James Weldon Johnson

Test scores have been volatile but showed meaningful improvement in 2025 — ELA jumped 9 percentage points to 37.7% and math rose 8 points to 29.2%, the strongest showing in years. However, both remain well below the District 4 averages of 49.8% ELA and 45.2% math. The school scored just 1.34 out of 4 overall, compared to the district's 1.90. Grade-level patterns show brighter spots: Grade 3 math hits 51.6%, Grade 5 ELA reaches 50%, and Grade 8 ELA hits 43.1% — suggesting some grade levels are breaking through while others struggle. The 93.8% economic need index means nearly every student faces significant challenges outside the classroom, which contextualizes the uphill climb.

The survey data tells a compelling story: this is a school where families feel genuinely welcomed and valued. Parent satisfaction sits at 97%, with equally strong trust scores for teachers and the principal. Teachers report 91% instruction quality and 91% trust in leadership — well above district averages. The suspension rate dropped from 10 in 2022-23 to just 4 in 2023-24, showing meaningful discipline improvement. However, chronic absenteeism is a serious concern at 50%, nearly double what educators consider acceptable, and attendance (86.8%) lags slightly behind the district average. The day-to-day feel seems to be one of strong relationships and improving safety culture, but chronic absenteeism suggests some families are still struggling to engage consistently.

The student body is 72% Hispanic and 23% Black, reflecting East Harlem's demographics. With 93.8% economic need index and 28% IEP students, this is a high-need population. The diversity index sits at 44%. Class sizes average 20.1 students, right at the district average. The school offers ELL support for multilingual learners — the only specialized program listed, scoring low on program richness at 34.7/100.

East Harlem is a densely populated, transit-rich neighborhood with a strong Puerto Rican and Dominican heritage, increasingly attracting young families. The median household income of $36,709 and poverty rate of 33.2% reflect economic challenges, while the education orientation score of 72.8 shows families in the area value schooling. Transit access is excellent (82.76 percentile), but safety scores are low (9.58) and environmental health indicators show concerns — asthma rates and lead exposure are elevated. Family density is very high (93.49 percentile), meaning lots of kids in the neighborhood.

Given the high family density and excellent transit access, most families likely walk or take public transportation. The 8% homeownership rate suggests most families are renters, which may contribute to the transient nature reflected in the low stability score.