P.S. 134 Hollis

Test scores at P.S. 134 Hollis show a perplexing pattern — the 2025 scores (51.9% ELA, 45.6% math) represent a dramatic jump from 2024 (19.5% ELA, 32.9% math), which itself was volatile from prior years. Compared to district averages of 56.9% ELA and 53.7% math, this school trails significantly. Grade 4 performs strongest (75% ELA, 60.5% math), while Grade 5 lags. The overall quality score of 1.95 out of 4 falls below the district average of 2.21, placing this school in the lower tier of District 29. Whether the 2025 scores reflect genuine improvement or a statistical anomaly warrants close monitoring.

The climate picture is mixed. Parents are highly satisfied (90%) and express strong trust in both teachers (95%) and the principal (96%), suggesting families feel welcomed and heard. Teacher-reported safety is decent at 79%, and notably the school has maintained zero suspensions for three consecutive years — a discipline approach many parents favor. However, teacher instruction quality scores just 65% against a district average of 88%, and teacher-principal trust is strikingly low at 28%, indicating significant friction between staff and leadership. The 55% chronic absenteeism rate is a serious concern, suggesting attendance barriers — whether logistical, health-related, or engagement-based — are impacting the community.

With 299 students, P.S. 134 Hollis is a small-to-moderate elementary school. The student body is predominantly Black (55%), with significant Hispanic (22%) and Asian (18%) populations. The diversity index of 63% reflects this composition. An unusually high 16% of students have IEPs, and the economic need index of 73.7% indicates substantial socioeconomic challenges. This differs notably from the surrounding Hollis neighborhood, which has low poverty (8.7%) and a median household income of $86,660 — suggesting the school draws from a broader economic mix than the immediate neighborhood suggests.

Hollis is a stable, residential Queens neighborhood known for its high homeownership rate (53%) and relatively affluent profile compared to other parts of the borough. The median home value of $685,134 and low poverty rate (8.7%) create a family-friendly environment, though the family density score (28.74) suggests it may not feel as child-saturated as other areas. Safety scores are moderate (56.7), and the education orientation score (49.43) indicates parents here value academics but the neighborhood isn't defined by it. Transit options are limited (42.91), so most families walk or drive.

Given the moderate transit score, most families likely walk or drive to this zoned school — the neighborhood's residential character makes walking feasible for those who live nearby, but families outside the zone may find the commute less convenient.