New Design Middle School

Test scores at New Design trail district averages by a wide margin. ELA proficiency sits at 28.6% against a district average of 53.9%, and math proficiency is just 7.4% — strikingly low compared to the district's 50.7%. The overall quality score of 0.72 out of 4 is well below the district's 2.09. That said, ELA has trended upward over the past decade, climbing from 10.8% in 2016 to 28.6% in 2025, with bumps along the way. Math has been more erratic — hovering in the single digits for most years — though 2024 showed a one-year jump to 13.9% before pulling back. The trajectory suggests real effort and some progress in reading, while math remains a serious challenge.

This is where the school's story gets more interesting. Parent satisfaction stands at 88%, parent-teacher trust at 97%, and parent-principal trust at 97% — families feel heard and connected. Teachers rate the quality of instruction at 90%, slightly above the district average, and report solid trust in school leadership at 93%. The discipline story is striking: the school went from 8 suspensions in 2021–22 to zero in 2023–24, suggesting a meaningful shift toward restorative practices (the school offers Restorative Circles as part of its programming). The concern is attendance — chronic absenteeism runs at 38.5%, far above typical levels, with boys (44.6%) and Hispanic students (41.4%) particularly affected. Nearly four in ten students miss enough school to be chronically absent, which almost certainly drags down academic outcomes. The daily feel seems warm and relationship-driven, but getting kids in the door consistently is a real hurdle.

The student body is small (about 100 students) and overwhelmingly Black and Hispanic — 51% Black and 43% Hispanic, with very small shares of White (4%), Asian (1%), and Native American (1%) students. The economic need index of 86.2% indicates most students come from low-income households. Half of students have IEPs (52%), and the school offers ELL support, suggesting a population with significant learning needs. The surrounding Manhattanville-West Harlem neighborhood is also predominantly working-class, with a median household income of $44,556 and a poverty rate of 26.5%, so the school's demographics closely mirror the community it draws from.

New Design sits in Manhattanville-West Harlem, a working-class neighborhood where most households rent (only 5% own their homes) and the median household income hovers around $44,556. About a quarter of residents live below the poverty line, and fewer than 9% of households include children — typical of a dense Manhattan area with lots of young adults and seniors. Just under a third of adults hold a bachelor's degree. The neighborhood has a strong residential feel with deep cultural roots, and families here navigate a community shaped by both economic pressure and longstanding Harlem institutions.

The school is well-served by the 1 train, with 137 St-City College about a five-minute walk away and 125 St about seven minutes. The 145 St station on the same line is roughly a 12-minute walk.