High School for Media and Communications

The school offers AP courses alongside ELL support and Spanish language instruction, and its program richness score of 90 out of 100 reflects a notably broad curriculum for a school its size. Average class size is 21.9 — essentially the district norm of 21.8 — so students aren't getting unusually small or large cohorts. The media and communications theme runs through course offerings, while AP access gives college-bound students a real academic track to work with.

This is where the school stands apart. Parent satisfaction sits at 96%, a couple of points above the district average of 94%, and parent trust in both teachers and the principal reaches 99%. Teachers rate instruction quality at 99% — nearly ten points above the district average of 90% — and they report 93% trust in the principal. The most striking figure is zero suspensions, well below the district average suspension rate of 0.43%. Combined with an 88% family survey response rate, this is a community where families are plugged in and the school runs without major discipline disruption.

The student body is 87% Hispanic and 10% Black, with an economic need index of 93 indicating a predominantly low-income population. About a fifth of students have IEPs, and ELL support is built into the program. This closely mirrors the surrounding Washington Heights neighborhood, one of the most heavily Dominican and Latino enclaves in New York City, where many families have lived for generations.

Washington Heights (North) is a working- and middle-class neighborhood where 13% of households include children, median household income sits around $77,000, and the poverty rate is 14%. Roughly 42% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, homeownership is rare at under 18%, and the typical home value is about $575,000. The population is overwhelmingly Hispanic and Latino, with deep multi-generational roots in the area.

The 1 train stops at 191 St about a four-minute walk from the building and at Dyckman St roughly six minutes away; the A train at 190 St is about a ten-minute walk. That's a strong transit setup for getting to and from school.