New Dawn Charter High School II

Test score data is not available for this school, which limits direct academic comparison. However, the school's average class size of 24.5 matches the district average exactly, suggesting reasonable staffing levels. With 36% of students having IEPs — well above typical district averages — the school serves a substantially higher proportion of students with special needs, which affects aggregate performance metrics. Families should ask about individualized academic support and how the school tracks progress for its high-need population.

Survey data reveals a notable gap between how teachers and parents experience the school. Teachers report strong trust in leadership — 90% for the principal and 79% collegially — and rate instruction quality at 89%, close to the district average of 91.7%. However, parent satisfaction sits at 77%, significantly below the district average of 92.6%, and the family survey response rate of just 6% suggests low overall family engagement with the school community. Parent trust scores (81% for teachers, 87% for the principal) are decent but not strong. This pattern — strong teacher culture, weaker family connection — is worth considering for families who prioritize home-school alignment.

The student body is predominantly Black (42%) and Hispanic (33%), with Asian students comprising 20% and a small white population of 2%. The diversity index of 71% reflects a racially diverse school community. Notably, 36% of students have IEPs — a substantial population requiring specialized support — and the economic need index of 81.5% indicates the school serves a high-need community. The neighborhood has a moderate poverty rate of 16.8% and a homeownership rate of just 24.2%, suggesting many families rent and may be more transient.

Jamaica, Queens, is a major transit hub with an excellent transit score of 90, making car-free family life very feasible — the school is highly accessible by public transportation. However, the neighborhood's safety score of 23.37 is notably low, reflecting real concerns families should discuss. The area has high family density (87th percentile) but lower education orientation (40th percentile), suggesting this is more of a working-class residential neighborhood than an education-focused community. The median home value of $616,000 indicates a neighborhood in transition, and the low BA+ education rate of 24.2% among residents suggests many families may be first-generation college-going households.

Excellent transit access makes this school reachable without a car — the Jamaica transportation hub is nearby. Families walking or taking transit should consider the neighborhood's safety context when planning routes and schedules.