Motley
District 44

School for Cooperative Technical Education

321 EAST  96 STREET

At a Glance

A neighborhood K-8 school with nearly universal parent satisfaction operating in a high-need East Harlem community

Best suited for

Families who prioritize a safe, disciplined environment over top test scores; parents of children with IEPs who want inclusive programming; working families who need reliable transit and are comfortable in a neighborhood with real safety considerations; families seeking a K-8 that keeps siblings together without lottery complexity.

What stands out
  • Zero suspensions — discipline is handled through means other than exclusion
  • 91% parent satisfaction matches district average despite higher economic need
  • 30% IEP population suggests strong special education programming and inclusion practices
  • Full K-8 grade span allows families to stay in one school through middle school
Things to consider
  • No state test scores provided — academic performance relative to peers is unknown
  • 30% special education population may require parents to advocate for rigorous academic pathways
  • Neighborhood safety scores are low (12th percentile) — parents should factor this into commute decisions
  • No attendance data means chronic absenteeism patterns are unclear
  • Peer schools in District 4 are extremely competitive — Tag Young Scholars scores 97/100 — creating high expectations

Based on 2024 data

School SummaryDistrict 4

District 4's peer schools are dominated by high-performing charters: Tag Young Scholars (97), Success Academy Harlem 3 (95), and P.S. 171 Patrick Henry (91) lead the pack. This school doesn't appear in the ranked comparison, suggesting it may fall below the lowest peer (Central Park East I at 75/100). However, the 91% parent satisfaction indicates families value what this school offers, even if test scores don't compete with charter neighbors.

AcademicsSteady

No state test proficiency data is available for this school, which makes it difficult to directly compare academic performance against the district average of 50% ELA and 45% math. The 30% IEP population is notably higher than many District 4 peers, suggesting robust special education services. Class sizes average 20.1 students, nearly identical to the district average, indicating standard staffing levels.

Culturemoderate

The discipline record stands out: zero suspensions is exceptional in a district where the average is 0.71%. Teacher-reported safety (87%) and instruction quality (87%) both align closely with district averages, suggesting a stable, functional environment. With no data on student surveys or attendance rates, the day-to-day climate is harder to gauge, but the absence of suspensions and high parent satisfaction suggest families feel heard and respected.

Community

The school demographics closely mirror the neighborhood — Hispanic families make up just over half the student body, with Black students representing roughly a third. The diversity index of 64% reflects a multicultural community. With 73% economic need and 30% IEP students, this is a high-need school that serves a population facing significant out-of-school challenges. The 7% Asian and 7% White enrollment suggests limited integration with surrounding gentrifying blocks.

NeighborhoodEast Harlem (South)

East Harlem (South) is a transit-rich but safety-challenged neighborhood. Families benefit from strong subway access (80th percentile) and moderate education orientation (66th percentile), but the area scores in the bottom 12% for safety and has elevated environmental health concerns — high asthma rates and lead exposure risks. The median home value of $828,171 reflects gentrification pressures, but median household income of $44,054 shows most families are working-class.

The neighborhood is highly walkable with excellent transit options. Families from nearby blocks can easily walk, while those coming from further east may rely on the subway — the area is well-connected to the 4/5/6 lines.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Diverse
53%Hispanic/Latino
32%Black
7%White
7%Asian
1%Native American

NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23

Economic Need & Special Populations

Economic Need Index
72.7%
IEP Students
0.3%

Discipline

0suspensions

NYSED Student & Educator Database

Frequently Asked Questions
Is School for Cooperative Technical Education a good school?
Published quality ratings aren't available for School for Cooperative Technical Education yet on Motley. It's a public school serving grades Pre-K to 8 in East Harlem (South).
What grades does School for Cooperative Technical Education serve?
School for Cooperative Technical Education serves grades Pre-K to 8.
Is School for Cooperative Technical Education public, charter, or private?
School for Cooperative Technical Education is a public school in NYC Community School District 4.
What neighborhood is School for Cooperative Technical Education in?
School for Cooperative Technical Education is in East Harlem (South), Manhattan.
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