LEXINGTON SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF

Lexington is a nonsectarian, combined-level school serving deaf children from early intervention through fifth grade, with a stated mission to empower students through language-rich programming and to lead in deaf education. Core values emphasize safety, open-mindedness, accountability, and respect, framed around a "vibrant, adaptable, and accessible community." It operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit registered with the New York State Charities Bureau.

Enrollment of 238 spans the early childhood and elementary years, with a student body that is notably mixed: roughly half Hispanic, with substantial Asian and Black populations, and a diversity index of 0.80. This mirrors Jackson Heights' well-known character as a multilingual, immigrant-rooted neighborhood. The student mix reflects families who come from across the five boroughs and beyond to access specialized deaf education.

Jackson Heights is a middle-income Queens neighborhood where the median household earns about $72,762 and nearly a third of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The area has long been a point of entry for immigrant families from Latin America, South Asia, and elsewhere, and the local culture shows it. With a 13.9% poverty rate, it sits between the city's wealthiest and most struggling districts.

Getting here without a car is a real commitment: the nearest subway is 65 St on the M and R lines, and that's a roughly 17-minute walk — families from outside the neighborhood should plan on a longer commute or driving.