P.S. 007 Samuel Stern

Proficiency rates sit well below District 4 averages — 31.4% in ELA versus a district average of about 49.8%, and 24.7% in math versus about 45.2%. The overall school quality score of 1.12 out of 4 is also well below the district average of 1.9. Test scores have been bumpy over the past decade rather than steadily improving: math proficiency has swung from 21% in 2016 to 30% in 2019, plunged to 10% in 2022, recovered somewhat, and sits at 25% in 2025. ELA has been steadier but still volatile, peaking at 40% in 2023 before dropping back. The grade-level breakdown shows real unevenness — Grade 5 ELA hits 47.5% and Grade 8 ELA reaches 42.9%, but Grade 3 ELA is just 14.8% and Grade 3 math only 10.7%, suggesting the early elementary years are where the school struggles most.

The day-to-day feel here is warmer than the test scores suggest. Parent satisfaction sits at 92% (slightly above the district's 91%), parent-principal trust is an exceptional 99%, and 100% of families report strong teacher relationships. Teachers rate instructional quality at 92%, well above the district's 87%, and 86% feel safe — essentially matching the district average. The 84.6% attendance rate is below the district's 87.7%, and chronic absenteeism at 37.8% is a real concern, with Black students at 45.1% and Hispanic students at 33.5% chronically absent. Discipline is mild overall — just 3 suspensions last year for a 1% rate — but the trend is climbing (0 → 1 → 3 over three years), something parents should keep an eye on.

The student body is 62% Hispanic and 31% Black, with small numbers of Asian, White, and multiracial students — closely mirroring the surrounding East Harlem neighborhood. The economic need index of 91.8% places this among the city's higher-need schools, and 27% of students have IEPs. The school offers ELL support for the many families navigating language access. With 317 students total, classes average about 20 — basically the same as the district — but the small overall enrollment means each grade feels tight-knit rather than anonymous.

East Harlem (North) is a working-class, heavily renter neighborhood where roughly a third of households live below the poverty line and the median household income is around $36,700. Only about 30% of adults here hold a bachelor's degree, and homeownership sits at just 8%, meaning most families rent. The median home value of about $676,000 reflects the broader Manhattan market rather than local incomes. About 11% of households include children — a relatively low share for a city neighborhood — and the area carries the everyday texture of a community weathering rising costs.

Three subway options within a 10-minute walk: the 6 train at 116th Street (about 4 minutes), the 4, 5, and 6 at 125th Street (about 6 minutes), and the 6 at 110th Street (about 10 minutes).