Original Research by School Decision on Richard H Hungerford School (the)
Richard H. Hungerford School sits on Ocean Terrace in the St. George area of Staten Island, operating as a special education school under NYC's District 75, the citywide system designed exclusively for students with significant disabilities. Understanding what Hungerford is requires understanding District 75 first: this is not a neighborhood school or a general-education setting. It exists entirely outside the typical grade-progression framework, serving students whose needs require a specialized environment full time.
The school's formal grade listing covers tenth and eleventh grade, but enrollment records show that the overwhelming share of students are categorized as ungraded, which is common in District 75 settings where age-based programming matters more than traditional grade levels. Students may range widely in age and ability within the same building, and instruction is typically organized around individual education plans rather than a shared academic track. Standard state testing data is not available for Hungerford, and that absence is not a red flag. District 75 schools serve populations for whom those assessments are generally not applicable; the state does not report proficiency results for this setting, and the comparison metrics used for Richmond County's districts do not apply here for the same reason. A graduation rate is similarly not available, which reflects the nature of the school rather than an outcome gap.
The student population is economically diverse in background but predominantly lower-income, with the vast majority qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The racial and ethnic composition is mixed, with Hispanic students forming the largest group, followed by white and Black students, and smaller shares of Asian and multiracial students. Specific data on English learner status and IEP rates within the school were not available in the records reviewed, though given that every student in a District 75 school has an IEP by definition, the absence of a reported rate is a data field issue, not a factual gap.
On the district side, there are a few developments families should know. District 75 has adopted the NYC Reads literacy curriculum, a phonics-based, science-of-reading approach. Publicly reported accounts from the NYC City Council make clear that implementation remains flexible across District 75 schools, because the range of student needs, from life-skills curricula to grade-level content, requires it. Parents whose children are at Hungerford for literacy support should ask directly how the curriculum is being applied in their child's specific program. In early 2024, District 75 faced proposed budget cuts that would have reduced paraprofessional staffing and programming, but the city reversed those cuts after sustained advocacy from parents and staff. That episode is worth knowing about because it reflects ongoing funding pressure in a system where paraprofessional ratios and specialized services are central to what students receive. The city has also been expanding District 75 seat capacity across boroughs to reduce placement-related commutes, though published data indicate that seat shortages persist in parts of Staten Island.
The housing market surrounding the school is worth contextualizing for families deciding whether to live nearby. The St. George neighborhood is at the civic center of Staten Island, walkable relative to much of the borough, and anchored by the Staten Island Ferry to Lower Manhattan. Home values in the area zip codes run well above state and national medians, with steady year-over-year appreciation. Rents are similarly elevated. Families relocating specifically to access Hungerford should know that placement in District 75 schools is determined by the IEP process, not by residential zone, so proximity to the school does not guarantee enrollment.
Program-specific offerings at Hungerford were not available in the data reviewed. A parent wanting to understand the specific instructional programs, vocational tracks, related services, and transition planning available should contact the school directly, as those details vary considerably across District 75 sites and are central to evaluating fit.
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