At a Glance
A highly competitive, small dual-language magnet school with a strong Asian cultural focus and exceptional teacher trust scores, serving a predominantly Asian student body in the Lower East Side
Families seeking a small, tight-knit school with dual-language instruction (Mandarin), strong teacher trust, and a culturally specific focus. Best fits families who value the Asian cultural programming (Lion Dance, Chinese culture clubs, Taekwondo) and don't prioritize racial diversity. Given the 7.1% acceptance rate, families should have this as one of several options rather than a sole focus. The school works well for students who thrive in smaller settings with strong adult relationships and may benefit from the zero-tolerance discipline approach.
- Dual-language program with Mandarin instruction — relatively rare among NYC high schools
- Zero suspensions — discipline handled through alternative means
- Exceptional teacher trust scores (93-96% across metrics) indicate strong leadership
- Very competitive admissions (7.1% offer rate) makes this a sought-after option
- 100/100 program richness score — extensive arts, athletics, and extracurriculars including Lion Dance, Taekwondo, and Chinese cultural clubs
- Small school feel (373 students, ~26 class sizes) with personal attention
- Very low diversity — 92% Asian student body may not prepare all students for diverse college/career environments
- Only 17 teachers completed the climate survey — excellent scores may not fully represent staff perspective
- No academic test scores provided — cannot verify classroom outcomes against district averages
- PTA fundraising is minimal ($1/student vs. $517 district average) — limited parent financial resources for supplemental programs
- Some families may find the commute challenging given the 7.1% acceptance rate and citywide draw
Based on 2024-2025 data
School SummaryDistrict 2
District 2 is one of the most competitive in the city, home to top-performing schools like P.S. 77 Lower Lab (99/100) and Success Academy charters. This school stands out for its unique dual-language Asian studies focus rather than raw academic metrics. While peer schools in the district score in the 94-99 range on quality reviews, this school's identity is defined by its specialized programming and community trust rather than competitive positioning against district averages.
No state test scores were provided for this school, making it difficult to directly compare academic performance to district averages. However, the school offers a robust academic program including AP Courses, Humanities, Math, Science, and World Languages, with a program richness score of 100/100. The dual-language model and Mandarin instruction suggest a strong emphasis on language acquisition and academic rigor.
The survey data reveals an exceptionally strong school culture. Teacher instruction quality scores 96%, and parent trust metrics are uniformly high (96% parent-teacher trust, 94% parent-principal trust). Teachers report strong collegial trust (90%) and trust in leadership (93%). With zero suspensions, the discipline environment appears restorative rather than punitive. The main caveat: only 17 teachers completed the survey, so these excellent numbers come from a very small sample and should be interpreted with some caution.
The student body is 92% Asian, reflecting both the school's specialized focus and the surrounding neighborhood's demographics. With a diversity index of only 20%, this is among the least diverse high schools in the city. However, 77.3% of students face economic hardship, and the school serves a genuinely mixed-income population within the Lower East Side's immigrant community. About 5% of students have IEPs, and the school offers ELL support, indicating some neurodiversity and language learner populations.
The Lower East Side is a historically immigrant-dense Manhattan neighborhood with excellent transit (88.51 percentile), strong education orientation (89.27), and high stability (77.78). However, safety scores are low (16.09 percentile), and the area has elevated environmental health concerns (asthma rates, air quality). The neighborhood has relatively few families with children (6.5% of households) despite its education-oriented character. Median home values are high ($833k), but poverty affects nearly a quarter of residents.
The school's Grand Street location is highly transit-accessible via multiple subway lines, and the neighborhood is very walkable. Families from across the city apply here, meaning many students commute significant distances rather than walking.
Survey Results
NYC School Survey (2025) · 86 families responded (24% rate)
Programs & Activities
Admissions Demand
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
PTA Fundraising
Source: DOE Local Law 171 disclosure
Economic Need & Special Populations
Discipline
NYSED Student & Educator Database
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is High School for Dual Language and Asian Studies a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for High School for Dual Language and Asian Studies yet on Motley. It's a public school serving grades 9 to 12 in Lower East Side.
- What grades does High School for Dual Language and Asian Studies serve?
- High School for Dual Language and Asian Studies serves grades 9 to 12.
- Is High School for Dual Language and Asian Studies public, charter, or private?
- High School for Dual Language and Asian Studies is a public school in NYC Community School District 2.
- What neighborhood is High School for Dual Language and Asian Studies in?
- High School for Dual Language and Asian Studies is in Lower East Side, Manhattan.
Get the complete picture
Motley pulls together data from across New York City so you don’t have to. One free account, every school.
No credit card required
Get all this when you sign in
Survey data, program listings, admissions stats, and the full editorial profile — free, no credit card.
Full School Profile
Skip the tour guessing game. Get the standout features, honest trade-offs, and whether your kid will actually thrive here — before you visit.
Survey Results
See what 2,600+ schools’ own families and teachers really think — trust, safety, instruction quality — so you walk in with the truth, not the brochure.
Programs & Activities
Stop Googling program lists. AP courses, STEM labs, dual-language tracks, sports teams, arts — all categorized so you can compare schools in minutes.
Admissions Demand
Know your odds before you apply. Apps-per-seat ratios, offer rates, and fill data — so you don’t waste your top choice on a long shot.
Economic Need & Special Populations
Find out if the support your child needs is actually there — IEP enrollment, economic need index, and the demographics no other site surfaces.
Discipline
One bad year doesn’t tell you much. Three years of state-verified suspension data shows whether things are getting better or worse.