I.S. 093 Ridgewood

Test scores at I.S. 093 Ridgewood fall well below the District 24 averages — ELA at 35.2% and math at 30.7% compared to district medians of 51% and 55%. The school showed meaningful improvement through 2019 (reaching 44.5% ELA and 43.2% math), but scores have since declined, with 2025 returning to levels not seen since 2016. Grade 8 students particularly struggle in math, with only 23.4% proficient compared to 36.6% in Grade 6. The overall quality score of 1.32 out of 4 places this school in the lower tier of Queens middle schools.

The climate data tells a nuanced story. Families report exceptionally high satisfaction (94%), and teachers show nearly unanimous trust in leadership (98% principal trust, 97% instruction quality). These are strong indicators of a functional, supportive environment. However, chronic absenteeism at 66.5% is a serious concern — far above the district average — suggesting that while families trust the school, getting students there consistently is a challenge. The school has achieved zero suspensions for three consecutive years, a significant accomplishment that aligns with its high trust scores. The day-to-day feel appears collaborative and supportive, but attendance engagement remains a hurdle.

The student body is predominantly Hispanic (75%) with significant white representation (17%) and a small Asian population (6%). This mirrors the neighborhood's demographics, where the population is working-class and family-dense with a 12.6% poverty rate. Twenty percent of students have IEPs, and the school has ELL support programs. The economic need index of 71.9 indicates significant student hardship, though the community skews toward families with moderate incomes ($83,559 median household income). The diversity index of 46% reflects a relatively homogeneous student population.

Ridgewood is a Queens neighborhood with a family-oriented character — only 17.2% of households have children, but the family density score of 60.54 reflects a stable residential character. The area has strong transit access (73.18) making commuting feasible, though safety perceptions are moderate (39.85). Homeownership is low at 20.4%, and median home values exceed $1 million, indicating a neighborhood in transition. The education orientation score is modest (38.31), suggesting this isn't a hyper-competitive academic enclave.

Ridgewood is served by multiple bus lines and has moderate walkability. Families in the immediate area can walk, while others rely on the area's solid transit options.