The Locke School of Arts and Engineering

Test scores at The Locke School sit below the District 3 average—50.6% ELA versus 59.3% district-wide, and 39.1% math versus 54% district-wide. However, the five-year trend is striking: ELA improved from 25% to 50.6% and math from 19.4% to 39.1%, meaning the school has essentially doubled its performance. Grade 3 shows the strongest ELA results (57.7%), while Grade 5 math (27.8%) drags down the overall picture. The school scores 1.79 out of 4 on the citywide framework, compared to the district average of 2.27. Students here are catching up quickly, but still have ground to cover to reach district benchmarks.

This is a school where families and teachers clearly feel connected. Parent satisfaction sits at 92% (above the 88% district average), parent-teacher trust at 96%, and 98% of families report strong relationships with the school. Teachers report exceptional trust in leadership (92%) and among colleagues (93%), with 92% rating instruction quality as strong. Perhaps most notably, teacher-reported safety is 99%—among the highest in the district. Attendance is the weak spot: 88.3% daily attendance (slightly below the 90.4% district average) and a troubling 54.6% chronic absenteeism rate, with particularly high absence rates among multiracial (95%) and white (86.7%) students. The school has maintained zero suspensions for three straight years, an exceptional record in a district where the average suspension rate is 0.4%.

The Locke School serves 281 students in a high-need community: 76.3% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, and 24% have IEPs. The student body is predominantly Black (43%) and Hispanic (33%), with smaller populations of white (16%), multiracial (5%), Asian (3%), and Native American (1%) students. The diversity index of 72% reflects a racially mixed classroom community. PTA fundraising brought in $133 per student ($37,323 total), notably below the district average of $627 per student, suggesting fewer discretionary dollars for enrichment programs despite strong family engagement on the survey side.

The school sits in Central Harlem, a neighborhood with strong transit access (99th percentile) and high family density (95th percentile), but significant challenges: 20.3% poverty rate, median household income of $68,758, and low homeownership at 18.2%. The area scores poorly on safety (1st percentile) and health environment (6th percentile), with elevated rates of asthma and lead exposure. However, the education orientation score is strong (76th percentile), indicating families in the area prioritize schooling. Median home values reach $1.3 million, reflecting the neighborhood's rapid gentrification. Families in this area rely heavily on public transit—the transit score of 98.85 reflects excellent subway access.

Highly walkable and transit-friendly neighborhood — families typically walk or take the subway, with the area well-served by multiple subway lines. The 112th Street location is pedestrian-friendly with good access to nearby parks and community resources.