M.S. 255 Salk School of Science

Both ELA (87%) and math (90%) proficiency sit comfortably above district averages of 73%, and the overall score of 3.54/4 beats the district mark of 2.91. Math has been remarkably steady over the past decade, hovering between 86% and 93% even through the pandemic dip. ELA tells a slightly different story — it climbed from 89.7% in 2016 to a peak of 93.8% in 2019, then drifted down to 87% by 2025. That's still a strong score, but the trajectory has cooled, and grade 8 ELA at 80.6% is notably weaker than grades 6 and 7.

Day-to-day, this school feels orderly and high-trust. Attendance runs at 95.2%, well above the district's 92%, and the school reported zero suspensions last year (and only one in the past three years combined). Teachers rate instructional quality at 99% — far above the district's 89.8% — and parent-principal trust sits at 99%. The one wrinkle: chronic absenteeism figures look elevated across most demographic groups, which is worth asking about, though the strong daily attendance rate suggests families are showing up consistently.

The student body is 49% White, 30% Asian, 12% Hispanic, 7% multiracial, and 2% Black — a profile that closely tracks the surrounding Gramercy census tract, where median household income exceeds $153,000 and over 80% of adults hold a bachelor's degree. The economic need index of 21.2 is well below the city average, reflecting the relatively affluent feeder population. Twenty percent of students have IEPs and the school runs ELL support, so it's not a homogeneous group academically even if it is demographically.

Gramercy is a quiet, well-heeled neighborhood where about 10% of households have children and the homeownership rate is nearly 40%. Median home values approach $923,000, and just over 10% of residents live below the poverty line — a markedly different profile from most of Manhattan. The streets are residential and tree-lined, and families here tend to be college-educated professionals.

The 3 Av (L) stop is about a 6-minute walk, the 1 Av (L) is roughly 7 minutes, and the 23 St-Baruch College (6) station is around 9 minutes away — manageable for older kids commuting independently.