J.H.S. 104 Simon Baruch

Simon Baruch consistently delivers strong academic results, with 82.8% ELA proficiency and 76.4% math proficiency—each running roughly 10 percentage points above the District 2 averages. The school's upward trajectory over the past decade is notable: ELA climbed from 60.8% in 2016 to above 80% by 2023, while math similarly climbed from the low-60s to the mid-70s. The 2024-25 school year shows math and ELA both holding strong in the high-70s to low-80s range, suggesting these gains have stabilized. Grade-level data shows particularly strong performance in grades 7 and 8 (84.3% in both ELA and math for both grades), while grade 6 shows slightly lower math proficiency at 66.3%—a typical pattern as students transition into middle school.

The survey data tells a powerful story: teachers rate their own instruction quality at 98%, and families report 96% trust in the principal and 94% trust in teachers—these are exceptional numbers that suggest a genuinely healthy school culture. The school has also brought down suspensions from 15 in 2022-23 to 11 in 2023-24, a 27% reduction. However, chronic absenteeism is a significant concern at 76.3% overall, with stark disparities: white students at 86.2% and Asian students at 91.6% miss far more school than Black (51.3%) and Hispanic (48.6%) students. This suggests attendance may be tied to family travel patterns or health in higher-income households rather than school climate issues.

The student body reflects the neighborhood's character: 38% Asian, 33% white, 18% Hispanic, and 6% Black, with a 75% diversity index—significantly more diverse than many District 2 peers like the Lower Lab (which is predominantly Asian and white). With 38.9% economic need index and 17% IEP students, the population includes a meaningful mix of backgrounds. The school draws from a neighborhood where median household income exceeds $150,000 and 83% of adults hold BA+ degrees, yet the school itself maintains economic diversity with a substantial Hispanic population and more working-class families than the surrounding neighborhood might suggest.

Gramercy is one of Manhattan's most transit-accessible and education-focused neighborhoods, ranking in the 98th percentile for transit and 97th percentile for education orientation. Families benefit from easy subway access, yet the neighborhood scores poorly on safety (17th percentile) and health environment metrics, with elevated rates of childhood asthma and lead exposure concerns that parents should factor into their calculus. The area skews older and wealthier than most of the city, with only 10% of households having children—making this a school that serves a somewhat unusual population for the neighborhood.

The school is highly walkable from most of Gramercy and adjacent neighborhoods, with excellent subway access via the 6 train at 23rd Street and multiple bus lines. Families from the East Side frequently walk or take the bus; those coming from Brooklyn or upper Manhattan will likely rely on transit.