Susan E. Wagner High School

State test score data was not available for this profile period, making it difficult to benchmark this school's proficiency rates against the district averages of 61% in ELA and 61% in Math. However, the school's screened admissions model — accepting only 2.5% to 8.3% of applicants across its three specialized academies — effectively selects for academically prepared students. The Academy of Finance and Law & Politics Institute both see roughly 900+ applicants for fewer than 30 seats each, suggesting a competitive applicant pool. The school offers AP Courses across subjects and a program richness score of 100/100, indicating comprehensive academic offerings.

The survey data paints a picture of strong family engagement and satisfaction, with 94% of parents reporting satisfaction and 95% expressing trust in the principal — both slightly above district averages. Teacher-reported instruction quality sits at 89%, slightly below the district average of 93%, which may reflect the challenges of serving a large, diverse student body. There's a notable gap in teacher-principal trust at 74% compared to the near-universal parent trust, suggesting some tension in how staff experience leadership. However, teacher collegial trust is a solid 80%, indicating positive peer relationships among staff. Attendance data wasn't provided, but the discipline record is striking: zero suspensions, which is notably better than the district average suspension rate of 0.44%. This could indicate either effective behavioral practices or a student body that doesn't require heavy intervention.

With 3,224 students, Wagner is a large high school with demographics that closely mirror its affluent neighborhood: 40% White, 31% Hispanic, 18% Asian, and 10% Black, yielding a diversity index of 75% — high for Staten Island but reflective of the borough's shifting population. The economic need index of 52.5% indicates that roughly half of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, which is moderate but suggests the school serves a mix of affluent and working-class families. Twenty-one percent of students have IEPs, and the school supports ELL students alongside a full slate of world languages (French, Italian, Latin, Spanish). The neighborhood's median household income of $107,347 and 74.7% homeownership rate provide a stable, family-oriented backdrop.

The Todt Hill-Emerson Hill-Lighthouse Hill-Manor Heights neighborhood is one of Staten Island's most desirable areas — safe (86.97 percentile), stable (91.19 percentile), and family-dense (54.02 percentile). Median home values top $817,000 and homeownership is nearly 75%, giving the area a established, affluent character. Education orientation scores high at 79.69, reflecting a community that values schools. Transit access is limited (17.62 percentile), meaning most families drive or rely on school buses. The area has modest environmental health concerns — lead elevation rates of 18% and asthma rates of 47 per 1,000 are worth noting but not alarming.

This is a car-dependent neighborhood. With a transit score of just 17.62, most students commute by car or school bus. The school's location on Manor Road serves a geographically spread-out population — families should expect driving to be part of the daily routine, particularly given Staten Island's limited public transit network.