M.S. 319 - Maria Teresa

The numbers tell a complicated story. ELA proficiency at 27.4% and math at 49.8% both fall below the District 6 averages of 47% and 52% respectively, placing this school in the lower tier. However, the longitudinal trend shows real momentum in math — climbing from 14% in 2016 to nearly 50% in 2025 — while ELA has remained flat in the mid-20s. The grade-level breakdown is revealing: eighth graders score 57% in math and 33% in ELA, while sixth graders sit at 34% and 20%. Students are clearly growing here, but they're starting behind. The 1.54 overall score reflects these challenges.

Here's where M.S. 319 punches way above its weight. Parent satisfaction hits 97%, teacher instruction quality scores a perfect 100%, and trust between families, teachers, and leadership all hover at 96-99%. These are extraordinary numbers — among the best in the district. But there's a tension: chronic absenteeism sits at a staggering 70.7%, meaning most students are missing significant school time. Attendance overall (91.8%) matches the district average, but the chronic absence rate suggests a core group of students consistently disengaged. Disciplinary suspensions have risen from 1 in 2021-22 to 12 in 2023-24 — a trend worth watching. The day-to-day feel seems warm and trusting, but chronic absenteeism and rising suspensions suggest some families or students are struggling to connect.

This is a predominantly Hispanic school in a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood — 95% of students identify as Hispanic, with 3% Black and 2% White. The diversity index sits at just 15%, reflecting a school serving a very specific community. With 88.7% economic need and 28% of students having IEPs, this population faces real challenges outside school walls. Yet family engagement is strong: 176 families completed surveys (an 80% response rate, very high), indicating parents are invested. The school draws from its neighborhood, and the neighborhood is working-class and transit-dependent.

Washington Heights is a dense, transit-rich neighborhood where the A, C, and 1 trains converge — families can get here easily without a car. The area scores sky-high on transit (96.55) and family density (85.06), meaning lots of kids are around, though only 9% of households have children (reflecting the aging housing stock). Median home values have climbed to $750K, but median household income sits at $55,786, and 22% live below the poverty line. There are parks and community resources, though the neighborhood scores poorly on environmental health indicators (elevated asthma rates, air quality concerns). It's a neighborhood of immigrants and working families who have built strong community institutions.

Highly walkable and transit-accessible — families from across the neighborhood can reach the school via multiple subway lines and bus routes. Very few families would need to drive.