New Design High School

Academic proficiency data is not available for this school year, so direct performance comparisons cannot be made. However, the school operates with an average class size of 25.8 students, essentially identical to the district average, and offers AP coursework alongside ELL support and world languages — a fairly standard academic menu for a district 2 high school.

This is where New Design High School truly stands out. Parent satisfaction hits 94%, parent-teacher trust reaches 97%, and parent-principal trust is an exceptional 98% — all above district averages. Teachers report 93% instruction quality (above the 89.8% district average) and 90% collegial trust among staff. Teacher-principal trust sits at 85%, the one area that's solid but not exceptional. Perhaps most notably: zero suspensions. The school has achieved this without the use of out-of-school suspensions, a rare outcome in any high school setting. The family survey response rate is relatively low at 16%, though 65 families did participate — meaning these positive numbers reflect meaningful rather than overwhelming engagement.

With 490 students across grades 9-12 plus special education, this is a mid-sized high school. The student body is predominantly Hispanic (59%) and Black (30%), with only 6% Asian and 3% White students — reflecting the neighborhood's demographic composition. The economic need index of 86.9% is notably high, meaning nearly 9 in 10 students come from economically disadvantaged households. A quarter of students have IEPs, and the diversity index sits at 55%. This is a school serving students who face significant challenges outside the classroom, and the data suggests the school is meeting them with trust and stability.

The Lower East Side is a neighborhood of contrasts. It scores very high on transit (89%) and education orientation (89%), meaning families value schools and getting around is easy. But safety scores are low (16%) and the health environment score is extremely low (11%), reflecting air quality concerns, asthma rates, and housing quality issues common in older dense neighborhoods. Only 6.5% of households have children — this is a largely adult, immigrant, and aging community where families are a smaller presence than in other parts of the city. The median home value of $833,574 signals gentrification pressures, while the 23% homeownership rate shows most residents rent.

The Lower East Side is highly walkable with excellent transit access. Students can navigate the neighborhood on foot or via subway, though parents may have concerns given the low safety percentile score.