Motley
District 33
PublicDistrict 3Ed. Opt.

High School for Law, Advocacy and Community Justice

122 AMSTERDAM AVENUE

At a Glance

A small, competitive high school serving a high-need student population in one of Manhattan's wealthiest neighborhoods

Best suited for

Families who value a small school environment with strong parent satisfaction, competitive admissions, and extensive extracurricular offerings — particularly those whose children benefit from diverse support services including ELL and special education. Families should be aware of teacher leadership concerns and should ideally visit to gauge the school's day-to-day culture. The school's location makes it accessible from across Manhattan, but the neighborhood's high cost of living means the school serves a very different population than its surroundings.

What stands out
  • Zero suspensions — the school has achieved a notably discipline-free environment
  • Very high parent satisfaction (91%) exceeding district average
  • Highly competitive admissions (12.5% offer rate from 872 applicants)
  • 100/100 program richness score with extensive sports, clubs, and academic offerings
  • Serves a high-need population (84% economic need) in an affluent neighborhood
Things to consider
  • Teacher-principal trust is notably low (66%) — significantly below district average
  • Teacher-reported instruction quality (80%) lags behind the district average of 87%
  • Low family survey response rate (13%) means parent voice may be underrepresented
  • No proficiency scores available to assess academic outcomes
  • The neighborhood's high cost of living may create disconnect between school community and surrounding area

Based on 2024-2025 data

School SummaryDistrict 3

District 3 includes some of the city's highest-performing schools, from the 100/100 Special Music School to Anderson (98/100) and several Success Academy charters in the 90s. This school operates outside that top tier — it doesn't have a quality rating in the peer comparison, and teacher trust metrics are notably weaker than district averages. However, it serves a distinctly different population: high economic need students in a high-opportunity neighborhood, which represents its own kind of success.

AcademicsSteady

The school offers AP coursework and maintains a diverse academic support system including ELL services, but proficiency scores were not available in the data provided. The class size of 23.1 matches the district average exactly, suggesting typical resource allocation for a district with generally strong academic performance (district averages hover near 59% ELA and 54% math proficiency).

Culturemoderate

The survey data reveals a tale of two perspectives. Families are notably satisfied — 91% of parents report satisfaction, above the district average of 88%, and trust between parents and teachers (88%) and parents and the principal (87%) runs strong. However, teachers tell a different story: only 66% trust the principal, and instruction quality ratings from teachers (80%) fall below the district average of 87%. The school has zero suspensions, which is well below the district average and suggests a restorative or supportive approach to discipline. Family survey response rates are low at 13%, which means these results may not represent all voices.

Community

The student body is predominantly Hispanic (62%) and Black (26%), with small Asian (5%) and White (4%) populations — a stark contrast to the surrounding neighborhood, which is 83% college-educated and among the wealthiest in the city. The diversity index of 56% reflects this predominantly minority enrollment. With 84% economic need and 17% IEP students, the school serves a population with significant support needs, even as it operates in a neighborhood of considerable privilege.

NeighborhoodUpper West Side-Lincoln Square

The Upper West Side-Lincoln Square area is a family-friendly, transit-rich neighborhood with an education orientation score of 96 — meaning families here are highly focused on schools. Transit access scores nearly 97, making commutes easy from much of Manhattan. The area has significant safety concerns (safety score of 23), with elevated crime density and collision rates, though it's buffered by strong community institutions. Parks and cultural venues are abundant along Central Park and the Hudson River greenway.

Very walkable and transit-accessible — the neighborhood's transit score of 97 reflects excellent subway and bus connectivity. Students from across Manhattan can reach the school relatively easily, though parents should be aware of the area's traffic and safety considerations.

Survey Results

Family Feedback
Satisfaction
91%
Teacher Trust
88%
Principal Trust
87%
Teacher Perspective
Instruction
80%
Principal Trust
66%
Collegial Trust
72%

NYC School Survey (2025) · 66 families responded (13% rate)

Programs & Activities

Academic(1)
AP Courses
Arts(3)
Art ClubDance ClubDrama
Sports(17)
BadmintonBaseballBaseball/SoftballBasketballBowlingCheerleadingCross CountryDouble DutchFlag FootballHandballIndoor TrackOutdoor TrackSoccerSoftballTrack/Cross CountryVolleyballWrestling
STEM(2)
Computer Science ClubMath Team For Nyc Interscholastic Math League
Language(2)
ELL SupportSpanish
Clubs & Activities(13)
Anime ClubChessCommunity ServiceDebate TeamFashion ClubGirls' ClubHistory ClubHomework HelpersHuman Rights ClubJournalism ClubPm SchoolSaturday SchoolStudent Government

Admissions Demand

Law, Advocacy and Community Justice High SchoolHighly Competitive

Students take law courses in their 10th, 11th and 12th grade years in addition to their social studies courses; a college preparatory focus is incorporated into the curriculum.

Seats111
Applicants872
Apps/Seat7.9
Offer Rate12.5%

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Moderate
62%Hispanic/Latino
26%Black
4%White
5%Asian
2%Native American

NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23

Economic Need & Special Populations

Economic Need Index
84.1%
IEP Students
16.6%

Discipline

0suspensions

NYSED Student & Educator Database

Frequently Asked Questions
Is High School for Law, Advocacy and Community Justice a good school?
Published quality ratings aren't available for High School for Law, Advocacy and Community Justice yet on Motley. It's a public school serving grades 9 to 12 in Upper West Side-Lincoln Square.
What grades does High School for Law, Advocacy and Community Justice serve?
High School for Law, Advocacy and Community Justice serves grades 9 to 12.
How do students get into High School for Law, Advocacy and Community Justice?
High School for Law, Advocacy and Community Justice uses the Educational Option (Ed-Opt) method, ranking applicants across performance levels so seats go to a mix of abilities.
Is High School for Law, Advocacy and Community Justice public, charter, or private?
High School for Law, Advocacy and Community Justice is a public school in NYC Community School District 3.
What neighborhood is High School for Law, Advocacy and Community Justice in?
High School for Law, Advocacy and Community Justice is in Upper West Side-Lincoln Square, Manhattan.
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