The top reported proficiency rate is 83% in Math. The lowest is 57% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Hector Figueroa School (the)
Hector Figueroa School is a small, early-childhood and elementary school in Woodside, Queens, serving pre-K through fourth grade. It sits in a densely built, transit-rich neighborhood of working- and middle-class families, where service-sector employment and immigrant communities from Asia, the Philippines, and Latin America anchor the area. Housing in the 11377 zip code is appreciating steadily, with rents rising, typical of Queens' ongoing residential growth along Queens Boulevard and near the transit hub at 61st Street and Roosevelt Avenue.
The school's enrollment is about four hundred students, with a substantial share qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The student body is predominantly Asian and Hispanic; there is considerable linguistic and cultural diversity, though specific data on English learner enrollment was not available. No data were provided on students with disabilities.
In state testing, the school shows solid proficiency across math and English language arts in third through fifth grade. In math, students scored above the midpoint at all three tested grade levels, with the strongest performance in fifth grade. In English language arts, performance is somewhat more uneven: third grade proficiency is respectable, but fourth grade drops noticeably lower before recovering in fifth grade. Science proficiency in fifth grade falls below the other subjects, a pattern that may warrant attention. Overall, across all tested subjects and grades, this school sits in the top quartile of schools among the districts in Queens County, a genuine strength.
Participation rates in state testing are strong across all grades, ranging from the upper eighties to high nineties, indicating consistent engagement with assessment.
Because Hector Figueroa serves only pre-K through fourth grade, no data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, or high school progression are applicable or reported. These would be concerns only for students who move to middle school.
District 30, which operates this school, recently completed significant infrastructure and curricular shifts. A new STEAM-focused middle school opened in the district in 2023, addressing long-standing overcrowding and putting more local families within walking distance of a public middle school. More broadly, the district is now required to teach reading from one of three city-approved, phonics-based curricula, a lasting change from principal-led curriculum choice. Gifted and Talented programs have been expanded to every district under a new grades-and-lottery model rather than a standardized test, opening accelerated pathways earlier but shifting the admissions calculus away from a single standardized measure.
Woodside itself is experiencing steady residential growth, with new mixed-use development along Queens Boulevard and near the 52nd Street 7-train station. New mixed-income housing and a [figure]-seat school built as part of a large development on Queens Boulevard reflect the neighborhood's appeal to families seeking accessible transit and diverse, affordable communities. Civic groups have raised concerns about parking, traffic, and neighborhood character as construction accelerates.
The school's location in a walkable, transit-connected neighborhood with commercial corridors on Roosevelt Avenue and Woodside Avenue means families have access to grocery, health care, and services without a car, though parking and congestion are real pressures. The Woodside branch of the Queens Public Library and several small parks, including the historic Doughboy Park, serve the community.
A parent considering this school should understand that it offers solid academic footing in early elementary years, especially in math, with state test results placing it above average for the county. The uneven proficiency in fourth-grade English language arts and the weaker science results in fifth grade suggest those are areas where the school might strengthen instruction or where particular students may need targeted support. The neighborhood is diverse, dense, and changing rapidly, with new housing bringing demographic shifts; families should visit and talk with current parents to gauge the culture and community feel. Because this is a pre-K-4 school, you will need to plan for middle school transition; the new District 30 middle school offers one nearby option with a STEAM focus, though many families may apply elsewhere.
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