Hawtree Creek Middle School

Hawtree Creek's test scores tell a remarkable story. In 2016, just 17.5% of students were proficient in math and 31.8% in ELA. By 2025, those numbers had climbed to 67.6% in math and 60.9% in ELA — both meaningfully above the District 27 averages of 57.3% and 56.1%. The school's overall quality score of 2.57 out of 4 also edges out the district average of 2.27. Math has been the bigger gainer, more than tripling over the decade. Score-by-grade data shows 8th graders outperforming their younger peers in math (73.1%) while 6th graders lead in ELA (68.2%), suggesting the school's academic supports get stronger as students move through the grades.

The climate numbers here are striking. Parent satisfaction is 98%, and both parent-teacher trust and parent-principal trust sit at 99% — meaningfully above the district averages of 92.6% and the implicit norm. Teachers report 94% instructional quality and 96% trust in their principal, with 93% collegial trust among staff. Discipline is light: only 4 suspensions in 2023-24 (a 1% rate, though slightly above the district's 0.5%), and the trend is stable after a small uptick the year before. Attendance at 92% is a touch above the district average, but chronic absenteeism is 72.7% — a number that mirrors a post-pandemic reality across NYC middle schools rather than anything specific to Hawtree Creek. The day-to-day feel appears to be one of unusually strong family-school partnership, with teachers who feel supported by leadership.

The student body mirrors the multicultural character of South Ozone Park and broader southern Queens. About 26% of students are Asian, 27% Black, 23% Hispanic, 4% White, and notably 18% Native American — an unusually high share for a New York City public school that reflects the diversity of this part of Queens. The diversity index of 85% is high. With 20% of students classified as IEP and ELL support available, the school serves a meaningful share of students with additional needs. The economic need index of 61.2 suggests a solidly working- and middle-class population — not wealthy, but not deeply low-income either.

South Ozone Park is a homeowner-heavy Queens neighborhood with a median household income around $98,000, a 10.5% poverty rate, and 69% homeownership — a sign of relative stability and families putting down roots. About 20% of households have children, and 20.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Median home values sit near $652,000. The school draws from a population that's predominantly Caribbean, South Asian, and African American, with strong civic ties.

The nearest subway is Ozone Park-Lefferts Blvd on the A line, about an 18-minute walk away. Most families likely rely on cars, school buses, or local buses for the commute rather than the subway.