P.S. 174 William Sidney Mount

This is one of the stronger academic showings in District 28. ELA proficiency has climbed from around 60% in 2016 to 82.4% in 2025, and math has risen in parallel from 64.5% to 82.7% — both nearly 20 percentage points above the district average of roughly 63%. Third graders are doing particularly well (88.4% ELA, 91.8% math), with fourth and fifth graders close behind. The trajectory has been consistently upward since 2018, with a small dip in ELA last year before rebounding strongly, suggesting real instructional momentum rather than a one-year bump.

The day-to-day feel here is warm and orderly, with zero suspensions over three years and 95% of teachers reporting their school is safe — both ahead of district norms. Parent responses are strikingly positive: 97% trust their child's teacher and 98% trust the principal, with 92% satisfied overall. The one notable gap is between teachers and administration — only 68% of teachers trust their principal, and teacher collegial trust sits at 73%, which is worth probing during a visit. Daily attendance is healthy at 94.7% (above the 91.4% district average), though the chronic absenteeism figure of 83.6% is high and worth understanding directly from the school.

P.S. 174's student body looks like Rego Park's changing face: 42% Asian, 26% White, 20% Hispanic, 8% multiracial, and smaller Black and Native American populations, with a diversity index of 78%. The neighborhood reflects this — a middle-income area with a median household income of $83,620, half of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher, and homeownership near 44%. The economic need index of 38.1 is well below the citywide average, and only 11% of students have IEPs, suggesting a relatively less economically stressed population than many Queens schools.

Rego Park is a stable, middle-class Queens neighborhood where about 44% of households own their homes and the median home value sits around $622,000. Fewer than one in five households have children, meaning the surrounding blocks are a mix of young families and long-established residents rather than a kid-dominated area. With about 53% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher, this is a school whose families often come to the school well-prepared.

Subway access is a real consideration here — the nearest stations are 63 Dr-Rego Park and 67 Av (both on the M and R lines) at about a 13-minute walk, with Woodhaven Blvd (also M and R) a 20-minute walk; many families will drive or take a car service rather than walk.