The top reported proficiency rate is 95% in Math. The lowest is 92% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Academy for Excellence Through the Arts (the)
The Academy for Excellence Through the Arts is a pre-K through fifth-grade school in Forest Hills, Queens serving a small, stable enrollment across a balanced residential and commercial neighborhood anchored by subway transit and two major parks. The school sits within the urban fabric of Forest Hills on 110th Street, a few blocks from the Austin Street shopping corridor and Queens Boulevard.
The school's academic profile shows consistent strength across tested grades. In mathematics, proficiency runs in the low-to-mid nineties across third, fourth, and fifth grade. In English language arts, fifth grade stands particularly high; third and fourth grades fall in the high eighties to low nineties, with participation rates near universal. Fifth grade science proficiency is also strong. Across these subjects and grades, the school's overall proficiency stands well above the midpoint among Queens County districts, placing it in the top quartile of the county.
The enrollment skews toward Asian families, who make up roughly two-fifths of the student body, with white, Hispanic, and multiracial families also well represented. About one-quarter of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school draws families from across the community's housing mix, from the garden-apartment co-ops and prewar Tudor homes that define much of Forest Hills to the upscale Forest Hills Gardens to the south.
The school operates within New York City Geographic District 28, which in 2024 mandated that all elementary schools adopt one of three citywide approved reading curriculums aligned with the science of reading, replacing school-designed programs. This change is permanent and foundational to how reading is taught. Teachers now have more pacing flexibility than when the mandate first rolled out, but the curriculum framework remains in place. Parents considering the school should expect this standardized literacy approach, which is distinct from how individual schools previously managed reading instruction.
District 28 also expanded gifted and talented programming to include a third-grade entry point alongside traditional kindergarten admission, with universal screening replacing the single high-stakes test. For families navigating advanced learning options, the district has widened both access and entry timing. Additionally, Queens High School for the Sciences, the borough's sole specialized high school with reserved seats for Districts 27, 28, and 29, approved relocation to a brand-new building in Jamaica within District 28 starting in the 2026-27 school year, with capacity to grow substantially and full amenities including a cafeteria, gym, and science labs.
Forest Hills itself is highly walkable, centered on Austin Street, a mile-long pedestrian shopping strip between Yellowstone Boulevard and Ascan Avenue, with heavy foot traffic intensifying during summer concerts at Forest Hills Stadium. The neighborhood is bordered by Forest Park and Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, offering trails, sports facilities, and civic anchors. Transit is robust: the E, F, M, and R subway lines connect to Midtown Manhattan, the Long Island Rail Road reaches Penn Station and beyond, and multiple bus routes serve the area. Healthcare employment centers on Long Island Jewish Forest Hills, a Northwell Health hospital. Housing values have been rising, with recent luxury residential development including the Austin, a 98-unit condominium completed in 2025, alongside affordable projects converting former institutional sites. The neighborhood has pursued contextual zoning to preserve its low-rise residential character.
State testing data for grades K through two is not available, as New York does not test those grades. Special education and English learner population figures were not provided in the available data. The school's website address was not included in the materials reviewed. A family drawn to the school's strong elementary math and reading outcomes in a walkable, transit-rich neighborhood with diverse housing and active development should expect a standardized district-level literacy program and a small school serving the full socioeconomic spectrum of Forest Hills families.
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