I.S. 289

I.S. 289 delivers strong math results — 81.9% proficiency versus the district average of 72.5% — placing it among the higher-performing schools in District 2 on this measure. ELA performance (68.9%) runs slightly below the district average of 73.2%, though scores have fluctuated over time, reaching a peak of 79.7% in 2022 before settling back. What stands out is the grade-level progression: 8th graders achieve 88.1% ELA proficiency, a remarkable jump from 6th graders at 57.7%, suggesting strong academic growth during the middle school years. The overall quality score of 3.02/4 is slightly above the district average of 2.91, indicating solid but not top-tier performance relative to peers.

The school enjoys exceptional family trust — 95% parent-teacher trust and 96% parent-principal trust are both well above district averages. Parent satisfaction sits at 91%, and the family survey response rate of 84% indicates strong engagement. However, there's a notable divide in the adult community: while families feel heard, teachers report notably lower trust in leadership (73%) compared to their colleagues (80%). This suggests some tension between staff and administration that parents may want to inquire about. Discipline is minimal — just 2 suspensions in 2023-24 (1% rate) — though this represents a slight upward trend from 0 in 2021-22. The day-to-day feel appears positive for families, but the staff satisfaction picture is more mixed.

The student body is diverse (diversity index: 74%) with a plurality Asian population (46%), followed by white (27%), Hispanic (17%), Black (6%), and multiracial (4%) students. Nearly a quarter (23%) of students have IEPs, and 47% qualify for free or reduced lunch — notably lower than the neighborhood's extreme wealth would suggest, meaning the school serves a economically mixed population. At 236 students across three grades, class sizes average 25.8 — essentially the same as the district average. The school draws from beyond the immediate neighborhood (given only 13.9% of Financial District households have children), creating a community of families who've actively chosen this school, which may explain the high family trust scores.

The Financial District-Battery Park City is one of Manhattan's most distinctive neighborhoods — a high-rise hub with extreme wealth (median household income $192,111), pristine waterfront parks (Battery Park, the esplanade), and world-class transit (99.23 score, among the highest in the city). However, it's notably child-poor: only 13.9% of households have children, and the family density score of 91.95 reflects families who live here rather than the presence of kids on the streets during school hours. The neighborhood scores poorly on safety (27.2) — higher crime density and collision rates than many areas — though this is typical of downtown commercial districts. Education orientation is high (89.66), reflecting the educated parent population even if they don't live here year-round. There are relatively few playground or family-oriented infrastructure compared to residential neighborhoods.

Given the neighborhood's transit score of 99.23 and high-rise density, most families arrive via subway or PATH — the school is steps from multiple transit lines. Walking is common for local residents, though the area sees heavy commuter traffic during rush hours. The lack of children in the immediate neighborhood means many families commute from other boroughs or neighborhoods, making the strong transit access essential.