M.S. 297

Test scores here are significantly below the District 2 average — 43.8% ELA proficiency versus 73% district-wide, and 37.3% math versus 73%. The trajectory is concerning: this school was performing in the low-60s in 2019, hit a peak around 2022, and has since dropped to levels not seen in years. Grade 8 math is particularly weak at 28.4%, while Grade 7 and 8 ELA hover around 45%. With an overall score of 1.62 out of 4, this school lands well below the district average of 2.91.

Survey data paints a nuanced picture. Parents report strong trust in the principal (95%) and decent trust in teachers (89%), but overall parent satisfaction sits at 84% — below the 92% district average. Teachers rate instruction quality at 76% (versus 90% district-wide) and express notably lower trust in the principal (73%), though their collegial trust with each other is excellent at 95%. The discipline picture is improving: suspensions dropped from 22 in 2021-22 to just 9 in 2023-24. However, chronic absenteeism at 45.1% is alarmingly high — nearly half of students are missing significant school time, with particularly severe absenteeism among Asian students (88.5%) and white students (65%).

The student body is notably whiter than many District 2 schools: 42% white, 30% Hispanic, 13% Black, 9% Asian. This contrasts with the district's peer schools (Labs, Success Academy charters, P.S. 290) which tend to have more diverse populations. Twenty-one percent of students have IEPs, and the economic need index sits at 42.6%. The diversity index of 78% is moderate. In a neighborhood where only 6.4% of households have children, this school serves as a gathering point for families across a wider area.

The West Village is one of Manhattan's most desirable neighborhoods — highly walkable, excellent transit (89 percentile), strong education orientation (95 percentile), and low poverty (6.6%). It has parks, family-friendly restaurants, and a village-like feel. However, it's notably not a child-heavy neighborhood (only 6.4% of households have children), and safety scores are modest (20 percentile). The school draws from this area and beyond.

Very walkable neighborhood with excellent subway access. Families in the West Village, Chelsea, and parts of the Flatiron/Gramercy areas can easily walk or take short subway rides. However, because it's a screened school, students may come from across the district, meaning some families face longer commutes.