P.S. 007 Samuel Stern

Test scores at P.S. 007 place the school in the bottom tier of District 4, with ELA proficiency at 31% and math at 25% — both roughly 15-20 percentage points below the district averages of 50% and 45%. The school’s overall quality rating of 1.12 out of 4 reflects this struggle. However, the academic picture isn’t uniform: Grade 5 students posted 48% ELA proficiency and Grade 8 students hit 43% — strong performances that suggest some grade levels are navigating the challenges effectively. The historical trend is volatile, with a notable jump in 2023 (40% ELA) followed by a drop back down, indicating inconsistency in outcomes year to year.

Here’s where the story gets interesting: parent satisfaction sits at 92%, parent-teacher trust at 95%, and parent-principal trust at an exceptional 99%. Teachers report 92% instruction quality and 86% feel safe in the building. These numbers rival some of the city’s most sought-after schools. The attendance story is harder — 84.6% daily attendance is below the district average, and 38% of students are chronically absent, with Black students disproportionately affected at 45% chronic absenteeism. Discipline incidents have increased slightly from zero suspensions in 2021-22 to three last year, though the 1% suspension rate remains low. The day-to-day feel seems to be one of strong relational trust, but chronic absenteeism is eating into instructional time.

P.S. 007’s student body is predominantly Hispanic (62%) and Black (31%), reflecting the demographics of surrounding East Harlem. With 27% of students receiving special education services and an economic need index of 92%, this is a school serving families facing substantial barriers to attendance and engagement. The diversity index of 52% indicates a relatively homogeneous population, which is typical for a zoned neighborhood school in this area. At 317 students across grades PK-8, class sizes average 20 students — essentially on par with the district average.

East Harlem is a high-density, transit-rich neighborhood with deep roots in Puerto Rican and Latino culture. The area scores poorly on safety (9.6 out of 100) and environmental health indicators, with elevated asthma rates and air quality concerns. However, it scores high on education orientation (73) and family density (93), meaning many families with children call this area home. The neighborhood has seen gentrification pressures pushing median home values to $676K, but median household income remains low at $37K and homeownership is just 8% — indicating a predominantly renting population. Transit access is excellent (83rd percentile), making commutes manageable.

The school is located in a walkable urban neighborhood with strong subway access. Families in the zone can walk, while those coming from farther afield benefit from the area’s high transit score.