P.S. 133 Fred R Moore

Test scores at P.S. 133 have undergone a remarkable transformation. Math proficiency sits at 58.3% — above the district average of 50.7% — while ELA at 52.9% trails the district average of 53.9% by a slim margin. The school's overall score of 2.22 outpaces the district average of 2.09. Looking at the trajectory, scores jumped sharply between 2021 and 2024 (ELA from 21.9% to 39.7%, Math from 26% to 58.8%), with 2025 showing continued improvement in ELA (52.9%) and math holding strong at 58.3%. Grade 3 performs strongest with 70.4% math proficiency, while Grade 5 lags at 45.8% math — a spread that suggests the younger grades are benefiting from recent academic initiatives more than older students.

The survey data here is extraordinary. Teachers rate instruction quality at 97% (compared to 88% district-wide), safety at 95% (vs 88.85% district), and their trust in leadership sits at 99%. Every single teacher surveyed reported collegial trust. Families are equally positive: 91% satisfaction, 99% trust in both teachers and principal, and 93% report strong relationships. This is a school where people genuinely feel connected. The attendance picture is more complicated — while the 90.5% attendance rate beats the district average, a shocking 59.1% of students are chronically absent, with Hispanic students (59.5%) and males (60.7%) most affected. The discipline record is pristine: zero suspensions for three consecutive years.

With just 200 students across pre-K through 5th grade, this is a small school where everyone knows each other. The student body is 54% Black, 39% Hispanic, with very small Asian (4%) and White (1%) populations. A striking 42% of students have IEPs — nearly double what's typical — reflecting the school's role as a neighborhood hub for students with special needs. The economic need index of 88.7% underscores that this serves a high-poverty population. The diversity index of 54% reflects a school that's predominantly Black and Hispanic in a neighborhood that skews the same way.

East Harlem (known as Spanish Harlem or El Barrio) is a densely populated, transit-rich neighborhood with a strong family presence — the family density score of 93.49 reflects this. Median household income is just $36,709 with a 33.2% poverty rate, making this one of the city's more economically challenged areas. The neighborhood scores poorly on safety (9.58) and health environment (11.49), with elevated lead rates (7.9%) and high asthma-related emergency department visits (155 per 10,000). Transit access is excellent (82.76), and there's an education-oriented culture (72.8). Homeownership is extremely low at 8%, meaning most families rent.

The school sits along 5th Avenue in northern East Harlem — very walkable from surrounding blocks, with excellent subway access via the 4/5/6 lines a few blocks west. Families from the immediate neighborhood can walk, while those from farther afield rely on bus or subway.