Lighthouse Elementary School

Test scores at Lighthouse Elementary have historically trailed district averages significantly — in 2024, only 17.5% of students scored proficient in ELA and 16.7% in Math, compared to district averages around 56-57%. The 2025 scores show meaningful improvement (32.8% ELA, 27.9% Math), but this follows a decade of volatility that includes dips as low as 16.8% ELA and 6.8% Math. Grade 5 shows the strongest ELA performance at 47.6%, while Grade 3 and 4 hover around 25-32% across subjects. The overall quality score of 1.21 out of 4 places this school in the lowest tier compared to peer schools in District 27, where top performers score 3-4 points higher.

The day-to-day culture at Lighthouse shows real strengths alongside concerning challenges. Teachers report high instruction quality (89%) and strong collegial trust (83%), suggesting a professional environment where staff support each other. Parent trust metrics are decent (81-84%), though principal trust lags slightly at 79%. However, teacher-reported safety is notably low at 71% — far below the district average of 92.6% — which is something families should discuss with the school. Chronic absenteeism is a significant issue at 35.3%, with Black students (40.4%) and females (38%) particularly affected. On the positive side, there have been zero suspensions for three consecutive years, indicating a restorative approach to discipline. The family survey response rate is low (18%), which may mean these insights represent a subset of engaged parents.

Lighthouse Elementary is a predominantly Black school (64%) in a neighborhood with similar demographics, serving 148 students across grades PK-5 plus special education. Nearly 93% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, reflecting deep economic need in the community. About 28% of students have IEPs, a higher proportion than many district schools. The diversity index of 52% is moderate, with Hispanic students comprising 28%, white students 5%, and very small Asian and multiracial populations. This is a tight-knit community school where most families live nearby, though the high economic need index means many families are dealing with stressors beyond academics.

Far Rockaway-Bayswater is a beach-adjacent neighborhood in southeastern Queens with a working-to-middle-class character. The median home value of $625,000 suggests a community where homeownership is within reach for many families, though the poverty rate of 17.6% and relatively low BA+ education rate (26.4%) indicate economic diversity. Safety scores here are moderate-to-concerning (42/100), which may explain the lower teacher-reported safety at the school. Transit options are limited (24/100), meaning most families walk or drive. The area has strong health environment metrics (90/100) and decent family density (51/100), with about 22% of households having children. There are parks and beach access nearby, which are family assets.

Given the limited transit options in this area, most families walk or drive to school. As a zoned school, the vast majority of students live within the neighborhood, making walking a common commute. Families from outside the zone would need to consider transportation carefully.