P.S. 527 - East Side School for Social Action

Test scores here are strong but not extraordinary for the neighborhood context — 82.4% ELA and 85.8% math both exceed District 2 averages (73.2% and 72.5% respectively), placing the school comfortably above most city schools but below top-performing peers like P.S. 77 Lower Lab. The trend shows a school that peaked in 2017 (90.7% ELA) and has settled into a stable range around 80-82% ELA and 85-87% math over the past three years. Grade 5 performs strongest (86.1% ELA, 88.3% math), while Grade 4 dips slightly (76.7% ELA), suggesting some variability in cohort performance.

This is where P.S. 527 truly shines — parent satisfaction sits at 95%, teacher-principal trust at 95%, and teacher-reported safety at 96%, all exceeding district averages. The school has maintained zero suspensions for three consecutive years, a rare achievement in Manhattan. However, chronic absenteeism is a significant concern at 82.2%, with notable disparities: Asian students have the highest attendance (90.2%) while Black (61.1%) and Hispanic (67.6%) students show lower attendance rates. Teacher surveys show strong collegial trust (90%) and instruction quality ratings (94%), indicating a positive day-to-day working environment.

The student body is 50% white, reflecting the Upper East Side's demographic makeup, with meaningful Asian (17%), Hispanic (14%), and multiracial (13%) representation. The diversity index of 76% is notably high for this neighborhood. Economic need is very low (18.3% ENI), and 21% of students have IEPs — slightly above typical for the area. PTA fundraising reached $189,824 ($435/student) in 2024-25, though this is actually below the district average of $517/student, possibly reflecting different fundraising cultures rather than lower engagement.

The Upper East Side-Yorkville is a family-dense area (100th percentile) with excellent transit access (89.27) and strong education orientation (90.8), though safety scores are moderate (26.82). Median household income is $136,925 with only 7.8% poverty — this is one of Manhattan's most affluent family neighborhoods. The median home value of $1.19 million illustrates the cost of entry here. Families benefit from access to Central Park, excellent restaurants, and strong infrastructure, though the neighborhood has lower health environment scores (14.18) and moderate stability (36.78).

The Upper East Side is highly walkable with excellent subway access along the 4/5/6 lines and Q train nearby. Most families walk or take public transit; driving is challenging due to limited parking and traffic.