P.S. 111 Jacob Blackwell

Test scores here are significantly below District 30 averages — 27% ELA and 16.4% math proficiency versus district averages around 60-62%. But the historical trajectory shows real movement: ELA has risen from 11.4% in 2016 to 27% in 2025, and math from 8.6% to 16.4%. Grade 8 performs notably better (39% ELA, 31% math) than younger grades, suggesting older students may be benefiting from sustained interventions. The school has an overall score of 0.87/4 — notably below the district average of 2.46, but improvement is measurable year over year.

This is where P.S. 111 tells a different story than the test scores suggest. Parent satisfaction sits at 90%, parent-teacher trust at 95%, and parent-principal trust at a remarkable 97%. Teachers report 92% instruction quality and 94% trust in leadership. Every single parent surveyed (100%) reported strong relationships. The catch: teacher-reported safety is 80% — notably below the district average of 95%, which parents should factor in. Attendance is a real challenge (85% vs. 92% district average) with 40% chronic absenteeism, particularly for Black students (47%). But discipline is minimal — just 1 suspension last year, down from 5 in 2021-22.

P.S. 111 reflects its neighborhood's demographics: 51% Black, 38% Hispanic, with very small Asian (4%) and white (3%) populations. Nearly all students (94.4%) come from economically disadvantaged households. The school is small — just 295 students across grades K-8 — which means tighter community bonds but also less anonymity. At 61% diversity index, the student body is moderately diverse, though the economic homogeneity (nearly all low-income) is striking.

Queensbridge-Ravenswood-Dutch Kills is a working-class Queens neighborhood with significant challenges. Median household income is $70,542 with a 19.4% poverty rate, and only 16.4% of residents own homes. Safety scores are low (36.4 percentile), reflecting elevated crime density and environmental health concerns (elevated lead and asthma rates). Transit access is moderate, and family density is decent. This is a neighborhood where families are navigating real constraints — housing, employment, health — and the school sits at the center of those realities.

The neighborhood is relatively walkable, with moderate transit options nearby. Many families likely walk or take public transit, given low car ownership in the area.