P.S. 155 William Paca

Proficiency sits far below District 4 averages: 28.6% in ELA versus the district's roughly 50%, and just 15.9% in math versus the district's 45%. The overall quality score of 0.89 out of 4 is less than half the district average of 1.9. That said, the trend line is meaningfully upward — ELA proficiency has nearly doubled from 15% in 2016 to 28.6% in 2025, and math has climbed from 10% to the mid-teens with a peak of 21% in 2022. Fourth-graders outperform third and fifth graders on both subjects, suggesting the upper-elementary years are where this school finds its footing. This is a school where kids are catching up, not leading — but the gap is closing slowly.

The day-to-day feel is warmer than the test scores suggest. Parent satisfaction sits at 86% (below the district's 91%, but solid), and parent-teacher trust is notably strong at 89% — higher than the parent-principal number at 86%, which is an interesting signal that families feel closest to the teachers themselves. Every surveyed family reported strong relationships with teachers (100%), which is genuinely unusual. On the staff side, the picture is more complicated: only 12 teachers responded to the survey, teacher-principal trust is a middling 71%, and teacher collegial trust is just 53% — suggesting the adults in the building aren't as aligned with each other as they are with families. Discipline is a clear bright spot, with a 0% suspension rate across the last three years. Chronic absenteeism, however, is high at 48.3% — nearly half of students miss too much school, which drags on academic growth.

The student body is overwhelmingly Hispanic (75%) and Black (17%), with small numbers of Asian, Native American, and multiracial students. That mirrors the surrounding East Harlem census tract closely, where the median household income is around $36,700 and a third of residents live below the poverty line. Twenty-five percent of students have IEPs — a significantly higher share than the citywide average — meaning this is a school with a real concentration of students who need extra support. With only 210 students total, classes stay around 20, so most kids know each other and most adults know most families.

This school sits in East Harlem, one of the poorest neighborhoods in Manhattan. The surrounding census tract has a median household income under $37,000, a poverty rate above 33%, and only about 30% of adults hold a bachelor's degree. Just 8% of households own their homes, reflecting the area's deep rental density. Families here are working-class and largely Hispanic, with a strong sense of community despite the economic strain.

Families can reach the 6 train at 116 Street in about a 7-minute walk, or catch the 4, 5, or 6 at 125 Street in about 10 minutes. The 6 at 110 Street is also roughly a 10-minute walk south. There's no express stop right at the door, so plan for some walking either way.