I.S. 061 Leonardo Da Vinci

Proficiency scores of 32% ELA and 32.8% math place this school roughly 19-22 percentage points below the district averages of 51% and 55% respectively. Looking at the eight-year trend, math has steadily climbed from 22.6% in 2016 to 32.8% in 2025 — a 10-point gain — while ELA has been more volatile, peaking at 37% in 2022 then settling to 32%. The school scores 1.3 out of 4 overall, below the district average of 2.1. Eighth graders perform notably better than sixth graders (38% vs 27% in ELA), suggesting students who stay through middle school make meaningful progress, though the school as a whole is catching up rather than leading.

The survey data tells a nuanced story. Parent satisfaction runs high at 92%, with even stronger trust metrics — 95% for both parent-teacher and parent-principal relationships. Teachers report 91% instruction quality and 89% trust in leadership, indicating a functional school culture where staff feel supported. However, chronic absenteeism at 68.5% is a serious concern — nearly 7 in 10 students miss too much school, which drags down classroom consistency. Discipline data shows suspensions climbing from 16 in 2021-22 to 35 in 2023-24 (2% rate), higher than the district average of 0.175%. The school is managing more behavior issues than before, though rates remain moderate.

This is a nearly mono-ethnic school: 94% Hispanic, reflecting the Corona neighborhood's demographics. Asian students make up 3%, with Black and White students each at 1-2%. With 2,100 students across grades 6-8, it's a large middle school. Twenty-one percent of students have IEPs, and the school offers ELL support — both common in this immigrant-heavy community. The economic need index of 88.1% is very high, meaning nearly 9 in 10 students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The diversity index of 16% is extremely low, reflecting how homogenous the student body is.

Corona is a working-class, immigrant-rich neighborhood in central Queens known for its tight-knit family community and cultural roots. The area scores very high on family density (90th percentile) but low on education orientation (18th percentile), meaning this isn't a neighborhood where parents are heavily focused on school choice — kids largely attend their zoned school. Safety scores are modest (33rd percentile), and environmental health indicators show concerns: elevated asthma rates and above-average air pollution (PM2.5). There are local parks and community resources, and the neighborhood has a strong neighborhood feel despite these challenges.

Corona is a densely built neighborhood where many families walk or take short bus rides. The 50th Avenue location is accessible to local residents, though traffic and parking can be challenging during drop-off and pick-up.