At a Glance
A large zoned middle school in central Staten Island where math proficiency has climbed 23 points in a decade
Best suited for
Families zoned for the area who want a neighborhood middle school with a track record of academic improvement and unusually strong principal-family communication — and who are comfortable with a large-school environment and a car-dependent commute.
Overall Rating
Rating = average of NY State ELA + math proficiency, grades 3–8
Bands are Motley's thresholds on a 0–100 scale, not New York State performance levels.
How this is scored→What stands out
- Math proficiency climbed from 39.9% in 2016 to 63.1% in 2025 — one of the more substantial multi-year gains in the district.
- Parent-principal trust at 97% is unusually high and signals strong family-administration engagement.
- A relatively Asian-heavy student body (28%) for a Staten Island middle school, reflecting the neighborhood's demographic mix.
- 23% of students have IEPs, well above many peer schools — reflecting the school's special-education role in the zone (SE designation).
- Accelerated/Honors coursework is available, giving high-performing students an academic track beyond standard curriculum.
Things to consider
- Chronic absenteeism at 70.8% is high and worth asking about — particularly the 88% rate reported for Asian students, which is striking.
- Suspension rate of 1% is more than double the district average, though trending down from a recent peak.
- With 1,483 students and class sizes near 24, this is a large-school environment — not for families seeking a smaller, more intimate setting.
- 6th-grade proficiency lags meaningfully behind 7th and 8th grades, so the transition year can be tough.
- No subway within a 20-minute walk means driving or bus commuting for most families outside the immediate zone.
Based on 2024-25 data
School SummaryDistrict 31
The school sits at essentially the District 31 average on the overall quality score (2.44 vs. 2.45), making it a typical District 31 middle school — though most listed peer institutions are elementary schools, limiting direct within-district middle-school comparisons. What sets it apart is the sustained academic climb over the past decade, which has closed what was once a sizable gap.
Academics
Current proficiency runs close to or just above the district average: math at 63.1% edges out the district's 61.0%, while ELA at 59% sits just under the district's 61.3%, and science lands at 54.5%. The more meaningful story is the trajectory — math proficiency has climbed from 39.9% in 2016 to 63.1% in 2025, a 23-point gain, and ELA has improved from 44.1% to 59% over the same period. Score-by-grade shows 6th graders trailing 7th and 8th (56.1% ELA vs. ~60% in the upper grades), a common adjustment-year pattern at large middle schools.
Culture
Parent engagement is a real strength here: 93% satisfaction, 94% parent-teacher trust, 97% parent-principal trust, and 610 families responded to the survey — that's active participation in a school of this size. Teachers are somewhat less bullish, with 90% rating instruction positively (below the district's 93%) though 93% trust the principal. Discipline is modest: 1% of students were suspended in 2023–24, more than double the district average, though suspensions have come down from 17 the prior year. Attendance rate of 92% is healthy, but chronic absenteeism is high at 70.8% — meaning roughly seven in ten students miss 10% or more of school days, with Asian students reporting notably higher rates (88%) than Hispanic peers (53.6%).
Community
The student body of 1,483 is 40% White, 28% Asian, 24% Hispanic, 6% Black, and 2% multiracial — a more Asian-heavy profile than the typical NYC middle school, and one that roughly mirrors the surrounding neighborhood's demographics. About a quarter of students qualify for special education services (23% IEP), and the economic need index sits in the moderate range at 51.5. Average class size is 23.4, right at the district norm.
Neighborhood
New Springville–Willowbrook–Bulls Head–Travis is a solidly middle-class residential pocket of Staten Island, with median household income just under $98,000, a 10.5% poverty rate, and 76% homeownership — one of the more homeowner-heavy neighborhoods in the borough. Median home values around $641,000 and a quarter of households include children, which fits the family-oriented feel of the area. About 34% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
The school is beyond walking distance of any subway station, so families commute by car or bus — typical for this part of Staten Island.
Academic Performance
ELA Proficiency
Students scoring proficient or above on the NY State ELA exam.
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Math Proficiency
Students scoring proficient or above on the NY State Math exam.
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Science Proficiency
Students scoring proficient or above on the NY State Science exam.
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Historical Trends
The dashed line marks 2023, when New York changed its grades 3–8 state tests. Scores before and after it aren’t directly comparable.
2020–2021 data unavailable due to COVID-19
Source: NYC DOE School Quality Reports
Survey Results
NYC School Survey (2025) · 610 families responded (41% rate)
Programs & Activities
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Discipline
NYSED Student & Educator Database (2023-24)
Economic Need & Special Populations
How to get in, step by step
Middle school (6th grade)
Middle school is one citywide application, made in 5th grade. I.S. 072 Rocco Laurie admits through one program, and each one has its own admissions method:
- Rocco Laurie (I.S. 72)Zoned349 seats
Middle school application
- Opened
- Wed, Oct 14
- Closes
- Fri, Dec 11
- Offers
- Wed, Apr 7
The DOE’s published dates.
- 1Apply on MySchools during the middle school application, in 5th grade.
- 2Zoned programs give priority to students who live in the zone — a priority, not a guaranteed seat.
- 3Rank programs in true preference order — the match places your child in the highest-ranked one that offers a seat.
Open houses and tours
The Police Officer Rocco Laurie Intermediate School 72 I.S.72
Wed, Nov 4, · 5:00 PM · In person
From the MySchools admissions calendar, checked weekly.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is I.S. 072 Rocco Laurie a good school?
- On Motley, I.S. 072 Rocco Laurie earns an overall rating of 61/100 — the average of the school's New York State ELA and math proficiency, grades 3–8, shown out of 100. Its state test results run in line with the District 31 average.
- What grades does I.S. 072 Rocco Laurie serve?
- I.S. 072 Rocco Laurie serves grades 6 to 8.
- How do students get into I.S. 072 Rocco Laurie?
- I.S. 072 Rocco Laurie admits by zone — students who live in its zone get priority over students from outside it, but not a guaranteed seat.
- Is I.S. 072 Rocco Laurie public, charter, or private?
- I.S. 072 Rocco Laurie is a public school in NYC Community School District 31.
- What neighborhood is I.S. 072 Rocco Laurie in?
- I.S. 072 Rocco Laurie is in New Springville-Willowbrook-Bulls Head-Travis, Staten Island.