Irwin Altman Middle School 172

Test scores sit slightly below the District 26 averages — ELA at 71.6% versus the district's 75.8%, and math at 70.5% versus 80.2% — placing this school in the middle tier of a consistently high-performing district. However, the math trajectory is encouraging: scores have climbed from 54.6% in 2016 to 74.3% in 2024, a 20-point gain over eight years. ELA has been more volatile, peaking at 76.3% in 2022 before settling at current levels. Grade 8 students perform strongest (76.9% ELA, 74.5% math), suggesting the school does well with older middle schoolers who have matured into the screened program. Science proficiency at 41.9% is notably lower than literacy and math, which may reflect less emphasis or different instructional time allocation.

The school's survey data reveals a genuinely strong community culture — parent satisfaction sits at 92%, parent-teacher trust at 92%, and parent-principal trust even higher at 95%. Teachers report solid collegial trust (85%) and reasonable trust in leadership (88%), though teacher-rated instruction quality at 84% trails the district average of 90%, which is worth noting. Attendance is near district average at 93.8%, but chronic absenteeism is striking at 78.7% — meaning roughly four in five students miss significant school time, with Asian students (84.9%) and multiracial students (91.7%) showing the highest rates. Discipline is minimal with only a 1% suspension rate, though the trend has increased from 1 suspension in 2021-22 to 7 in 2023-24 — still low absolute numbers but a trajectory worth watching. The day-to-day feel appears collaborative and trusting, though chronic absenteeism suggests some families may be opting out of regular attendance despite overall satisfaction with the school's program.

The student body is 64% Asian, with Hispanic students at 15%, Black and White students each at 9%, and smaller populations of Native American (2%) and multiracial (1%) students. This composition closely mirrors the Glen Oaks-Floral Park-New Hyde Park neighborhood, which is affluent (median household income $115,393), highly educated (50.6% BA+), and predominantly homeowner (75.1%). The economic need index of 46.3% is moderate, and 16% of students have IEPs — fairly typical for a middle school. The diversity index of 63% indicates meaningful demographic variety within the Asian-majority population. This is a community of working professionals and families who value education, though the school draws from a wider geographic area due to its screened admissions.

The Glen Oaks-Floral Park-New Hyde Park area in eastern Queens is a stable, family-centric neighborhood with tree-lined streets, high homeownership rates, and relatively low poverty (7.7%). Safety scores are solid at 77th percentile, and the education orientation is strong at 77th percentile, reflecting a community that prioritizes schools. Transit access is limited (27th percentile), so most families drive or walk — the area is auto-oriented. There are local parks and the neighborhood isquiet, with the typical character of a bedroom community in Queens. Families should expect to drive to most destinations; this is not a walkable urban environment.

The school is in a car-dependent area of eastern Queens — families will need to drive or arrange carpools, as public transit options are limited and the neighborhood is spread out across residential streets.