J.H.S. 143 Eleanor Roosevelt

Proficiency rates here trail the district by a wide margin — 27.9% in ELA versus a district average of 47%, and 25.2% in math versus 52% — but the trajectory tells a different story. Math proficiency has climbed from 6.8% in 2016 to 25.2% in 2025, and ELA has more than doubled from 13.2% to 27.9%. One unusual pattern: seventh-graders outperform their sixth- and eighth-grade peers substantially (34% ELA, 38.5% math), suggesting something about how the school engages students in the middle of their cycle. The overall quality score of 1.06 out of 4 sits below the district's 1.98, so this isn't a top performer on paper — but for families who care about momentum, it's worth a closer look.

The discipline picture is genuinely clean — zero suspensions in 2023-24, and only two the year before — which suggests a calm, well-managed building. Parents clearly feel heard: 97% trust the principal, 97% trust their child's teacher, and parent satisfaction lands at 93%, right at the district average. The flip side is that 62% of students are chronically absent, which is a serious hurdle, and teachers rated instructional quality at 75% — well below the district's 90%. Day-to-day, this looks like a warm, family-driven school where adults and parents are aligned, but where getting kids through the door consistently is the ongoing challenge.

Almost nine in ten students here are Hispanic, with smaller shares of Black, White, and Asian students, giving the school a diversity index of just 25% — among the most homogeneous in the city. The economic need index of 90.5% means nearly every student qualifies for free lunch, and 26% have IEPs. This mirrors the surrounding Washington Heights neighborhood closely, where Dominican and other Latino families make up the cultural backbone. For families from that community, the school can feel like an extension of home; for families seeking cross-cultural exposure at the middle-school level, it's a real tradeoff to weigh.

Washington Heights, on the northern end where this school sits, is a working- and middle-class neighborhood with a median household income just under $77,000 and a poverty rate around 14%. About 13% of households include children, and roughly 42% of adults hold a bachelor's degree. Homeownership is low at 17.5%, reflecting a population that overwhelmingly rents and stays long-term. The neighborhood has deep Dominican roots and a dense, walkable residential character.

The 1 train at 181st Street is about a 3-minute walk from the school, making this an easy commute for nearby families. The 1 at 191st Street and the A at 181st Street are each about a 9-minute walk, giving a couple of options depending on direction.