At a Glance
A large, family-trusted zoned elementary where math scores lead the district and parents overwhelmingly feel heard
Best suited for
Zoned families in Woodside who want strong math performance, an actively engaged parent community, and a diverse school that reflects the neighborhood's immigrant character — and who are comfortable with a larger elementary setting.
Overall Rating
Rating = average of NY State ELA + math proficiency, grades 3–8
Bands are Motley's thresholds on a 0–100 scale, not New York State performance levels.
How this is scored→What stands out
- Math proficiency nearly 12 points above the district average
- Parent-principal trust at 99% — among the strongest in the data set
- Three consecutive years of zero suspensions
- An 89% family survey response rate showing unusually active parent engagement
- Demographics closely reflecting Woodside's Asian and Hispanic community mix
Things to consider
- Teacher-reported safety of 88% runs below the district average of roughly 95% — ask administrators what this reflects
- Chronic absenteeism at 73.6% is high, with Asian students showing the highest subgroup rate at 78.8%
- With 947 students, this is one of the larger elementary schools in the district — not the intimate, small-school experience some families prefer
- PTA fundraising at $30 per student is slightly below the district average of $32, so enrichment may lean more on what's funded centrally
- Class size of 24.5 matches the district average — not unusually small
Based on 2025 data
School SummaryDistrict 24
P.S. 012 sits comfortably among the stronger zoned options in District 24, outperforming the district averages on both subjects and on the overall quality score. Its position alongside the other higher-rated district schools suggests a consistent record of academic performance, though it does not appear in the top tier of the listed peer schools.
Academics
Both subjects run ahead of the district. ELA proficiency of 61.5% sits about 10 points above the District 24 average of roughly 51%, while math at 66.6% is nearly 12 points above the district average of about 55%. The overall quality score of 2.56 out of 4 also outpaces the district's 2.12. Looking at the trend, scores dipped in 2022 (the first post-pandemic testing year) but recovered strongly by 2023 and have held steady since. Third grade is the strongest cohort, with 69% math proficiency, while fourth grade ELA is the relative weak spot at 56.5%.
Culture
Trust between home and school is the standout. Parent-principal trust sits at 99% and parent-teacher trust at 98%, with overall parent satisfaction at 96% — all well above district averages. Teachers rate their colleagues' cohesion at 91% and instructional quality at 94%, also strong. The two things parents should know: teacher-reported safety is 88%, meaningfully below the district average of roughly 95%, and chronic absenteeism is high at 73.6% (a figure that tracks the elevated post-pandemic rates citywide but is still worth flagging). On the positive side, the school has reported zero suspensions for three straight years, suggesting a calm, inclusionary approach to discipline.
Community
The student body mirrors Woodside's identity: 55% Asian and 40% Hispanic, with very small Black and White populations. The economic need index of 75% signals a working- and middle-class majority, consistent with the neighborhood's median household income of roughly $74,765. Family engagement is unusually strong — an 89% survey response rate from 720 families is far above what most schools pull in, suggesting parents here are paying attention and showing up.
Neighborhood
Woodside is a middle-class, family-heavy Queens neighborhood where 20.7% of households have children and the poverty rate sits at a modest 8.1%. About 30% of adult residents hold a bachelor's degree, and homeownership is around 33% — a renter-majority area with relatively accessible housing. The community has a strong immigrant and first-generation character that shows up clearly in the school population.
Three subway options are within roughly seven minutes on foot: the 7 train at 69 Street and at 74 Street-Broadway, and the E, F, M, and R lines at Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue. Most families likely walk or use transit rather than driving.
Academic Performance
ELA Proficiency
Students scoring proficient or above on the NY State ELA exam.
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Math Proficiency
Students scoring proficient or above on the NY State Math exam.
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Historical Trends
The dashed line marks 2023, when New York changed its grades 3–8 state tests. Scores before and after it aren’t directly comparable.
2020–2021 data unavailable due to COVID-19
Source: NYC DOE School Quality Reports
Survey Results
NYC School Survey (2025) · 720 families responded (89% rate)
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
PTA Fundraising
Source: DOE Local Law 171 disclosure
Discipline
NYSED Student & Educator Database (2023-24)
Economic Need & Special Populations
How to get in, step by step
Kindergarten
P.S. 012 James B. Colgate has an attendance zone. At elementary level, in-zone students get a guaranteed seat. Every family still applies on MySchools: the application confirms the zoned seat, and ranking other schools doesn't cost you it.
Kindergarten application
- Opens
- Wed, Dec 9
- Closes
- Fri, Jan 22
- Offers
- Tue, Mar 30
The DOE’s published dates.
- 1Check that your address is inside the zone — zones change, so confirm it before you sign a lease.
- 2Apply during the kindergarten application, even with a zoned seat.
- 3Rank this school along with any others you'd take, in true preference order.
Open houses and tours
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From the MySchools admissions calendar, checked weekly.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is P.S. 012 James B. Colgate a good school?
- On Motley, P.S. 012 James B. Colgate earns an overall rating of 64/100 — the average of the school's New York State ELA and math proficiency, grades 3–8, shown out of 100. Its state test results run above the District 24 average.
- What grades does P.S. 012 James B. Colgate serve?
- P.S. 012 James B. Colgate serves grades K to 5.
- How do students get into P.S. 012 James B. Colgate?
- P.S. 012 James B. Colgate admits by zone — children who live in its attendance zone get a guaranteed seat.
- Is P.S. 012 James B. Colgate public, charter, or private?
- P.S. 012 James B. Colgate is a public school in NYC Community School District 24.
- What neighborhood is P.S. 012 James B. Colgate in?
- P.S. 012 James B. Colgate is in Woodside, Queens.