I.S. R002 George L. Egbert

Test scores here have climbed meaningfully over the past nine years — ELA rose from 40% to 54% and math more than doubled from 31% to 53% — a trajectory that reflects genuine instructional progress. However, current proficiency rates (ELA 51.4%, Math 52%, Science 46.5%) remain below the district averages of 61% for both ELA and math, and the school received an overall quality score of 2.07 out of 4, compared to the district average of 2.45. Grade-level breakdowns show relatively consistent performance across sixth, seventh, and eighth grades, with eighth graders slightly outpacing peers in math (56.1%). The trend line is positive overall, though the 2025 scores dipped slightly from 2024 peaks, suggesting the school may be hitting a plateau.

The survey data reveals a school with unusually strong family relationships but weaker internal teacher culture. Parents report 92% satisfaction, 94% trust in teachers, and 95% trust in the principal — numbers that signal families feel heard and respected. Teacher-reported instruction quality (88%) falls below the district average of 93%, and notably, only 78% of teachers trust the principal (compared to 95% of parents), with collegial trust among staff at 72%. Attendance is the clearest concern: while the overall attendance rate of 91.9% aligns with the district, a striking 71.9% of students are chronically absent, with particularly high rates among Asian students (90%) and female students (73.8%). Suspensions remain low at 1% (13 students), holding steady over the past three years. The day-to-day feel appears to be one where families who are engaged are very well served, but a significant portion of the student body is showing disengagement through absences.

The school enrolls 939 students in a demographically mixed middle school: 39% White, 31% Hispanic, 23% Asian, and 6% Black, with a diversity index of 73%. The economic need index of 66.6% indicates a substantial portion of students come from families facing financial challenges, and 23% of students have IEPs. The neighborhood — New Dorp-Midland Beach — is predominantly owner-occupied (75.1%) with a median household income of $91,669 and a low poverty rate of 9.5%. This creates an interesting tension: a relatively affluent, stable neighborhood with a school population that includes significant economic need. The community skews toward families with school-age children (households with children at 23.4%, though family density scores lower at 31.03).

New Dorp-Midland Beach is a stable, family-oriented Staten Island neighborhood with a strong residential character and high homeownership rates. The area scores well on safety (70.88 percentile) and environmental health (95.02 percentile), though transit access is moderate (50.57). The neighborhood is fairly walkable with typical Staten Island suburban street patterns — families generally drive or use local bus routes. There's a suburban feel here rather than the density of other NYC neighborhoods, with single-family homes and small apartment complexes dominating. The community skews older and more established, with a BA+ education rate of 30.1% and median home values around $652,000.

Families typically walk, drive, or take local buses — the neighborhood has a suburban layout with moderate walkability. Many students live within a mile, though some travel from further-flung parts of Staten Island, which can mean longer commutes than in more transit-dense boroughs.