P.S. 161 Pedro Albizu Campos

Test scores at P.S. 161 have climbed steadily from 19.8% ELA in 2016 to 43.4% in 2025 — a 24-point gain that reflects sustained academic improvement, though the school still sits below the district average of 53.9% in ELA and 50.7% in Math. Math proficiency reached 39.7%, notably higher than the 14.6% dip in 2022 but still trailing peers. Grade-level patterns reveal strengths: 4th graders hit 58.3% in ELA and 6th graders reached 50% in Math, while 8th grade Math lags at 23.3%. The overall score of 1.66/4 sits below the district average of 2.09, but the upward trend suggests the school is closing gaps rather than falling further behind.

This is where P.S. 161 truly shines in the data. Parent satisfaction hits an exceptional 98%, with 97% parent-teacher trust and 98% parent-principal trust — well above the district averages. Teachers report similarly strong relationships: 92% teacher-principal trust, 93% instruction quality rating, and 96% feel safe at work. The discipline picture is reassuring: only 1% suspension rate (down from 8 in 2022-23 to 4 last year), with just 4 total suspensions. However, chronic absenteeism is a real challenge at 48.8% — nearly half of students miss a month or more of school, with Hispanic students at 50.3% and females at 50.7%. Attendance sits at 87.4%, slightly below the district average of 88.6%. The day-to-day feel appears collaborative and trusting, though chronic absenteeism suggests some families face barriers to getting kids to school consistently.

P.S. 161 reflects its West Harlem neighborhood: predominantly Hispanic (76%) with substantial Black enrollment (19%), while Asian and White students each make up just 2%. The diversity index sits at 41%, reflecting a community that's relatively homogeneous by NYC standards but not monolithic. Nearly 95% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch (economic need index 94.8%), and 29% have IEPs — indicating significant populations with special needs. The school serves a community where median household income is $44,556 and 26.5% live below the poverty line, making the high parent satisfaction scores even more meaningful.

Manhattanville-West Harlem is a neighborhood in transition, with a legacy as a working-class immigrant community and ongoing redevelopment bringing new housing and amenities. Transit access is excellent (90.8 percentile) — this is one of the most subway-connected areas in Manhattan — but safety scores are low (11.11 percentile), reflecting the challenges of a community that has experienced disinvestment. Family density is moderate (44.44 percentile), and homeownership is extremely low at 5%, meaning most families rent. The median home value of $544,521 signals recent gentrification pressure, but median household income of $44,556 shows many long-time residents haven't benefited equally. There are parks and community resources, though the neighborhood scores poorly on health environment indicators (6.13 percentile).

The neighborhood is highly walkable and transit-rich, with multiple subway lines serving the area. Families from the zoned catchment can walk to school, and the school draws from a defined geographic area rather than requiring specialized transit.