Motley
District 55
PublicDistrict 5Zoned

P.S. 175 Henry H Garnet

175 WEST 134 STREET

At a Glance

A small zoned school in Harlem where families stay for the relationships, not the test scores

Best suited for

Families who prioritize a strong, trusting school community over top test scores — particularly those who value knowing their child's teachers personally and want a school where the adults genuinely collaborate. Best for families who can support academic learning at home and aren't relying on the school to drive gifted-level achievement. The tiny size suits families who want their child to be known, not lost in a crowd.

What stands out
  • Exceptional trust scores — 96% parent-teacher trust and 96% parent-principal trust are rare in any district
  • Tiny school (290 students) means families and staff genuinely know each other
  • Instruction quality rated 98% by teachers — they believe in what they're doing
  • Suspension rate of just 1% with a declining trend — minimal disciplinary intervention
  • Strong family survey participation (79% response rate) suggests engaged parent community
Things to consider
  • Test scores lag significantly behind district averages — your child may be academically behind peers at nearby schools
  • Chronic absenteeism is extremely high (54.5%) — this may indicate community challenges or engagement issues
  • Score volatility year-to-year makes it hard to predict academic trajectory
  • Located in District 5, where charter schools consistently outperform traditional public schools
  • If your child is academically advanced, you may need to supplement outside school

Based on 2024-2025 data

School SummaryDistrict 5

P.S. 175 ranks near the bottom of District 5 compared to peer schools — charter schools like Harlem Village Academy West (96/100) and multiple Success Academy campuses (89-94/100) significantly outperform it, and even the nearby zoned school P.S. 125 Ralph Bunche scores higher at 79/100. This isn't a school that competes on test scores. It competes on relationships.

AcademicsImproving

Test scores at P.S. 175 have climbed since the pandemic hit hard in 2022, when ELA dipped to 11.5% and math to 14.8%, but the school still trails district averages — current ELA proficiency of 35.5% falls nearly 18 points below the district average of 53.9%, and math at 44% is slightly below the district's 50.7%. The overall quality rating of 1.59 out of 4 reflects this gap. Grade 5 performs strongest (56.3% math proficiency), while Grade 4 lags considerably (22.5% ELA). The school is catching up, but hasn't caught the district average yet.

Culturestrong

Inside P.S. 175, the numbers tell a striking story: 96% of parents trust teachers, 96% trust the principal, and 98% report strong relationships — these are exceptional figures that far exceed typical district averages. Teachers rate instruction quality at 98% and report feeling safe (91%), with 94% trusting leadership. The discipline record is minimal — just 2 suspensions last year, down from 8 in 2021-22. But there's a significant catch: chronic absenteeism sits at 54.5%, meaning more than half of students are missing significant school time. Female students (60.4%) and white students (70.6%) miss the most, while the overall attendance rate of 89.4% barely beats the district average.

Community

With 290 students in a school that tops out at fifth grade, P.S. 175 is small — class sizes average just 18.7 students. The student body is predominantly Black (47%) and Hispanic (39%), with a high economic need index of 89.9% — nearly all students qualify for free or reduced lunch. About a fifth of students (21%) have IEPs. The school reflects its Harlem neighborhood demographically, and nearly 80% of families took the time to respond to surveys — a sign of genuine engagement from the community that sends its children here.

NeighborhoodHarlem (North)

North Harlem is one of the most transit-accessible neighborhoods in the city (96 out of 100 on transit scoring), making the daily commute easy for working families. It's a family-dense area with strong community ties, though safety scores here are lower than in many Manhattan neighborhoods. The median home value of $713,860 reflects ongoing neighborhood changes, and with only 12.6% homeownership, most families rent. The area has parks and community resources typical of Upper Manhattan.

The neighborhood is highly walkable and well-served by multiple subway lines — families without cars can easily get children to school, and the transit score reflects how doable the daily commute is from anywhere in central or East Harlem.

Academic Performance

ELA Proficiency

35.5%

Students scoring proficient or above on the NY State ELA exam.

NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23

Math Proficiency

44%

Students scoring proficient or above on the NY State Math exam.

NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23

Survey Results

Family Feedback
Satisfaction
90%
Teacher Trust
96%
Principal Trust
96%
Relationships
98%
Teacher Perspective
Instruction
98%
Principal Trust
94%
Collegial Trust
95%
Safety
91%

NYC School Survey (2025) · 216 families responded (79% rate)

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Diverse
39%Hispanic/Latino
47%Black
7%White
5%Asian
1%Multi-Racial
1%Native American

NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23

Economic Need & Special Populations

Economic Need Index
89.9%
IEP Students
20.7%

Discipline

2suspensions (1% of students)
3-Year Trend↓ Declining
21
22
23

NYSED Student & Educator Database (2023-24)

Frequently Asked Questions
Is P.S. 175 Henry H Garnet a good school?
On Motley, P.S. 175 Henry H Garnet earns an overall quality score of 40/100 — a blend of New York State ELA and math results, attendance, and the school-climate survey. Its state test results run below the District 5 average.
What grades does P.S. 175 Henry H Garnet serve?
P.S. 175 Henry H Garnet serves grades Pre-K to 5.
How do students get into P.S. 175 Henry H Garnet?
P.S. 175 Henry H Garnet admits by zone — families living in its attendance zone are generally guaranteed a seat.
Is P.S. 175 Henry H Garnet public, charter, or private?
P.S. 175 Henry H Garnet is a public school in NYC Community School District 5.
What neighborhood is P.S. 175 Henry H Garnet in?
P.S. 175 Henry H Garnet is in Harlem (North), Manhattan.
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