J.H.S. 008 Richard S. Grossley

Test scores show genuine improvement from a very low baseline — ELA climbed from 11% in 2016 to the mid-40s today, and math from under 7% to 44%. But the school remains well below District 28 averages (62.8% ELA, 62.8% math), meaning students are catching up but not yet meeting district expectations. Grade 8 outperforms grades 6 and 7 in ELA (52.7% vs. ~43%), suggesting the longer students stay, the better they perform. The 1.81 overall score reflects these ongoing challenges despite clear upward momentum.

The survey data tells a compelling story: families trust this school's leadership enormously (96% parent-principal trust, 95% parent-teacher trust), and teachers do too (92% teacher-principal trust). Instruction quality rates 86% — solid though slightly below the district average of 91.7%. The discipline picture is notably gentle: just 1% suspension rate with only 3 suspensions in 2023-24, down from 10 the prior year. However, chronic absenteeism at 60.7% is a serious concern — nearly two-thirds of students are missing significant school time, with particularly high rates among Asian (77%) and Native American (76.9%) students. The day-to-day feel seems supportive and relational, but attendance is undermining outcomes.

This is a small school of 400 students with a demographics profile that mirrors South Jamaica's diversity: 41% Black, 29% Hispanic, 19% Asian, and notably 10% Native American (likely including significant Caribbean and Indigenous heritage populations). The economic need index of 75.1 indicates most families face significant financial challenges. IEP students represent 21% of the population. The school draws from a neighborhood where 20% of households have children and homeownership is moderate at 46%.

South Jamaica is a tight-knit Queens neighborhood with a family-oriented character — 20% of households have children, homeownership is a healthy 46.3%, and median home values of $587,639 reflect stability. However, the area scores below median on transit (39.85) and education orientation (34.1), meaning families here are not particularly focused on school options the way some NYC neighborhoods are. Safety scores (49.04) and environmental health concerns (elevated lead and asthma rates) are notable, and the education orientation score suggests many families may not be navigating traditional academic pathways.

Transit access is limited in South Jamaica — most families likely drive or rely on buses, and the neighborhood's lower walkability score reflects that car-dependent feel. Families should plan for commute logistics.