P.S. 146 Howard Beach

P.S. 146 has quietly become one of the stronger performers in District 27. The most recent ELA proficiency rate of 67.2% sits about 11 points above the district average of 56%, and math proficiency of 64.3% runs roughly 7 points above the district's 57.3%. The school's overall rating of 2.63 out of 4 also tops the district average of 2.27. Scores have trended upward since 2016, when fewer than half were meeting standards in either subject, though results wobbled in 2022 before recovering. Grade-by-grade data shows the strongest performance in 3rd and 4th grade math (70-77%) and the most uneven results in middle school grades, where math proficiency hovers near 59-64%.

The day-to-day feel here is unusually calm. The school reported zero suspensions in 2023-24, down from one the year prior and well below the district average suspension rate of 0.5%. Teachers rate the quality of instruction at 99% and report feeling safe at 97%, both notably above district norms. Parents echo that warmth: 94% trust the principal and 95% say there are strong relationships between teachers and families. Teacher-to-teacher trust is the one softer spot at 76%, suggesting collegial but not deeply collaborative staff dynamics. The big caveat is chronic absenteeism at 69.2%, meaning roughly two-thirds of students miss enough school to be flagged — a pattern that cuts across all demographic groups and is worth asking about directly.

The student body is split almost evenly between Hispanic students (42%) and White students (42%), with Asian students making up 12% and smaller shares of Black, multiracial, and Native American students. About 23% of students have IEPs and the school provides ELL support. The diversity index of 65% reflects real mix without extreme concentration. The economic need index of 42.6% is moderate, lower than many Queens schools, and matches what you'd expect from a neighborhood where most households own their homes.

Howard Beach-Lindenwood is a working- and middle-class pocket of southern Queens where homeownership is the norm and most residents have put down roots. Median household income is around $106,000, the poverty rate sits at 6.2%, and about a third of adults hold a college degree. Roughly one in five households includes children, which keeps P.S. 146 well-fed with local students. The neighborhood skews older and family-oriented, and the 77% homeownership rate signals a stable, multi-generational community.

The school is a short walk from the Howard Beach-JFK Airport station on the A line, with the Aqueduct-North Conduit Avenue A stop about 11 minutes on foot and the Aqueduct Racetrack station roughly 17 minutes away. Most local families likely arrive by car or on foot, but the A line gives a direct Manhattan connection.