where families likely know each other.

Elmhurst is one of Queens' most family-dense neighborhoods (93.1 percentile), with a strong education orientation (62.45) and excellent transit access (63.22). The median household income of $68,354 and 11.1% poverty rate suggest a working-to-middle-class community, with low homeownership (26.6%) indicating mostly renters. There's real tension here: the safety score is low (25.67 percentile), and environmental health indicators show elevated concerns — asthma rates and lead exposure are notable. But families cite the neighborhood's transit connectivity and the sense of community as major draws.

The area around Queens Boulevard is well-served by multiple subway lines (M, R, E, F trains at nearby stops) and bus routes, making it accessible without a car for families across the borough. The neighborhood is pedestrian-heavy and urban, though traffic along Queens Boulevard is a consideration.