P.S. 052 Queens

Test scores remain below district averages — 38% ELA and 25% math versus 57% and 54% district-wide — but the trajectory matters. After crashing during the pandemic (17% ELA in 2022), scores have climbed steadily each year, with Grade 3 performing strongest at 42% ELA and 39% math. Grade 4 shows a concerning math dip to 18%, and overall the school still sits at a 1.25 overall rating compared to the district's 2.21. Teachers report strong instruction quality (94%), suggesting the academic foundation exists — the challenge is getting students present enough to benefit.

This is a school where families feel heard and teachers feel supported, even when outcomes are struggling. Parent satisfaction runs at 94%, and trust between families and both teachers and principals hits an exceptional 99%. Teacher collegial trust is also high at 95%. The campus reports zero suspensions across three consecutive years — a discipline record most schools would envy. However, teacher-reported safety (92%) runs slightly below the district average, and the 50% chronic absenteeism rate is a serious concern, particularly among male students (56%). The day-to-day feel appears relational and supportive, but chronic absence is undermining academic progress.

P.S. 052 serves 288 students in a small, zoned elementary setting. The student body is 68% Black, 23% Hispanic, 4% Asian, and 3% White — reflecting the neighborhood's predominantly Black population. With 80.5% economic need index and 20% IEP students, the school serves a high-need population. Yet it's located in a neighborhood where homeownership is strong (65%) and poverty is low (10%), suggesting the attendance challenges may relate to factors beyond economic instability, possibly school engagement or family logistics.

Springfield Gardens is a stable, residential neighborhood in southeast Queens characterized by single-family homes and high homeownership (65%). The median home value ($618K) and household income ($110K) suggest a working-middle-class community, though the poverty rate sits at just 10%. Education orientation scores low (28th percentile), meaning families here aren't necessarily choosing schools based on academic reputation. Safety scores moderate at 62, transit access is limited (18th percentile), but family density is reasonable. The neighborhood is car-dependent, with limited subway options.

Springfield Gardens has limited transit options — families likely rely on cars or buses. Walkability is typical for suburban-style Queens neighborhoods, with residential streets but few pedestrian shortcuts to the school area.