P.S. 005 Ellen Lurie

Test scores here have climbed steadily from pandemic-era lows (15.8% ELA in 2022 to 28.7% in 2025; 20.3% to 39.2% in math), showing real recovery momentum. However, the school still lands well below District 6 averages (47% ELA, 52% math), and the overall quality rating of 1.36 out of 4 reflects this gap. Grade 5 performs strongest — 35.9% ELA proficiency — suggesting upper-elementary instruction is closing some ground. Class sizes match the district average at roughly 22 students.

This is where P.S. 005 truly stands out. Parents give the school 95% satisfaction — above the district average — with 98% trust in teachers and 97% trust in the principal. Teachers report 97% feeling safe at work and 93% trusting their colleagues. Perhaps most remarkably, the school has had zero suspensions for three consecutive years. The trade-off: chronic absenteeism is high at 58.2%, which drags overall attendance to 88.7% — below the 91% district average. This suggests families trust the school but may face logistical or health barriers to getting kids there consistently.

The student body is 90% Hispanic, 8% Black, with nearly no white or Asian enrollment — reflecting Inwood's demographics. A striking 89.7% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, and 26% have IEPs, indicating high economic need and a substantial special education population. The diversity index is low at 22%, meaning the community is fairly homogeneous — which also means most families here share similar backgrounds and likely similar challenges.

Inwood is a tight-knit, working-class Manhattan neighborhood north of Washington Heights, known for its Latino immigrant roots and access to Inwood Hill Park. Median household income is $63,123 with only 9.2% homeownership — most families rent. The neighborhood scores low on safety (10.34 out of 100) and health environment (4.6), with elevated asthma rates and lead exposure concerns. Transit access is solid (63.6), and family density is moderate (53.26 percentile).

Inwood is very walkable, and most zoned families walk or take short bus rides. The neighborhood's small-scale streets make it manageable for younger children to commute on foot.