M.S. M245 The Computer School

Test scores here run well above District 3 averages — 80.1% math proficiency versus the district's 54%, and 79.9% ELA versus 59%. The school’s overall quality rating of 3.2/4 reflects consistent strong performance, though there’s been some year-to-year fluctuation. Looking closer, 7th graders especially shine in math (91.5%), while 8th graders lead in ELA (81.5%). The school has maintained roughly 70-80% proficiency ranges since 2016, with math climbing notably from the mid-60s to the 80s in recent years.

The survey data tells a striking story: teachers give 100% ratings for instruction quality and principal trust, 99% for collegial trust among staff, and parents report 90% satisfaction with 97% trust in the principal. This is an environment where the adults clearly believe in what they’re doing. Discipline is minimal — just 5 suspensions last year (1% rate), consistent with very low suspension trends over three years. The one puzzle is chronic absenteeism at 85%, which seems to contradict the strong attendance rate (93.6%); this may reflect how chronic absenteeism is calculated or a specific subpopulation challenge.

With 364 students across grades 6-8, this is a small-to-medium school. The demographics skew notably White (47%) compared to the citywide average, though Hispanic students (30%) represent a substantial minority and the school’s diversity index of 72% reflects meaningful diversity in a District 3 context. About 22% of students have IEPs, and the economic need index sits at 30.5%, indicating a more affluent population than many Manhattan schools. PTA fundraising of $214 per student is notably lower than the district average of $627 — likely reflecting the neighborhood’s different fundraising culture rather than less engagement.

The Upper West Side is a family-heavy, transit-rich neighborhood with an education orientation score of 94.64 out of 100. Families here have easy access to Central Park, excellent subway connections (91.19 transit score), and a range of cultural institutions. The tradeoff is high cost of living — median home value of $1.5 million and median household income of $152K — and the neighborhood’s safety score of 24.14 is notably low, reflecting urban considerations rather than anything school-specific.

Highly walkable and transit-accessible area — families from across the Upper West Side and nearby neighborhoods can easily walk or take the subway, which is a significant draw for this screened school drawing from a wide geographic area.