The top reported proficiency rate is 84% in Social studies. The lowest is 30% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Ps 148
PS 148 is a small elementary school in East Elmhurst serving a densely populated, working-class neighborhood in northwest Queens. The school serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, with a student body that reflects the neighborhood itself: predominantly Hispanic, with a meaningful share of Asian students and a small population of white and Black students. Most families qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the school sits within the broader context of New York City's public school system and the specific geographic district that covers parts of Queens including Sunnyside, Woodside, and East Elmhurst.
The East Elmhurst neighborhood itself is a quiet, walkable area of older one- and two-family homes mixed with small apartment buildings, bound by major expressways and LaGuardia Airport. It has no subway stations within its boundaries, so residents rely on bus service to reach transit hubs. The main commercial activity is concentrated along Astoria Boulevard, a diagonal spine running through the neighborhood lined with local businesses, groceries, and family restaurants. Housing is predominantly rental, and median household income in the area is modest. Recent development has included modest mixed-use projects and an affordable senior housing lottery, alongside the multi-billion-dollar redevelopment of LaGuardia Airport itself.
Academically, PS 148's recent state test results show a school in the lower half of performance relative to other district schools in Queens County. In math, proficiency varies noticeably by grade. Fourth grade showed the strongest result, with about two-thirds of students meeting proficiency. Third grade proficiency was in the low half, and fifth grade was notably weaker, with less than half of students proficient. In English language arts, the pattern is similar: fourth graders achieved just above half proficiency, while third and especially fifth graders fell below, with fifth grade English proficiency among the lowest results the school reported. Science proficiency in fifth grade, the only grade tested, fell well below half. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school's overall proficiency index places it below the midpoint among districts in Queens County. Participation rates in testing were high, ranging from ninety to ninety-seven percent across subjects and grades, suggesting these results reflect the school's actual student performance rather than absenteeism during testing. State testing data for earlier grades is not available because New York does not administer state exams in pre-K through second grade.
The school serves a substantial population of economically disadvantaged students, with most families qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. District-wide, the school is part of a system undergoing several structural shifts. NYC Reads, a citywide initiative launched in 2023-24, requires all elementary schools in District 30 to teach reading from one of three city-approved phonics-based curricula, replacing the previous model where principals selected their own materials. This is a fundamental change in reading instruction that affects every family in the district. Additionally, the city's Gifted and Talented admissions process was recently overhauled under Mayor Adams, replacing a standardized entrance exam with a grades-and-lottery model and expanding G&T seats to every district. These changes have reshaped how families in District 30 access both core reading instruction and accelerated elementary programs.
A parent considering PS 148 should understand that the school's test results reflect moderate-to-below-average proficiency across both math and English language arts, with a notable dip in fifth grade performance across both subjects. The school serves a population that is culturally homogeneous, predominantly Hispanic with a quarter of students Asian, and economically under-resourced. Whether PS 148 is the right fit depends on proximity and whether you are looking for a neighborhood school within walking distance in East Elmhurst, as opposed to seeking a school based primarily on test performance or program offerings. A parent may want to look into the school's specific approaches to reading instruction under the new curriculum mandate and to ask about supports for fifth-grade students, where performance dropped notably.
See more original research from School Decision →