STEM Institute of Manhattan

Test scores here are significantly below District 3 averages — 26.5% in ELA versus the district's 59.3%, and 25% in Math versus 54%. The school's overall quality rating of 1.03 out of 4 places it among the lower-performing elementary schools in Manhattan. However, there's a clear post-pandemic recovery trend: Math climbed from a low of 7.5% in 2016 to 25% in 2025, and ELA rebounded from a COVID dip of 10.2% in 2022 to current levels. Third and fourth grade scores show 25-30% proficiency, suggesting some grade levels are doing better than others. The school is moving in the right direction, but families should know they're enrolling in a school that's still in catch-up mode compared to its District 3 peers.

The survey data tells a remarkable story: 95% of parents trust teachers, 97% trust the principal, and 89% report strong relationships. Teachers echo this — 92% trust the principal and 91% rate instruction quality highly. This is a school where people genuinely like working and families feel welcomed. The attendance picture is more complicated: 85.5% daily attendance is below the district average of 90.4%, and chronic absenteeism sits at a concerning 43.7% — particularly high for Black students at 51.5%. On discipline, the school has maintained zero suspensions for three consecutive years, suggesting a restorative or supportive approach to behavior. The trade-off appears to be: warm relationships and few exclusions, but struggles with getting kids to show up consistently.

The student body is 50% Black, 33% Hispanic, 9% white, 7% Asian, and 2% multiracial — reflecting the neighborhood's demographic makeup. With 83.9% economic need index and 29% of students having IEPs, this serves a high-need population. PTA fundraising is minimal at $12 per student (versus $627 district average), suggesting fewer resourced families or less fundraising infrastructure. Yet surveys show strong engagement: 66 family survey responses with a 51% response rate indicates real participation. This is a working-class community school, not a selectively enrolled one.

The school sits in Harlem, a neighborhood with excellent transit access (99th percentile) and high family density (95th percentile), though only 12.4% of households have children — indicating an aging population. Median home values are over $1.3 million, yet the poverty rate sits at 20% and median household income is $68,758, suggesting many long-term residents amid increasing costs. The area scores poorly on safety (1st percentile) and health environment (6th percentile), with elevated asthma rates and air quality concerns. Education orientation is moderate at 76th percentile, reflecting some family interest in schools but not the intense district-wide competition seen in other Manhattan neighborhoods.

Very walkable neighborhood with strong subway access — families from within the zone can easily walk or take short bus rides. No parking at the school, but transit is a non-issue.