The STAR Academy - P.S.63

ELA proficiency is 42% versus a district average of about 52%, and math proficiency is 26.8% against a district average around 47% — substantial gaps on both measures. The picture isn't static: scores peaked in 2017-2018, dropped sharply during and after the pandemic, and have only partly recovered. ELA in 2025 (42%) is the highest since 2019, but math (26.8%) is actually lower than it was a decade ago. Grade-by-grade results show a similar split — third-graders' math proficiency (18.2%) is particularly weak compared to fourth-graders (38.9%), suggesting growing pains at the youngest tested grade.

The day-to-day feels mixed. Teachers report high safety (96%) and universal strong relationships (100%), and there's essentially no suspension activity — three straight years at zero. But chronic absenteeism is at 47.4%, and the average student misses roughly a month and a half of school each year. Parent-side survey numbers are middling — 79% satisfied, 85% trust teachers, 78% trust the principal — but they're about 9 points below the district average on satisfaction. The more concerning signal is inside the building: teachers give instruction quality a 71% (district avg 87%) and only 49% trust the principal, suggesting leadership turnover or friction parents don't see. The teacher survey had only 20 responses, so those numbers should be read with some caution.

The student body is 65% Hispanic, 20% Black, 8% White, 4% multiracial, with just 2% Asian — a heavily Latino school that reflects the long-standing Latino presence in the East Village. About 70% of students qualify as economically needy and 32% have IEPs, both meaningful shares for a school this small. The diversity index of 57% reflects a less mixed ethnic picture than many Manhattan schools, dominated by two main groups. Chronic absenteeism hits Black students (52%) hardest, followed by Hispanic students (46%) and especially girls (53%).

The East Village around the school is a dense, walkable Manhattan neighborhood where median household income is around $87,700 and roughly a quarter of residents live below the poverty line. Only 6.6% of households have children, which is typical of lower Manhattan — most blocks skew toward young adults, students, and longtime residents. Educational attainment is high: nearly 60% of adults have a bachelor's degree or more. Homeownership is rare (under 14%) and the typical home is worth over a million dollars. The school reflects a slice of this picture: families who live in the neighborhood, often in rent-stabilized housing, and qualify for free lunch.

Families can reach the school via the F train at 2 Av (about a 5-minute walk) or at Delancey St-Essex St (about a 9-minute walk), which is also served by the M, J, and Z lines.