Ps 92 Mary Mcleod Bethune, New York NY

Original Research by School Decision on Ps 92 Mary Mcleod Bethune

PS 92 Mary McLeod Bethune is a small public elementary school in Upper Manhattan serving pre-K through fifth grade. It sits in one of the city's dense, mixed-use neighborhoods on West 134th Street, where public transit, parks, and local shops are woven into the block structure rather than separated onto a campus. Like most schools in New York City, it is embedded within the neighborhood itself.

The student body is almost entirely economically disadvantaged, with a substantial majority of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The school enrolls students from a diverse background by race and ethnicity, with Black and Hispanic students each making up close to half the enrollment, and a small number of Asian, white, and multiracial students. Data on the school's English learner and special education populations was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the range of support services available.

In mathematics, the school shows mixed results across grades. Third graders are performing below proficiency; fourth and fifth graders are performing at or above proficiency. Fourth grade math performance is the strongest grade level. In English Language Arts, the picture is more uneven. Third grade ELA is a notable weak area; fourth grade shows moderate proficiency; fifth grade rebounds to strong performance. Science results at fifth grade are moderate. The school participated in social studies assessment in prior years but more recent data was not available for that subject.

Participation rates in state testing are somewhat inconsistent across grades, ranging from low to moderate. A parent evaluating the school may want to ask about any factors affecting test administration or student participation.

The school operates within New York City's newly standardized approach to reading instruction. All elementary schools citywide, including PS 92, now use one of three approved phonics-based curricula. This shift represents a lasting change from the prior system where schools chose their own reading materials. The city has also begun standardizing math, though that effort is primarily focused on middle and high schools at present.

New York City's neighborhoods continue to grow and change, with new housing being developed and mixed-use buildings reshaping blocks throughout the city. The housing market in the school's zip code reflects the broader urban context: home values and rents are substantially above state and national benchmarks. For families considering this school, housing costs in the area are a significant factor to weigh alongside schooling decisions.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 340%

School 40% · District 44% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▼ 19 pts below state median · ▼ 18 pts below county median

Grade 476%

School 76% · District 41% · ▲ 35 pts above district

▲ 18 pts above state median · ▲ 16 pts above county median

Grade 568%

School 68% · District 35% · ▲ 34 pts above district

▲ 17 pts above state median · ▲ 13 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 313%

School 13% · District 42% · ▼ 29 pts below district

▼ 39 pts below state median · ▼ 43 pts below county median

Grade 455%

School 55% · District 45% · ▲ 11 pts above district

▲ 2 pts above state median · ▼ 8 pts below county median

Grade 574%

School 74% · District 45% · ▲ 29 pts above district

▲ 19 pts above state median · ▲ 9 pts above county median

Science

Grade 558%

School 58% · District 26% · ▲ 32 pts above district

▲ 16 pts above state median · ▲ 12 pts above county median

Social studies

Grade 579%

School 79% · district not reported

▼ 12 pts below state median · even with 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 6Lower-income29%Higher-income8%21 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income41%Higher-income25%15 pp gap