2026 data 49 schools NY

Best Schools in JAMAICA, NY

49 public K-12 schools in JAMAICA from NCES Common Core of Data: enrollment, grade span, demographics, and Civil Rights Data Collection statistics for every active campus.

49 public schools ranked by quality score. NCES CCD 2022-23 data.

Choosing the right school is one of the most important decisions families make. This page ranks every public school in JAMAICA, NY using a composite quality score based on student-teacher ratios, counselor access, gifted program availability, and attendance rates. All data comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data for the 2022-23 school year.

49
Schools
29,771
Students
Avg Quality
13.5:1
Avg Class Size

How the JAMAICA Public-School Landscape Breaks Down

JAMAICA, NY enrolls 29,771 students across 49 public schools reporting to the National Center for Education Statistics. Of those, 5 are charter schools, giving families genuine alternatives to the traditional neighbourhood assignment model. The average student-teacher ratio across the city is 13.5:1, Schools must report at least five campuses in a city to appear in this listing, which is why very small towns may redirect to the broader county or state view.

The highest-ranked campus in JAMAICA is Hillcrest High School, scoring 38/100 (F) with 2,298 enrolled students at the high level. Families should treat any single ranking as a starting point rather than a verdict — a school serving fewer at-risk students or offering more AP classes will score higher on resource-based composites even if individual teachers or programs elsewhere are stronger. The quality score framework is transparent and rebuilt from raw NCES and Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) inputs, so each component can be inspected on the individual school pages linked in the table below.

JAMAICA schools sit within multiple district boundaries, which matters for property taxes, redistricting votes, and bond measures. Each district files its own NCES F-33 financial return, meaning per-pupil spending can vary noticeably even between neighbouring campuses in the same city. Use the table to sort by enrollment, level, or district, then click any school name for campus-level demographics, Title I status, counselor and nurse staffing, AP courses, chronic-absenteeism rates, and district per-pupil spending. The sidebar links also connect JAMAICA housing costs, wage data, and crime statistics — context many parents weigh alongside test-adjacent school signals when relocating.

JAMAICA school enrollment varies 12× across entities

JAMAICA school enrollment ranges from 187 students (lowest) to 2,298 students (highest), a spread of 2,111 students. That spread reflects typical urban portfolio variation between specialty programs and large neighbourhood schools. Per-school staffing, programme depth, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same city based on enrollment shape — a 200-student magnet runs a different operational model than a 2,000-student comprehensive high school.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

JAMAICA has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 76.2% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch

free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Areas above 75% eligibility — including this one — receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system

JAMAICA operates 9 school districts — among the most fragmented governance structures in the country

Each school district has independent budgeting, hiring, and service delivery authority. The fragmentation reflects historical patterns of inter-municipal boundary lines that pre-date modern city growth — students in different parts of the same city can attend different districts with different per-pupil spending, calendars, and graduation requirements. Per-region variation is largest in fragmented systems because each school district sets its own budget, contracts, and priorities without higher-level coordination above the regulatory floor.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

JAMAICA student-teacher ratio is 13.5:1 — low (typically associated with smaller schools or per-school staffing investment that often correlates with stronger per-student supports)

student-teacher ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE classroom teachers against total enrollment — push-in specialists, English-language aides, special-education co-teachers, and counselors are not included in most reporting Lower values often correlate with smaller scale and population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data — Public School Universe NCES Common Core of Data — Public School Universe

JAMAICA has higher-than-average charter school authorisation eligibility — 10.2% of the population qualifies for charter-school enrollment options

charter-school enrollment options eligibility is the federal threshold for charter school authorisation funding allocations, established under the state-specific charter law. Areas above 30% eligibility receive concentration grants on top of the basic charter school authorisation formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

# School Score
1. Hillcrest High School 38 F
2. Thomas a Edison Career and Technical Education High School 37 F
3. Jhs 217 Robert a Van Wyck 37 F
4. Ps 95 Eastwood 35 F
5. Ps 50 Talfourd Lawn Elementary School 38 F
6. Ps 182 Samantha Smith 48 D
7. Growing Up Green Charter School Ii 48 D
8. Ps/is 116 William C Hughley 34 F
9. Ps 117 J Keld/Briarwood School 34 F
10. Ps 131 Abigail Adams 43 D
11. Queens Collegiate - a College Board School 38 F
12. Ps/is 268 38 F
13. Ps 86 31 F
14. Queens Gateway to Health Sciences Secondary School 37 F
15. Ps 82 Hammond 44 D
16. Ps 160 Walter Francis Bishop 33 F
17. August Martin High School 42 D
18. York Early College Academy 28 F
19. Queens School for Leadership and Excellence (the) 28 F
20. Ps 223 Lyndon B Johnson 35 F
21. Ps 161 Arthur Ashe School 34 F
22. Success Academy Charter School-South Jamaica 39 F
23. Young Women'S Leadership School-Queens 35 F
24. Hs for Law Enforcement and Public Safety 40 D
25. Jamaica Gateway to the Sciences 37 F
26. Jermaine L Green Stem Institute of Queens (the) 38 F
27. Ps/is 178 Holliswood 57 C
28. Eagle Academy for Young Men Iii 39 F
29. High School for Community Leadership 35 F
30. Queens High School for the Sciences at York College 70 B
31. David N Dinkins School 38 F
32. Rochdale Early Advantage Charter School 43 D
33. Hillside Arts & Letters Academy 36 F
34. Ps 40 Samuel Huntington 44 D
35. New Dawn Charter High School Ii 31 F
36. Ps 80 Thurgood Marshall Magnet School of Multimedia (the) 40 D
37. New Visions Chtr Hs-Adv Ma/Sci Iv 44 D
38. Jhs 8 Richard S Grossley 46 D
39. Ms 358 46 D
40. Catherine & Count Basie Middle School 72 48 D
41. Cynthia Jenkins School 48 D
42. Emerson School (the) 42 D
43. Ps 140 Edward K Ellington 34 F
44. Redwood Middle School 43 D
45. Ps 52 41 D
46. Jamaica Children'S School 44 D
47. Voyages Prep-South Queens 44 D
48. Queens Satellite High School for Opportunity 33 F

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best schools in JAMAICA, NY?

The top-rated school in JAMAICA is Hillcrest High School with a quality score of 38/100. There are 49 public schools in JAMAICA with 29,771 total students.

How many schools are in JAMAICA, NY?

JAMAICA has 49 public schools with a total enrollment of 29,771 students. 5 are charter schools. Average student-teacher ratio: 13.5:1.

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Data from NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 and Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22. Quality scores based on student-teacher ratio, counselor access, gifted programs, and attendance. Schools must have 5+ in the city to be listed.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.