The Judith S. Kaye School

The dataset doesn't include ELA, math, or science proficiency rates for this school, so it's hard to say how students here are performing on state tests relative to peers. Class size sits right at the district average of about 20, so on paper students aren't getting more one-on-one time than at a typical District 4 school. Without test scores in hand, parents should ask directly for recent proficiency data and graduation rates when visiting — small schools like this sometimes fly under the accountability radar precisely because of how few students they serve.

The discipline story is the headline: zero suspensions in 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24, compared to a district average suspension rate of about 0.7%. Surveys from the few families (7% response rate) and teachers (only 5 respondents) who answered showed 100% parent satisfaction and unanimous teacher trust in both instruction and leadership. The day-to-day read is calm and orderly — but the very low response rates mean these glowing numbers come from a tiny slice of the school community, so they should be taken as suggestive rather than definitive.

About 88% of students identify as Black or Hispanic, with small slices of Asian (4%), White (3%), Multi-Racial (2%), and Native American (3%) — a much more concentrated demographic profile than the citywide average. The economic need index of 87.1 puts this firmly among the highest-need schools in Manhattan. Students with IEPs make up 32% of enrollment, more than twice the citywide rate, which signals this is a popular landing spot for kids who need extra support — including a "SE" designation for special education services.

East Harlem is one of Manhattan's lower-income neighborhoods, with a median household income around $44,000 and a poverty rate near 30% — well above city averages. Fewer than one in ten households includes children, which means the buildings are full of working-age adults, often renters rather than owners (homeownership is under 8%). About 38% of neighborhood adults have a bachelor's degree, and families here tend to rely on transit rather than cars given the dense apartment blocks and limited parking.

The school sits right by the 96 St Q stop — about a 2-minute walk — with the 96 St 6 line about 7 minutes away and the 103 St 6 about 10 minutes on foot, so getting here by subway from anywhere in Manhattan is straightforward.