Ps 125 Ralph Bunche, New York NY

Original Research by School Decision on Ps 125 Ralph Bunche

PS 125 Ralph Bunche is a small, neighborhood elementary school serving grades pre-K through fifth in Manhattan's Upper West Side, at West 123rd Street in a mixed-use urban area where residential buildings, retail, and offices coexist. The school enrolls a diverse student body of about that size, with the student population roughly balanced among Hispanic, Black, White, and Asian families. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting moderate economic diversity within the school's enrollment.

The school's academic results on state testing show strength in the lower elementary grades but a notable gap by fifth grade. In grades three and four, proficiency in both math and English language arts is high, with the school performing above its county peer group across tested subjects overall. By fifth grade, proficiency in math drops considerably, with roughly two-thirds of tested students meeting the standard, while English language arts proficiency falls to around seventy percent. Science results in fifth grade cluster around that range as well. State testing data for earlier social studies years came from a decade ago and are not current enough to reflect the school's present practice.

A parent considering PS 125 may want to look into the school's approach to math instruction in the upper grades and what supports are available for fifth-graders working toward proficiency. The school operates under the NYC Reads mandate, which means all reading instruction follows one of three state-approved, phonics-based curricula. The broader district has also adopted structured math programs, so the school's math pathway reflects a system-wide commitment rather than an individual school choice.

The school is embedded in the walkable, transit-accessible neighborhood character typical of Manhattan, where public schools sit within dense blocks rather than on separated campuses. The housing market in the 10027 zip code is expensive, with values well above the state benchmark, though rents have edged upward modestly. The area itself is mixed-use and active, combining residential buildings with street-level retail and offices, and the school benefits from the dense pedestrian life and public transit access that define this part of the city.

The school serves a neighborhood where employment is anchored in finance, professional services, technology, and hospitality, with tech roles growing fastest. The broader city context includes sustained housing growth and ongoing investment in infrastructure and school facilities, though the pace of change means families should stay aware of how admissions policies and school assignments may shift over time. PS 125's small size and neighborhood location make it a local anchor rather than a destination draw.

See more original research from School Decision →

Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 394%

School 94% · District 44% · ▲ 50 pts above district

▲ 35 pts above state median · ▲ 36 pts above county median

Grade 494%

School 94% · District 41% · ▲ 53 pts above district

▲ 36 pts above state median · ▲ 33 pts above county median

Grade 563%

School 63% · District 35% · ▲ 28 pts above district

▲ 11 pts above state median · ▲ 7 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 394%

School 94% · District 42% · ▲ 52 pts above district

▲ 42 pts above state median · ▲ 38 pts above county median

Grade 488%

School 88% · District 45% · ▲ 43 pts above district

▲ 35 pts above state median · ▲ 24 pts above county median

Grade 570%

School 70% · District 45% · ▲ 25 pts above district

▲ 15 pts above state median · ▲ 5 pts above county median

Science

Grade 568%

School 68% · District 26% · ▲ 42 pts above district

▲ 27 pts above state median · ▲ 22 pts above county median

Social studies

Grade 532%

School 32% · district not reported

▼ 60 pts below state median · ▼ 47 pts below county median

This schoolNEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 5, 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 3Lower-income80%Higher-income100%20 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income80%Higher-income100%20 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income46%Higher-income92%46 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income100%Higher-income91%9 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income90%Higher-income100%10 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income58%Higher-income67%8 pp gap