Village Academy

Test scores here tell a remarkable story of improvement. Math proficiency at 61.8% actually exceeds the Queens district average of 57.3%, and the climb from single digits in 2016 is extraordinary. ELA at 46.3% remains below the district average of 56%, but has more than doubled since 2019. Grade-level data shows 8th graders excelling in math (74% proficiency), suggesting the school's interventions are working as students move through the building. The overall quality score of 2.16/4 sits slightly below the district average of 2.27, but the trajectory is clearly upward.

The survey data here is striking: 99% parent satisfaction and 100% parent-teacher trust and parent-principal trust scores are exceptional — well above the district averages. Teachers report 96% instruction quality and 100% collegial trust. However, the attendance picture is troubling — 87.6% attendance is below the district average, and a staggering 50.6% of students are chronically absent, affecting roughly half the student body. The 4% suspension rate is notably higher than the district average of 0.5%, though the trend has held steady at 11 suspensions over the past year after a spike to 18 in 2022-23. The school feels like one where relationships between staff and families are strong, but getting students through the door consistently remains a significant hurdle.

The student body is nearly all Black (50%) and Hispanic (48%), reflecting the demographics of Far Rockaway-Bayswater. With an economic need index of 87.7% and 34% of students having IEPs, this serves a high-need population. The diversity index of 46% is moderate, though the school is essentially two demographics. PTA fundraising is minimal at $14 per student (compared to $121 district average), suggesting less capacity for extracurricular funding from families.

Far Rockaway-Bayswater is a Queens neighborhood with significant challenges: safety scores in the 42nd percentile, low transit accessibility (24th percentile), and an education orientation score of only 41. However, it has strong health environment scores (90th percentile) and moderate family density. Median home values of $625,822 indicate a working-to-middle-class community, though the 17.6% poverty rate and 87.7% economic need index at the school suggest many families are struggling. The area has seen development pressure but remains underserved in transit and safety compared to other Queens neighborhoods.

Given the low transit score (24th percentile), most families likely rely on car transportation or school buses. The neighborhood's layout means walking is possible but not always practical, particularly given safety concerns.