The Academy for Excellence through the Arts

These are truly exceptional scores. At 93.5% ELA and 95.6% math proficiency, this school outperforms the district average of roughly 63% by a margin of 30 percentage points — a gap that places it in a different league from most Queens elementary schools. The overall score of 3.78 out of 4 (district average is 2.51) reflects consistent excellence across all measured dimensions. Grade 5 students particularly stand out, achieving 98.4% in ELA. The historical trend shows sustained high performance with a dip during the 2022 pandemic year (84.3% math) that has since been fully recovered and exceeded.

The survey data tells a remarkable story: 99% of teachers rate instruction quality as strong, 100% report feeling safe and trust their principal, and 100% have trust in their colleagues. Parents mirror this positivity with 93% satisfaction and 94% trust in teachers. The discipline record is spotless — zero suspensions across the past three years. Attendance at 94.5% runs above the district average. One data point worth noting: chronic absenteeism appears high in the dataset, though the strong attendance rate suggests this may reflect a data recording nuance rather than an actual attendance problem.

With 425 students in grades PK-5, this school serves a notably diverse student body: 37% Asian, 37% White, 16% Hispanic, 5% Black, and 6% multiracial. The diversity index of 75% reflects a genuinely mixed community. Notably, only 20.5% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, indicating a more economically comfortable student population than many Queens schools. This aligns with Forest Hills' median household income of $104,416 and 60.6% of adults holding bachelor's degrees — a profile of educated, financially stable families who prioritize education.

Forest Hills is a stable, residential Queens neighborhood with strong family infrastructure. The area scores 75.1% on family density and 85.44% on education orientation — meaning families with children and educational ambition are defining characteristics. Median home values of $608,519 and a 49.8% homeownership rate suggest long-term residents. The neighborhood has moderate transit access (43.3 score) and some safety considerations (crime density of 1,582 per square mile). Families in the area typically value education highly and have the resources to support school engagement.

The school is accessible to local families walking from the surrounding residential blocks. Most students arrive via walking or short car rides from within Forest Hills.