I.S. 034 Tottenville

The numbers here are eye-catching. ELA proficiency at 73.4% is about 12 points above the district average of 61.3%, and math proficiency at 84.3% is roughly 23 points above the district's 61%. The trend tells a clear story of sustained improvement — math scores have nearly climbed 30 points since 2016, when they sat at 54.8%, and ELA has risen about 21 points in the same window. Math performance is strong across all three grades, with eighth graders at 87.7%, seventh graders at 84.5%, and sixth graders at 81%. The overall quality score of 3.15 out of 4 sits well above the district average of 2.45, placing this school firmly at the top of its district.

Survey results here are exceptional. Teachers rate instruction quality at 99% (district average 93%) and report 94% collegial trust. Parents give 97% satisfaction, 97% trust in teachers, and 98% trust in the principal — all notably above district norms. Discipline is a clear strength: zero suspensions in 2023-24, down from two the prior two years. The one real climate concern is chronic absenteeism at 71.3% — that means about seven in ten students miss 10% or more of school days, which is high even accounting for post-pandemic norms. The day-to-day attendance rate of 92% is fine, but the chronic absence figure is worth parents asking about directly. The Asian subgroup stands out here at 90.2% chronic absenteeism, which is unusually elevated and worth flagging.

The student body reflects the surrounding neighborhood almost exactly — 73% white, 20% Hispanic, 5% Asian, with Black and multiracial students each under 2%. That's a substantially less diverse population than NYC averages, and it tracks with Tottenville-Charleston's demographics. Twenty-seven percent of students have IEPs, which is on the higher side and suggests the school supports a meaningful number of students with learning differences. ELL support is offered. The school has an active PTA that raised about $165 per student last year, slightly above the district average of $141, with roughly 663 families responding to the satisfaction survey — a healthy engagement level.

Tottenville-Charleston is one of the more suburban pockets of New York City. Median household income around $128,000 is well above city norms, the poverty rate is just 6.5%, and 77.6% of households own their homes — second-home and long-term-family territory. About 28% of households have children, and 36% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The area feels less transient than most NYC neighborhoods, with many multigenerational families who settled in years ago. The vibe is closer to a small downstate town than a borough neighborhood.

There's no major subway nearby — the closest options are the Staten Island Railway stops at Tottenville (about an 11-minute walk) and Arthur Kill (about a 12-minute walk). Most families will drive, get dropped off, or rely on the school bus.