At a Glance
A sprawling Queens high school where six themed academies compete fiercely for seats — and zero suspensions signal a calm, structured culture.
Best suited for
Ambitious students who want a structured, college-prep academy — with IB, Pre-Med, or Law pathways available — and who thrive in a large, diverse, commuter-friendly environment.
Overall Rating
Rating = average of 4-year graduation, English Regents college-ready and Regents completion · DOE 2025 report
Bands are Motley's thresholds on a 0–100 scale, not New York State performance levels.
How this is scored→What stands out
- Six screened academies, including two IB programs and a Pre-Med track that draw nearly 500 applicants each
- Zero suspensions against a district average of 0.5%, rare for a school of this size
- Program richness score of 100/100, among the highest in District 27
- Teacher instruction quality at 92%, slightly above district norms
- Partnerships with Columbia Science Honors Program and Aspira add external academic and leadership pipelines
Things to consider
- Very large school at 2,327 students — a significant jump from most middle schools and not a fit for every kid
- Highly competitive admissions: the Future Educators and Law academies had offer rates under 20%
- Family survey response was only 17%, so satisfaction figures reflect an engaged subset rather than the whole parent body
- Overall parent satisfaction (89%) is a notch below the district average of 92.6%
- Class size of 23.4 matches the district average — not unusually small despite the screened selectivity
Based on 2024-25 data
School SummaryDistrict 27
Adams is a flagship screened high school in District 27, sitting alongside Scholars' Academy and a cluster of high-performing charters. Within the traditional public school portfolio, it stands out for its breadth of themed academies and its remarkably low suspension count.
Academics
School-level proficiency figures aren't included in this snapshot, so direct comparisons to the district's 56% ELA and 57% math averages aren't possible here. What the data does show is a rigorous college-prep spine: AP courses, two IB programs within the academies, a STEM/First Robotics track, and a program-richness score of 100/100 — among the highest in the district. The Columbia Science Honors Program partnership adds an external validation layer that few peer schools can match.
Culture
Teacher instruction quality (92%) and teacher-principal trust (89%) sit slightly above district averages, suggesting faculty feel supported and confident in classroom leadership. Parent-teacher and parent-principal trust both register at 92%, strong indicators that families feel heard even though overall parent satisfaction (89%) runs a tick below the district's 92.6%. The standout climate signal is zero suspensions against a district average of 0.5% — exceptionally rare for a school of this size, and consistent with a structured, academy-based environment. The low family survey response rate (17%) is worth weighing, since satisfaction numbers reflect a self-selected slice of parents rather than the full community.
Community
Adams is one of the most diverse large high schools in Queens — a 73% diversity index with Asian (34%), Hispanic (35%), and Black (25%) students making up the bulk of the body, plus small White, Native American, and multiracial shares. The 74.3% economic need index reflects a working- and middle-class mix, and 15% of students have IEPs, in line with what you'd expect at a large screened high school. The surrounding South Ozone Park neighborhood skews middle-income and family-rooted, with a median household income near $98,000 and 69% homeownership — well above city norms.
Neighborhood
South Ozone Park is a stable, family-rooted pocket of Queens anchored by long-time homeowners — roughly 69% own their homes, with a median home value of about $652,000. About one in five households includes children, a higher share than much of the borough, and the poverty rate sits comfortably below the city average. Residents commute widely across the region, but locally the A line ties the neighborhood directly into the rest of Queens and Manhattan.
Three A line stations sit within easy reach: 104 St (A) about a 3-minute walk, Rockaway Blvd (A) about 6 minutes, and 111 St (A) about 10 minutes from the building.
Survey Results
NYC School Survey (2025) · 381 families responded (17% rate)
Programs & Activities
Admissions Demand
STEM and International Baccalaureate Academy is a rigorous program of study for highly motivated students. The goal of the STEM-IB Program is to develop well-rounded students who are ready to take advanced courses in preparation for college. Students who successfully complete the IB coursework/requirements will receive the globally recognized IB Diploma. Students studying in the STEM academy will learn from teachers who are passionate about their subjects and their students' future. Students will immerse themselves in engineering, robotics, Virtual Reality/ Augmented reality and computer science courses with the opportunity to earn industry credit and opportunities to exercise their skills in real-world experiences. In the STEM Academy, students are able to take, IB, AP, SUNY Farmingdale and CUNY College Now courses to earn up to 30 college credits.
Prepares students for careers in social sciences, law, and international relations. Students will participate in Model UN, Moot Court, and Mock Trial.
This is a rigorous program of study for highly motivated students. The goal of the International Baccalaureaute (IB) Program is to develop well-rounded students with character who respond to challenges with optimism and an open mind. Students who successfully complete the IB coursework/requirements will receive the globally recognized IB Diploma. Pre-Med includes approved curricula in medical/health careers, psychology, anatomy and physiology (with Z-Space AR), First Aide/CPR, and clinical medical assistant profession skills.
Prepares students for careers in photography, sculpting, journalism, video production, studio recording, writing, theater, and fine arts. Students will participate in creating published newsletters, cyber journalism, yearbook, play productions, and the literary magazine.
Prepares students for careers in business and computer science. Students will participate in Virtual Enterprise, Microsoft certiport certification, Co-Op Tech, and internships. Students will be able to earn a CDOS credential upon graduation.
Our students will develop the 21st century skills needed to be the highly effective educators and leaders of tomorrow. In addition, students will receive a hands-on experience with communication and public speaking, organization and management skills. Students will have the ability to mentor, become a teacher assistant and lead peer education opportunities. FELA provides opportunities to gain college credits through participation in AP and college credited courses during the school day.
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Discipline
NYSED Student & Educator Database
Economic Need & Special Populations
How to get in, step by step
High school (9th grade)
High school is one citywide application, made in 8th grade. John Adams High School admits through 8 programs, and each one has its own admissions method:
- Art History & Fine ArtsScreened30 seats
- Business InstituteEd. Opt.102 seats
- Environmental and Science Investigative InstituteEd. Opt.68 seats
- Law and International Studies InstituteEd. Opt.102 seats
- Media & Communication Arts InstituteEd. Opt.102 seats
- Medical and Fitness CareersEd. Opt.102 seats
- S.T.E.M. AcademyScreened30 seats
- ZonedZoned
High school application
- Opened
- Tue, Oct 6
- Closes
- Fri, Dec 4
- Offers
- Wed, Mar 3
The DOE’s published dates.
- 1Apply on MySchools during the high school application, in 8th grade.
- 2Screened programs rank the 7th-grade core-course average, so last year's final grades are the ones that count.
- 3Educational Option programs fill in equal shares across three reading levels, half by the school's ranking and half by lottery.
- 4Zoned programs give priority to students who live in the zone — a priority, not a guaranteed seat.
- 5Rank programs in true preference order — the match places your child in the highest-ranked one that offers a seat.
Open houses and tours
We haven’t seen open-house dates for this school yet.
From the MySchools admissions calendar, checked weekly.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is John Adams High School a good school?
- On Motley, John Adams High School earns an overall rating of 66/100 — the average of the school's four-year graduation rate, the share of its students scoring college-ready (70+) on the English Regents, and its Regents completion rate, shown out of 100.
- What grades does John Adams High School serve?
- John Adams High School serves grades 9 to 12.
- How do students get into John Adams High School?
- John Adams High School is a screened school — it admits by application, ranking applicants on their course grades (4th grade for middle school, the 7th-grade core-course average for high school); a few schools add an assessment, writing sample, or interview.
- Is John Adams High School public, charter, or private?
- John Adams High School is a public school in NYC Community School District 27.
- What neighborhood is John Adams High School in?
- John Adams High School is in South Ozone Park, Queens.