At a Glance
A large, diverse Queens high school with standout teacher quality and zero suspensions, drawing applicants to specialized programs in law, agriculture, and the arts
Families seeking a large, diverse high school with strong teacher quality and unique program options (law, agriculture, arts) who don't need walkability and are comfortable with limited PTA-funded extras. Particularly well-suited for students interested in specialized pathways who might thrive in a high-choice environment with selective admissions within the school.
- Zero suspensions — a rare achievement in a school this size, suggesting strong alternative approaches to discipline
- Teacher-rated instruction quality (94%) exceeds district average by nearly 5 points
- Specialized selective programs (Law Institute, Agriculture, Creative Arts) draw nearly 2,000 applicants annually
- 100/100 program richness score — full AP, STEM, arts, and world language offerings including Latin, Italian, and Mandarin
- Nearly half of students are Hispanic, creating strong bilingual and ELL support infrastructure
- No state test proficiency data available — families should request recent scores directly from the school
- Very low family survey response rate (5%) means parent satisfaction data may not represent all families
- PTA fundraising is minimal ($1/student) compared to district average ($50), limiting extra resources
- Large enrollment (3,000+) means a less intimate feel than smaller high schools
- No transit access nearby — car dependency for most families
Based on 2024-2025 data
School SummaryDistrict 25
Among peer schools in District 25, John Bowne stands out for its specialized programs and zero-suspension discipline model. District 25's top-rated elementary schools (The Active Learning Elementary at 92/100, P.S. 079 Francis Lewis at 90/100) feed into a competitive high school landscape, and Bowne holds its own through program variety rather than raw test score prestige. The school's economic need index (76.8%) is notably higher than many peer schools, suggesting it serves a more economically diverse population.
State assessment proficiency data was not provided for this review period, making direct academic comparisons difficult. However, class sizes align exactly with the district average at 24.7 students, and teacher-rated instruction quality (94%) exceeds the district average (89.6%), suggesting strong classroom execution. The school offers a full range of AP courses, STEM pathways, and world languages including Mandarin, Latin, and Italian — a relatively rare offering in Queens high schools.
The culture here reads as genuinely trusting and collaborative. Parents report 96% trust in the principal and 93% trust in teachers — numbers that signal strong leadership visibility. Teachers rate their own collegial trust at 89% and instruction quality at 94%, notably above the district average. Most striking: zero suspensions, far below the district average of 0.25%. The trade-off is a very low family survey response rate (5%), which means these strong numbers represent a subset of families. Attendance patterns aren't broken out, but the district average sits at 94%.
The student body reflects the neighborhood's diversity: 46% Hispanic, 28% Asian, 18% Black, 5% White, with a diversity index of 69%. Nearly 77% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch (economic need index), which is higher than the area's median household income ($84,747) would suggest — this is a school that draws economically diverse families. About 17% receive special education services. The low PTA fundraising ($1/student vs. $50 district average) suggests limited extra funding, though parent satisfaction remains solid at 91%.
Kew Gardens Hills is a stable, family-oriented Queens neighborhood with strong education orientation (67th percentile) and a homeownership rate above 50%. The median home value is $564,000, and roughly a quarter of households have children. Transit access scores low (31st percentile), which means many families drive or rely on local buses. The neighborhood scores well on health environment (74th percentile), with moderate safety ratings (55th percentile).
With low transit scores and a large student population, many families commute by car. The school is accessible from surrounding neighborhoods in central Queens, but walking isn't realistic for most — it's a destination school rather than a walkable community school.
Survey Results
NYC School Survey (2025) · 141 families responded (5% rate)
Programs & Activities
Admissions Demand
A.C.A. is a vibrant community of young artists and their teachers.This program offers talented writers and actors opportunities to explore their gifts through creative and academic writing courses, workshops, literary experiences, drama, and performance.
This program offers a rigorous college preparatory course of study in the Veterinary and Plant Sciences. This 4 year Nationally Recognized program is designed for students interested in careers in Veterinary Medicine, Small Animal Care, Large Animal Care, Landscaping, Floriculture, Aquaculture and Hydroponics. Students are provided work internships in the various fields of study.
This program is a four year course of study designed for students interested in careers in law and social sciences. Students will follow a course sequence including courses in Introduction to Law, Criminal Justice, Criminology, Constitutional Law, Mock Trial, Moot Court, and Legal Research and Writing. Students will participate in activities such as Moot Court, Mock Trial, law internships, and college/university and law school visits.
Four-year honors program with hands-on competitive scientific research program; college and career preparation in math, science, engineering, technology; internships/mentorships at neighboring colleges/universities; scholarship opportunities; electives in STEM fields such as Health Sciences, Civil Engineering, Robotics, Statistics and Computer Science. STEM students have the opportunity to complete both AP Seminar and AP Research courses culminating in an AP Capstone Diploma.
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
PTA Fundraising
Source: DOE Local Law 171 disclosure
Economic Need & Special Populations
Discipline
NYSED Student & Educator Database
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is John Bowne High School a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for John Bowne High School yet on Motley. It's a public school serving grades 9 to 12 in Kew Gardens Hills.
- What grades does John Bowne High School serve?
- John Bowne High School serves grades 9 to 12.
- How do students get into John Bowne High School?
- John Bowne High School is a screened school — it admits by application, weighing grades, attendance, and sometimes a test or interview.
- Is John Bowne High School public, charter, or private?
- John Bowne High School is a public school in NYC Community School District 25.
- What neighborhood is John Bowne High School in?
- John Bowne High School is in Kew Gardens Hills, Queens.
Get the complete picture
Motley pulls together data from across New York City so you don’t have to. One free account, every school.
No credit card required
Get all this when you sign in
Survey data, program listings, admissions stats, and the full editorial profile — free, no credit card.
Full School Profile
Skip the tour guessing game. Get the standout features, honest trade-offs, and whether your kid will actually thrive here — before you visit.
Survey Results
See what 2,600+ schools’ own families and teachers really think — trust, safety, instruction quality — so you walk in with the truth, not the brochure.
Programs & Activities
Stop Googling program lists. AP courses, STEM labs, dual-language tracks, sports teams, arts — all categorized so you can compare schools in minutes.
Admissions Demand
Know your odds before you apply. Apps-per-seat ratios, offer rates, and fill data — so you don’t waste your top choice on a long shot.
Economic Need & Special Populations
Find out if the support your child needs is actually there — IEP enrollment, economic need index, and the demographics no other site surfaces.
Discipline
One bad year doesn’t tell you much. Three years of state-verified suspension data shows whether things are getting better or worse.