Young Women's Leadership School, Queens

Test scores here have fallen sharply — ELA proficiency at 48.4% and math at 37% both sit well below the district averages of roughly 63%. Looking at the trend, this is not a case of a struggling school improving from a low base: scores peaked in 2018-2019 at 82% ELA and 73.6% math, then declined every year through the pandemic and beyond. The 2025 scores represent a 33-point drop in ELA and a 36-point drop in math from the 2018 peak. Current grade-level data shows Grade 8 outperforming (59% ELA) but Grade 7 struggling significantly (38.6% ELA). Parents considering this school should know the academics are in clear regression.

The climate picture is mixed. Parents report strong trust in teachers (91%) and the principal (93%), and teacher instruction quality scores are actually above district average at 93%. However, teacher-principal trust is notably low at 68%, suggesting tension in school leadership that teachers feel. Attendance is a significant concern: while the overall rate (91.6%) slightly exceeds the district average, chronic absenteeism is staggeringly high at 69.4% — meaning roughly 7 in 10 students miss a month or more of school. This is not a school with a discipline problem (zero suspensions), but it does appear to have an engagement problem. The day-to-day feel seems to be one where families who are present feel well-served, but a large portion of students are disengaged.

The student body is predominantly Asian (42%) and Black (34%), with smaller Hispanic (14%), white (2%), and multi-racial (1%) populations. The diversity index of 70% reflects a racially diverse community. With an economic need index of 63.1%, the school serves a predominantly lower-income population, and 16% of students have IEPs. The all-girls environment appears to be a major draw — the school attracts 502 applicants for 69 seats — and families seem to value the single-sex academic focus despite the test score declines.

Jamaica is a densely populated, transit-rich neighborhood in Queens with strong family infrastructure (family density score: 87). The area scores well for transit access (90) and health environment (62), but safety scores are notably low (23). The median home value of $616,474 and homeownership rate of 24% suggest a working-to-middle-class community. There's a poverty rate of 16.8% and 25.5% of households have children. Education orientation is moderate (40), meaning this isn't a hyper-competitive district but families do prioritize schooling.

Jamaica is highly accessible by public transit — the transit score of 90 reflects excellent subway and bus connectivity. Families without cars can reasonably commute from across Queens. Walking to school is common in this dense urban neighborhood.