P.S. 002 Alfred Zimberg

With 65% ELA and 65.8% math proficiency, this school runs modestly ahead of District 30's averages (60.7% and 62.2% respectively), landing an overall score of 2.62 compared to the district's 2.46. The historical trend shows real peaks — the school hit 70% ELA and nearly 74% math in 2019 — followed by a pandemic dip that brought math down to 55% in 2022. The current 2025 scores represent a recovery, though the pattern suggests this isn't a school with a consistently rising trajectory. Grade-level data shows Grade 4 lagging in ELA (58.7%) while Grade 5 leads in ELA but lags significantly in math (55.3%).

The survey data here is genuinely striking. Parents report 95% satisfaction, and both parent-teacher trust and parent-principal trust hit 97%. Teachers give 99% instruction quality ratings and a unanimous 100% on school safety. Zero suspensions across three years is a rare feat in any district. But there's a wrinkle: chronic absenteeism sits at a concerning 75.6%, well above typical benchmarks. The demographic breakdown of absenteeism shows white students at 86% and Asian students at 81%, versus Black students at 53% and Hispanic students at 68% — a pattern that may reflect family travel, health decisions, or other factors rather than school climate issues. The day-to-day feel is clearly warm and trusting, but attendance enforcement may be an area the school is working on.

With 517 students split across pre-K through 5th grade, this is a mid-sized elementary school. The demographics are notably balanced: 37% Hispanic, 36% white, 21% Asian, 5% Black — giving the school a diversity index of 72%. The economic need index sits at 60.3%, indicating a meaningful mix of families across income levels. At 19%, the IEP population is present but not extraordinary. The PTA raised $87 per student ($45,000 total), slightly above the district average of $78 — suggesting engaged families without being an extreme fundraising environment.

This school serves a pocket of Astoria known for stability and quiet residential character — the kind of neighborhood where you see kids walking to school in the mornings. The median household income of $93,808 and low poverty rate (10.1%) reflect a working-to-middle-class community with real buying power. The education orientation score of 73.56 suggests this is a neighborhood where families prioritize schools. Safety scores (62) are moderate — typical for Queens — and transit access (28.74) is limited, meaning most families drive or walk. The area has parks and local retail along Ditmars Boulevard, and the home ownership rate of nearly 30% signals an established community rather than a transient one.

Very walkable neighborhood with low traffic side streets — families in the zone typically walk or drive short distances; transit options are limited compared to deeper Astoria