The top reported proficiency rate is 94% in Social studies. The lowest is 39% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Ps 62 Chester Park School
PS 62 Chester Park School serves grades prekindergarten through fifth grade in South Richmond Hill, Queens, as a regular public school within the New York City Public Schools system, specifically under Geographic District #27. The school sits in a densely residential neighborhood shaped by Indo-Caribbean immigrant life, with Liberty Avenue serving as the commercial spine lined with roti shops, sari boutiques, mandirs and mosques. The area is widely known as Little Guyana and has a strong Sikh community as well.
The school's enrollment is modest for an urban public school, with students distributed fairly evenly across grades, with a somewhat larger fifth-grade cohort. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the neighborhood's economic profile. The student body is racially and ethnically diverse, with a large Asian population (primarily Indian and other South Asian students), a significant Hispanic population, and smaller populations of students identified as American Indian/Alaska Native, Black, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, White, and multiracial. Data on English learner enrollment and students with disabilities were not available.
In state testing for reading (English Language Arts), students scored in a narrow band across grades three through five, with proficiency rates in the mid-range. Fifth graders performed slightly better in ELA than in earlier grades. In mathematics, proficiency rates across grades three, four and five were also in the mid-range and relatively consistent. In science, assessed only in grade five, proficiency dipped noticeably below the levels seen in reading and math. When compared against the broader set of districts in Queens County, PS 62's overall proficiency index places it above the midpoint, suggesting performance that is solid within its regional context, though parents may want to look into science instruction further with the school given the gap between science and reading/math proficiency.
The school operates under two significant citywide curriculum mandates that affect all elementary schools in District 27. As of September 2024, all K-5 schools in the district must use one of three pre-approved, phonics-based reading curriculums as part of the NYC Reads literacy initiative. This represents a shift from the prior practice in which principals could select their own reading materials. While District 27 has experienced enrollment decline and maintains substantial excess capacity across the district, specific building-level enrollment pressure or planned changes at PS 62 were not identified in available data.
The neighborhood itself has undergone significant transformation. The neighborhood's defining migration wave came in the 1970s through 1990s as Indo-Caribbean immigrants from Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname purchased homes and opened businesses, drawn by affordable housing and the chance to live near relatives. In 2012 the city rezoned blocks in the area to limit multi-family construction after demolitions of single-family homes and to encourage multi-family housing along transit corridors. More recent development activity includes parcel-level rezoning proposals and affordable housing developments. Housing values in the 11419 zip code are above the state benchmark and have appreciated modestly year-over-year, reflecting the broader citywide housing market rather than unique local pressures.
Civic life centers on Liberty Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard, where the Lefferts library branch sits directly on the commercial corridor. Phil Rizzuto Park (known locally as Smokey Park) sits off Atlantic Avenue and is heavily used for cricket as well as other sports. The elevated A train runs along Liberty Avenue with three stations in or near the neighborhood, making transit access straightforward for families traveling within Queens or to other boroughs. The neighborhood's grid-based layout means schools are embedded within residential blocks rather than set on isolated campuses.
Data on staffing, school discipline, student attendance and chronic absenteeism were not available. A graduation rate does not apply because the school does not serve high school grades.
See more original research from School Decision →