P.S. 140 Nathan Straus

Test scores at P.S. 140 are significantly below the District 1 average — ELA proficiency sits at 25.9% versus the district's 51.7%, and math at 27.7% versus 47.4%. The school earned a 1.07 out of 4 on the NYC School Progress Report, placing it firmly in the bottom tier. Looking at grades 3-8, there's a pattern: 7th grade performs best (32% ELA, 37% math), while 4th grade is the hardest hit (5% ELA, 4% math). The data shows the school made meaningful progress during remote learning — math jumped from 15.6% in 2018 to 33.7% in 2023 — but gains have eroded, with both subjects dropping 5-8 points since that peak.

Here's where the picture gets more nuanced: despite the academic struggles, the school has built genuine trust with families. Parent satisfaction sits at 87%, and both parent-teacher trust and parent-principal trust hit 92% — notably high for a district where averages hover around 88%. Teachers also report strong relationships with leadership (90% teacher-principal trust) and rate instruction quality at 88%. However, teacher-reported safety (86%) falls slightly below the district average (91%), and the suspension rate (2%) is notably higher than the district average (0.4%). Discipline data shows a relatively stable trend over three years (7, 10, 8 suspensions), neither worsening nor improving significantly. The family survey response rate of 31% suggests moderate engagement, though the 98 responses represent meaningful participation.

P.S. 140 serves a predominantly Hispanic immigrant community — 72% of students are Hispanic, reflecting the neighborhood's roots as an entry point for new arrivals. Twenty percent are Black, 4% white, and 2% Asian. Nearly all students (92%) come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and over a third (38%) receive special education services — roughly triple the citywide average. The diversity index is 47%, relatively moderate. In a neighborhood where 23% of households live below the poverty line and median income is $58,000, this school is squarely serving families facing significant financial constraints.

The Lower East Side is a densely packed, historically immigrant neighborhood with excellent transit (88/100) but real quality-of-life challenges. The safety score (16/100) is low, reflecting property crime and quality-of-life concerns common in this area. However, the education orientation score (89/100) is remarkably high, indicating families here prioritize schooling. The neighborhood has limited green space but offers rich cultural institutions, community centers, and the kind of extended-family networks that can support working parents. Median home values ($833,000) have risen sharply, creating pressure on long-time residents, though homeownership rates are low (23%).

The Lower East Side is highly walkable, and most families arrive on foot. The excellent transit score (89/100) means many commute by subway or bus — the school is accessible via multiple lines. Parents often walk younger children to school, and the density of the neighborhood means many live close enough to walk.