The top reported proficiency rate is 48% in Math. The lowest is 31% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Thurgood Marshall Academy for Learning & Social Change
Thurgood Marshall Academy for Learning & Social Change serves grades six through twelve in Upper Manhattan, drawing students from a neighborhood that is entirely embedded in the dense, walkable fabric of New York City. The school sits at West 135th Street in Harlem, a location shaped by the city's mixed-use character: ground-floor retail and restaurants, residential buildings above, high pedestrian traffic, and easy access to the subway system that links the neighborhood to the rest of the city.
The school enrolls a small student body of about that size. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic profile of the neighborhood. The student population is predominantly Black and Hispanic, with smaller shares of other racial and ethnic backgrounds. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not provided, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those populations and the supports available.
On state testing in math and English language arts, proficiency rates show a mixed picture across grades. In sixth grade math, only about a quarter of students scored at proficient or above; performance improved notably in seventh and eighth grade, where about half and then more than half of students met the standard respectively. English proficiency in sixth grade was somewhat stronger, at above two-fifths, but eighth-grade ELA proficiency declined to just under half. Eighth-grade science proficiency was notably lower, at about three-tenths of students. Against the neighborhood comparison group of districts in New York County, the school's overall proficiency index sits below the midpoint. Participation rates across tested grades were generally strong, with most between about four-fifths and nearly all students taking the exams.
A graduation rate was not available in the data provided. The school does not report as a Title I school, and state-level civil rights data was not included.
The school is part of New York City Geographic District 5, which has undergone recent shifts in how reading and mathematics are taught. All elementary schools now use one of three science-of-reading curricula, and middle and high schools are adopting city-standardized math programs through 2027. At the secondary level, the district's middle and high school admissions rules have changed: middle schools can now use academic screens at the superintendent's discretion, families may apply to middle schools citywide while keeping in-district priority, and high school applicants are no longer capped at twelve choices. These structural changes affect how students like those at this school access secondary seats and programs.
The neighborhood itself is part of a city undergoing sustained housing growth and investment in mixed-use development, with major employers in finance, technology, hospitality, and professional services. The MTA subway and bus network enable residents to reach employment, parks, and schools across the city without a car. Housing values in the zip code have seen modest recent shifts, and rents have risen modestly year over year. For families considering this school, the question turns on whether the academic trajectory shown in the testing data, the school's size, the neighborhood's urban character, and the available support services align with their student's needs.
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