At a Glance
A PreK-8 neighborhood school in Laurelton where families dig in and math scores keep climbing
Best suited for
Laurelton families — especially those who already own homes nearby and plan to stay put — who want a PreK-8 community school with strong parent engagement, a clean discipline record, and don't mind a bus or car commute.
Overall Rating
Rating = average of NY State ELA + math proficiency, grades 3–8
Bands are Motley's thresholds on a 0–100 scale, not New York State performance levels.
How this is scored→What stands out
- Math proficiency climbed from a pandemic-low of 19.3% in 2022 to 46.4% in 2025 — one of the more dramatic recoveries in the district.
- Zero suspensions last year, down from one the prior two years — a clean discipline trajectory in a middle school.
- PTA raised $98 per student in 2024-25, nearly three times the district average of $33, signaling unusually strong family investment.
- Parent-teacher trust at 95% is among the strongest relationship scores in District 29.
- 4th-grade math proficiency of 68.4% actually beats the district average for that grade — proof the early elementary model works.
Things to consider
- Chronic absenteeism at 60.8% means more than half of students miss 10% or more of school days, which can undercut academic growth even when teaching is strong.
- Teacher-principal trust at 68% is notably lower than every other trust measure on the survey — worth asking staff directly what's behind that gap.
- Math proficiency still trails the district by more than 7 points, despite the recent climb, and middle school math drops sharply after 4th grade.
- There are no subway stations within a 20-minute walk, so daily commutes will be by bus or car — a real factor for families without easy access to a vehicle.
- Program richness score of 19.3/100 is low, meaning families looking for extensive enrichment offerings (arts, STEM labs, language pathways) may find the menu slim.
Based on 2024-25 data
School SummaryDistrict 29
Among District 29 elementary and middle schools, The Gordon Parks School sits in the middle of the pack with an overall score of 2.03/4 versus the district's 2.21/4 — below several traditional peers like P.S. 176 and P.S. 360 and well behind the high-flying Success Academy charters, but the upward trajectory on both ELA and math puts it on a positive track relative to where it started.
Academics
ELA proficiency of 55.2% is just shy of the district average of 56.9%, while math at 46.4% sits meaningfully below the district's 53.7%. The longer view is more encouraging: ELA has climbed from 38.9% in 2016 to 55.2% in 2025, and math — despite a sharp pandemic-era dip to 19.3% in 2022 — has rebounded to 46.4%, nearly recovering its pre-pandemic footing. The grade-by-grade picture shows a notable dip in middle school math, where 6th and 8th graders land at 38.5% and 31.6% respectively, while 4th-grade math actually outperforms the broader district at 68.4%. Science proficiency rounds out at 40.8%, in line with where you'd expect given the math numbers.
Culture
The school's biggest strength on climate is the parent side: parent-teacher trust is 95% and parent-principal trust is 89%, suggesting families feel heard even though overall parent satisfaction sits at 87% — a few points below the district's 91%. Teacher-reported safety is strong at 94%, but teacher-principal trust at 68% hints at some friction between faculty and leadership that prospective parents would be wise to ask about on a tour. Discipline is a clear bright spot — suspensions have trended from 1 to 1 to 0 over the past three years. Chronic absenteeism at 60.8% is high and worth watching, since more than half of students are missing 10% or more of school days.
Community
The student body is 91% Black, with smaller shares of Hispanic (5%), Asian (2%), Native American (2%), and multi-racial (1%) students, making this one of the more racially homogeneous schools in the city — but one that closely mirrors the surrounding Laurelton community. About 16% of students have IEPs, and the school's economic need index of 48.7 sits in the middle of the range for District 29. The PTA's $66,399 in fundraising — roughly $98 per student, nearly triple the district average — reflects engaged families who put real money behind the school.
Neighborhood
Laurelton is a stable, middle-class Queens neighborhood where 79% of households own their homes and median household income is $106,251, well above the citywide average. About 17% of households have children under 18, and the 4.9% poverty rate reflects the area's relative affluence. High homeownership typically means families put down roots, which tends to show up in steady enrollment and strong PTA participation — exactly what you see at this school.
The school is beyond walking distance of any subway station, so most families likely arrive by car, school bus, or local bus.
Academic Performance
ELA Proficiency
Students scoring proficient or above on the NY State ELA exam.
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Math Proficiency
Students scoring proficient or above on the NY State Math exam.
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Science Proficiency
Students scoring proficient or above on the NY State Science exam.
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Historical Trends
The dashed line marks 2023, when New York changed its grades 3–8 state tests. Scores before and after it aren’t directly comparable.
2020–2021 data unavailable due to COVID-19
Source: NYC DOE School Quality Reports
Survey Results
NYC School Survey (2025) · 64 families responded (12% rate)
Programs & Activities
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
PTA Fundraising
Source: DOE Local Law 171 disclosure
Discipline
NYSED Student & Educator Database (2023-24)
Economic Need & Special Populations
How to get in, step by step
Pre-K
The Gordon Parks School also has Pre-K classes. They're a separate application from kindergarten, made on MySchools.
Pre-K application
Applications typically open in the winter and close in the spring, with offers in late spring; the city announces exact dates each year.
Kindergarten
The Gordon Parks School doesn't have an attendance zone of its own, so living nearby doesn't guarantee a seat here. Families apply on MySchools, and seats go to the school's priority groups first, then by random lottery.
Kindergarten application
- Opens
- Wed, Dec 9
- Closes
- Fri, Jan 22
- Offers
- Tue, Mar 30
The DOE’s published dates.
- 1Apply on MySchools during the kindergarten application.
- 2Rank this school with your zoned school, if you have one, and any others you'd take — in true preference order.
Middle school (6th grade)
Middle school is one citywide application, made in 5th grade. The Gordon Parks School admits through one program, and each one has its own admissions method:
- The Gordon Parks School for Inquisitive MindsUnscreened81 seats
Middle school application
- Opened
- Wed, Oct 14
- Closes
- Fri, Dec 11
- Offers
- Wed, Apr 7
The DOE’s published dates.
- 1Apply on MySchools during the middle school application, in 5th grade.
- 2Unscreened programs fill by random lottery among the families who rank them.
- 3Rank programs in true preference order — the match places your child in the highest-ranked one that offers a seat.
Open houses and tours
We haven’t seen open-house dates for this school yet.
From the MySchools admissions calendar, checked weekly.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is The Gordon Parks School a good school?
- On Motley, The Gordon Parks School earns an overall rating of 51/100 — the average of the school's New York State ELA and math proficiency, grades 3–8, shown out of 100. Its state test results run in line with the District 29 average.
- What grades does The Gordon Parks School serve?
- The Gordon Parks School serves grades Pre-K to 8.
- How do students get into The Gordon Parks School?
- The Gordon Parks School admits by application through a random lottery, with no academic screen.
- Is The Gordon Parks School public, charter, or private?
- The Gordon Parks School is a public school in NYC Community School District 29.
- What neighborhood is The Gordon Parks School in?
- The Gordon Parks School is in Laurelton, Queens.