I.S. 204 Oliver W. Holmes

Test scores at I.S. 204 have climbed substantially from their 2016 lows (ELA has risen 15.7 points, math 12.7 points), but the trajectory has flattened and even reversed slightly in recent years. The 2025 ELA proficiency of 41.9% places the school well below the District 30 average of 60.7%, and math at 40.4% lags even further behind the district's 62.2%. Grade-level data shows Grade 8 performs strongest in ELA (43.3%), while Grade 7 leads in math (44.5%). The school’s overall quality rating of 1.65 out of 4 reflects these continued gaps — families should understand that students here are performing below their district peers, though the upward historical trend shows real improvement from earlier years.

The survey data here is genuinely striking: 99% of teachers rate instruction quality highly, 96-97% of parents express satisfaction and trust in both teachers and the principal, and 95% of teachers report trust in their colleagues. These numbers suggest a school where people feel respected and heard — a温暖的小社会 in a neighborhood where that matters. However, attendance is a concern: the 89.8% attendance rate trails the district average, and a alarming 61.8% of students are chronically absent. The suspension rate of 4% (compared to a district average of just 0.28%) and an upward trend in suspensions (from 5 to 16 over three years) suggest discipline remains a challenge. The day-to-day feel appears collaborative and supportive at the interpersonal level, but structural attendance and behavior patterns need attention.

With just 378 students across grades 6-8, this is a small school where most families know each other. The student body is predominantly Hispanic (59%), with significant Asian (17%), Black (14%), and White (9%) populations — reflecting the surrounding neighborhood's demographics. A quarter of students have IEPs, and the economic need index of 83.9 indicates nearly universal free lunch eligibility. This is a community of working families, many of whom rent rather than own (only 16.4% homeownership in the neighborhood), and the school's diverse makeup mirrors that fabric.

Queensbridge-Ravenswood-Dutch Kills is a dense, transit-accessible Queens neighborhood with a strong identity as a working-class community. The median home value of $841,040 reflects the broader Queens housing market, but the 19.4% poverty rate and low homeownership suggest many families here are renters navigating rising costs. The neighborhood scores low on safety (36.4 percentile) and stability (29.5), which are things parents should factor in. Transit access is moderate (57th percentile), and family density is decent (62nd percentile). There's a sense here of a community that has held on as the city changed around it — families who value roots and affordability.

The school is situated in a walkable urban grid near 36th Avenue/28th Street in Long Island City. Many families from the immediate blocks walk or take short bus rides; those coming from farther in District 30 may have longer commutes.