J.H.S. 167 Robert F. Wagner

Wagner's academic performance sits comfortably above the District 2 average — ELA proficiency of 79.1% beats the district mean of 73.2%, while Math at 82.6% outpaces the district's 72.5% by a full 10 points. The school's overall score of 3.23 out of 4 reflects consistent quality across years, though 2024 showed a slight dip in ELA (77.6%) before recovering to 79.1% in 2025. Math has been particularly strong, climbing from 70.3% in 2016 to 82.6% this year. Grade-level data shows steady growth — 8th graders outperform 6th graders by 8+ points in both subjects, suggesting the school does a solid job building skills over the middle school years.

The survey data tells a story of strong community trust paired with some operational challenges. Parent satisfaction runs at 89%, with parent-teacher and parent-principal trust both at 93% — numbers that suggest families feel heard and respected. Teacher collegial trust is also high at 88%. However, teacher instruction quality scores 83%, which falls below the district average of 89.8%, a gap worth noting. Attendance is strong at 93.1% (above the 92% district average), but chronic absenteeism is strikingly high at 79.4%, with particularly elevated rates among white (85.6%) and Asian (87.1%) students — suggesting families may be keeping kids home for reasons beyond illness. Discipline is minimal with just 5 suspensions last year and a 0% suspension rate, a dramatic drop from 10 suspensions in 2021-22.

The student body reflects its affluent Upper East Side neighborhood: 51% white, 20% Asian, 16% Hispanic, and 7% Black, with a diversity index of 73%. The economic need index of 26.5% is notably low — far below many Manhattan schools — meaning most families here have resources to support learning at home. With 16% IEP students, the school serves a typical range of learners, and offers ELL support alongside accelerated academics. The 30% family survey response rate is decent but not exceptional, while the 64 teacher survey responses suggest solid (if not universal) staff engagement.

The Upper East Side-Lenox Hill area is one of Manhattan's most family-oriented neighborhoods, with an education orientation score of 90.04 and a family density ranking in the 99th percentile. Median household income of $138,621 and a poverty rate of just 8% define the economic landscape, while the median home value of $1.2 million underscores the investment families make to live here. Transit access is excellent (84.67 score), making the school reachable from broader Manhattan. Safety scores are moderate (35.63), typical for a dense urban area, and the neighborhood offers numerous parks, museums, and family resources along its tree-lined streets.

Very walkable — many families live within blocks of the school, and the neighborhood's grid layout makes walking or biking common. For those coming from farther away, the 4/5/6 subway lines along Lexington Avenue and the Q train on Second Avenue provide solid options.