The top reported proficiency rate is 64% in English language arts. The lowest is 42% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on New York City Geographic District # 1
New York City Geographic District 1 covers the Lower East Side and East Village neighborhoods of Manhattan, serving students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12. The district enrolls a diverse population: nearly half of students are Hispanic, with substantial shares identifying as Asian, Black, or White. The district is structured entirely around school choice. Unlike most New York City districts, it operates no zoned elementary or middle schools, meaning every family must apply to schools through a choice process rather than being assigned to a neighborhood school.
The district has adopted a districtwide Diversity in Admissions approach, which sets aside seats at every school based on family income, English learner status, and other criteria aimed at economic and demographic mixing. A Family Resource Center staffed full-time helps families navigate applications. This is a permanent structural feature that shapes access and requires families to be active participants in school selection from the start.
On state standardized assessments, District 1 shows a mixed academic profile. In grades 3 and 4, a strong majority of students meet state proficiency standards in both English language arts and math. As students advance into upper elementary grades, proficiency rates in both subjects decline notably. By grade 5, proficiency in math drops to the mid-range, and science proficiency at that grade is below half. In grade 8, math and English proficiency rates remain in the low to mid-range, and science proficiency falls to around one-third. Science participation rates are also notably lower, particularly at grade 8, suggesting some students may not take the assessment or schools have different testing protocols at that level. When compared against other districts in New York County, the district's overall proficiency index sits above the midpoint among its county peers.
Chronic absenteeism presents a meaningful concern. The district's rate is near the county median, indicating that a substantial share of students miss school regularly, which typically correlates with lower academic engagement and achievement.
The district operates a range of traditional public schools and some alternative models, including the Earth School, New Explorations into Science Tech and Math High School, and Bard High School Early College. The high school portfolio includes both selective and open-enrollment options.
Recent policy shifts will affect families' experience. New York State's class size reduction law, phased in starting in fall 2023, requires the district to cap class sizes at 20 students in grades K-3, 23 in grades 4-8, and 25 in high school by 2027-28. This will reshape staffing and building use over time. The city also recently restored district-level control of middle school admissions methods after a pandemic-era lottery system, and removed strict district boundaries for middle school applications, allowing fifth graders to apply outside their home district. For District 1, a small district already serving families who choose actively, this opens both wider options and potential enrollment volatility as families can more easily select schools elsewhere.
A parent considering this district should expect to engage directly in school choice at every level, to weigh both the diversity-focused admissions framework and the range of school models available, and to be aware that proficiency levels are strongest in lower elementary grades and weaken as students advance, particularly in math and science.
See more original research from School Decision →