P.S./I.S. 116 William C. Hughley

Both ELA (40.2%) and math (32.7%) proficiency land well below the District 29 averages of roughly 57% and 54% respectively. The overall score of 1.46 out of 4 also trails the district's 2.21. But the year-over-year trend is genuinely encouraging: ELA proficiency has risen from 20.9% in 2016 to 40.2% in 2025, and math from 13.4% to 32.7% over the same period, with the biggest jumps coming in the last two years. Science proficiency at 24.1% is not benchmarked against the district in this data. Scores by grade show uneven results — 3rd and 4th graders are doing better in math (50% and 44.3%) than 7th and 8th graders (27.8% and 12.7%), suggesting the middle-school years are where the school struggles most to keep math proficiency up.

The day-to-day feel here is mixed. Parents are notably engaged and trusting — 91% parent satisfaction matches the district average, and parent trust in both teachers and the principal is an exceptional 97% — but only 8% of families returned the survey, which is a low response and means the picture is built on a small slice of voices. Teachers are more reserved: instruction quality (81%) and teacher-reported safety (89%) both trail district averages (88% and 94%), and teacher-principal trust sits at just 66%, well below the parental-trust figures. Discipline is a clear bright spot — only 3 suspensions last year, down from 9 in each of the prior two years, and a 0% suspension rate. However, attendance is a real concern: 86.9% lags the district's 90.9%, and chronic absenteeism hits 48.5%, meaning nearly half of students miss enough school to be flagged. That figure cuts across demographics, though Hispanic and Asian students show the highest rates (53.9% and 55.6%).

The student body is 42% Black, 39% Hispanic, 14% Asian, and 3% Native American, with a diversity index that reflects the mix. The economic need index of 78.4% is high, meaning most students come from low-income households. About 19% of students have IEPs, and the school offers ELL support. South Jamaica itself has a median household income of about $74,000, a 13.4% poverty rate, and a 46.3% homeownership rate — a working- and middle-income neighborhood where families span renters and owners. The school population skews lower-income than the surrounding area, which is typical for zoned public schools in mixed neighborhoods.

South Jamaica is a residential, family-oriented pocket of southeast Queens where about 20% of households include children and homeownership is split fairly evenly between owners and renters. Median home values hover around $587,000 and 17.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The neighborhood reads as working-class and stable rather than wealthy — a place where most families are stretched but rooted.

There is no quick subway hop — the closest options are the F train at Jamaica-179 St (about a 17-minute walk) and 169 St (about a 19-minute walk), so most families likely rely on cars, school buses, or local bus service.