P.S. 004 Duke Ellington

This school's academic story is one of the steepest improvements on the District 6 map. ELA proficiency rose from 20.4% in 2017 to 50.6% in 2025, and math climbed from 20.3% to 62.2% over the same span. Both subjects now sit above the district average (ELA 50.6% vs. district ~47%; math 62.2% vs. district ~52%), and the overall score of 2.26 out of 4 outpaces the district's ~1.98. Math has been steadier than ELA — the 2024 ELA score dipped to 36.4% before rebounding this year. By grade, fifth-graders lead in ELA (65.2%), while third-graders post the strongest math results (70.2%).

The day-to-day feel of P.S. 004 is defined by an unusual split: parents are enthusiastic, teachers are more measured. Ninety-six percent of families say they're satisfied, and trust in both teachers and the principal sits at 99% — among the highest in the district. Teachers, however, rate instruction quality at 86% (below the district's 90%) and report feeling less safe than peers elsewhere (84% vs. district 93%). Discipline isn't a concern — just one suspension in three years — but chronic absenteeism is elevated at 60.8%, meaning more than half of students miss 10% or more of school days. Attendance overall is 90.1%, just below the district average. The picture is of a school where families feel genuinely heard and behavior issues are rare, but staff see room to grow on the daily school experience.

P.S. 004's enrollment mirrors its surrounding blocks: 84% Hispanic, 9% Black, 3% Asian, 2% White, and a smaller mix of Multi-Racial and Native American students. The economic need index is 80.8%, meaning roughly four out of five students come from low-income households — a higher share than the neighborhood's 22% poverty rate would predict, reflecting the public-school demographics that pull from a wider area. About 18% of students have IEPs. The diversity index of 36% is relatively low for NYC, which is a sign of cultural cohesion rather than segregation — families here tend to find a community that mirrors their own.

Washington Heights has long been a landing place for Dominican and other Caribbean families, and the census figures bear that out: median household income sits at $55,786, with 22% of residents in poverty and a homeownership rate of just 8% — most neighbors rent. About 9% of households have children, and 33.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree. The neighborhood reads as working-class, family-rooted, and densely populated, with a strong Dominican cultural presence along the major commercial corridors.

Three subway options within a seven-minute walk: the C at 163rd Street–Amsterdam Avenue (about 3 minutes), the 1 at 157th Street (about 4 minutes), and the C at 155th Street (about 7 minutes) — making pickup and drop-off straightforward for families throughout the area.