West Prep Academy, New York NY - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on West Prep Academy

West Prep Academy is a middle school serving grades six through eight in a densely residential part of Manhattan, on the Upper West Side. Its enrollment is small, drawn largely from the neighborhood's immediate vicinity. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the student body is predominantly Black and Hispanic, with a small representation of Asian and white students.

The school's academic performance, measured by New York state testing in English language arts and math, shows a mixed picture with notable weaknesses. In sixth-grade English, about half of students tested met proficiency standards. In seventh grade, that dropped to roughly one third. By eighth grade, English proficiency recovered to mid-range, with a modest portion of students meeting state benchmarks. Math performance is substantially weaker. Sixth graders showed proficiency at a low single-digit rate; seventh graders just above one quarter. Grade eight math and science testing data were not reported, which may reflect the school's current enrollment or assessment administration. The school's overall proficiency index across subjects and grades falls in the bottom quartile relative to other schools in New York County.

These results signal that many students are arriving at or advancing through West Prep without meeting grade-level standards in fundamental skills, particularly in mathematics. A parent considering this school would want to ask directly about the math curriculum, instructional intensity in that subject, and what academic support exists for students working below proficiency. The strength in sixth-grade English suggests some capacity in literacy instruction, but the drop in seventh grade raises questions about how the school sustains momentum across grades.

The school sits within New York City Geographic District 3, an Upper West Side district that has undergone significant recent changes. Middle school admissions shifted to a lottery system in 2023, removing academic screening. The district also maintains a standing diversity plan that reserves roughly a quarter of seats at each middle school for low-income and lower-performing students. These policies mean entry to West Prep, like other district schools, now operates through lottery rather than test-based placement, making the school accessible to families without specialized admission preparation.

The neighborhood itself is built as dense, mixed-use blocks typical of Manhattan, with schools woven directly into the street grid rather than on separate campuses. It is highly walkable and well served by public transit. Housing values in the zip code are high and have appreciated steadily. The local economy is anchored by finance, professional services, and technology, with ongoing residential construction reshaping the neighborhood. This is an urban environment where families typically rely on public transportation and live in apartments or smaller residential buildings rather than detached homes.

The Upper West Side has faced school stability questions in recent years. The Department of Education proposed closing middle school programs at two district schools and relocating another, plans that generated sustained community opposition and were withdrawn in early 2026. While those specific schools were not West Prep, the episode reflected broader uncertainty about district capacity and school futures that affected families' confidence in the neighborhood's educational infrastructure.

Data on special education enrollment, English learner population, and teacher staffing were not available. The school's website was also not provided, so a parent seeking additional program details, staff information, or enrollment procedures would need to contact the school or district directly.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

New York Regents Exams

3 courses reported · 2024-25

End-of-course exams required for a New York Regents diploma. Each row shows the cohort size and the share of students scoring at the proficient level or higher.

Course	Students tested	% proficient
Math	52	40.0%
Science	52	19.0%
Social Studies	52	27.0%

Math

Grade 618%

School 18% · District 61% · ▼ 43 pts below district

▼ 27 pts below state median · ▼ 27 pts below county median

Grade 726%

School 26% · District 70% · ▼ 44 pts below district

▼ 27 pts below state median · ▼ 32 pts below county median

Grade 80%

School 0% · District 50% · ▼ 50 pts below district

▼ 37 pts below state median · even with county median

English language arts

Grade 650%

School 50% · District 66% · ▼ 16 pts below district

▲ 4 pts above state median · ▲ 3 pts above county median

Grade 731%

School 31% · District 70% · ▼ 39 pts below district

▼ 16 pts below state median · ▼ 25 pts below county median

Grade 844%

School 44% · District 68% · ▼ 24 pts below district

▼ 5 pts below state median · ▼ 9 pts below county median

Science

Grade 80%

School 0% · District 39% · ▼ 39 pts below district

▼ 33 pts below state median · ▼ 8 pts below county median

This schoolNEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 3, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 7Lower-income24%Higher-income80%57 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income41%Higher-income56%14 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 7Lower-income18%Higher-income80%62 pp gap