M.S. 053 Brian Piccolo

Test scores at M.S. 053 are well below district averages — 30.3% in ELA and 25.8% in Math compared to district averages of roughly 56-57%. However, the school has come a long way from 2016 when only 14% of students were proficient in ELA and 6% in Math. Scores climbed steadily through 2024 (34.5% ELA, 24% Math) before dipping slightly in 2025. Grade 8 shows the strongest ELA performance at 38.6%, while Grade 7 leads in Math at 37.5%. The school offers accelerated/honors courses and ELL support, but with a program richness score of just 34.7/100, academic options are limited compared to peers.

Here's the paradox: parents report 100% satisfaction, 100% trust in teachers, and 100% trust in the principal. Teachers give 100% for instruction quality and 98% for principal trust. Yet chronic absenteeism is alarmingly high at 45.4% (district average is around 10%), and the suspension rate of 3% is six times the district average. The school had 8 suspensions in 2023-24, up from 4 in 2021-22. Teacher collegial trust sits lower at 77%, and only 21 teachers completed the survey — suggesting some staff tensions. The day-to-day feel appears strong for families who are engaged, but chronic absenteeism and discipline numbers suggest a significant subset of students are struggling to show up or are being pushed out.

This is a high-need community: 87.8% economic need index, 51% Black students, 44% Hispanic students, and 32% of students have IEPs. The student body reflects the Far Rockaway-Bayswater neighborhood, which has a moderate poverty rate of 17.6% and where only 26.4% of adults hold bachelor's degrees. With a diversity index of 51%, the school is relatively homogeneous compared to more diverse Queens schools. PTA fundraising is minimal at $2 per student ($309 total), far below the district average of $121 per student — indicating limited extra resources from family fundraising.

Far Rockaway-Bayswater is a coastal Queens neighborhood with a family density score of 51 and a stability score of 53. The area scores lower on safety (42/100) and transit access (24/100), meaning car ownership or longer commutes are common. Education orientation is moderate at 41, suggesting this isn't a hyper-competitive academic neighborhood. The health environment score is high (90) indicating some environmental health concerns. The community is predominantly working-class with 29% homeownership and a median home value of $625,822.

Given the low transit score (24), most families likely drive or rely on bus service. The neighborhood is more car-dependent than most of Queens, so parents should factor commute time into their decision.