J.H.S. 202 Robert H. Goddard

Goddard's academic story is the kind of turnaround that's hard to ignore. In 2016, just 31% of students were proficient in math and 37% in ELA. By 2025, those numbers climbed to 62% math and 59% ELA — both meaningfully above the district 27 averages of roughly 57% math and 56% ELA. The math gains are especially striking and have been consistent year over year. Science proficiency sits lower at 42%, which is the academic area most worth watching. Overall score of 2.4 out of 4 edges out the district average of 2.27. Scores by grade show steady improvement from 6th to 8th grade in ELA, while math is fairly flat across grades — suggesting the school does a good job of keeping math growth going through the middle school years.

The climate data here tells a story of strong relationships coexisting with real challenges. Trust scores are excellent: parent-teacher trust at 94%, parent-principal at 95%, teacher-principal at 93%, and teacher-reported instruction quality at 95% — all comfortably above the district averages. The school earned a 93% parent satisfaction rating against a district average of 92.6%, and the 79% family survey response rate suggests families are genuinely engaged, not just passively enrolled. The chronic absenteeism rate, however, is high at 66% — about two-thirds of students miss 10% or more of school days. That's worth thinking about, though it's consistent with a post-pandemic citywide pattern. Discipline is the other consideration: after very low suspension counts in 2021–22 (3) and 2022–23 (2), suspensions jumped to 17 in 2023–24. The 2% suspension rate is four times the district average of 0.5%, and that's something to ask the school about directly.

The student body is about 48% Hispanic and 35% Asian, with smaller groups of Black, White, Native American, and multiracial students making up the rest. That mix reflects the neighborhood: Ozone Park is a working- and middle-class area with a $83,000 median household income, 58% homeownership, and a below-city poverty rate. About 70% of Goddard students qualify as economically needy, which is higher than the neighborhood median income alone would suggest — families here are juggling real economic pressure, and the school's strong PTA fundraising (about $90 per student) helps bridge gaps. The 17% IEP rate and ELL support offerings mean this is a school that actively serves students across a wide range of needs.

Ozone Park is a largely homeowner neighborhood in southern Queens where most families own rather than rent their homes. Median household income is about $83,000 — solidly middle class — and the poverty rate is 9.4%, well below city averages. About 23% of households have children, and 27% of adults have a bachelor's degree. It's the kind of place where neighbors know each other and where the schools tend to reflect the family-density of the area.

Getting to Goddard by subway means riding the A train. Rockaway Blvd is about a 14-minute walk, Aqueduct Racetrack is about 11 minutes, and 88 St is about 14 minutes. Most families likely walk, drive, or take the school bus rather than the subway — none of these stations are exactly at the doorstep.