Best Schools in Elmhurst, New York
20 schools · 8 Elementary · 2 Middle · 8 High · 2 Other
Choosing a school in Elmhurst?
Use this page to compare every school in Elmhurst by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Central Queens Academy Charter School
Elementary · Central Queens Academy Charter School. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Civic Leadership Academy
High · New York City Geographic District #24. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Maspeth High School
High · New York City Geographic District #24. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Elmhurst for 2026 are Central Queens Academy Charter School (8.3/10), Civic Leadership Academy (8.0/10), and Maspeth High School (8.0/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 17 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
20
16 public · 4 private
Avg Score
6.3
out of 10
Median Home
$683,200
home value · ACS
Districts
6
serving the city
Schools
20
16 public · 4 private
Avg Score
6.3
out of 10
Median Home
$683,200
home value · ACS
Districts
6
serving the city
Rates 7.9/10 despite 99% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.0 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Elmhurst schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Elmhurst
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (17 of 20). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Queens Academy Charter School | 8.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Civic Leadership Academy | 8.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Maspeth High School | 8.0 / 10 |
| 4 | Pan American International High School | 7.9 / 10 |
| 5 | PS 102 Bayview | 7.3 / 10 |
| 6 | Forte Preparatory Academy Charter School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 7 | Is 5 Walter Crowley Intermediate School (the) | 6.9 / 10 |
| 8 | Newtown High School | 6.7 / 10 |
| 9 | PS 7 Louis F Simeone | 6.6 / 10 |
| 10 | Cathedral Preparatory School and Seminary | 6.2 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.3/10
- Median household income
- $71,470
- Median home value
- $683,200
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 30%
- Avg commute
- 42 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 28%
30% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Elmhurst compares
New York rank
#259 of 475
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.1
above New York avg (6.2)
Median household income
$71k
77% of New York median
Schools in this city
20
About Schools in Elmhurst, New York
Elmhurst, New York has 16 ranked public schools, spanning elementary through high school. The city averages 5.8 out of 10 across those schools — a middling baseline that masks a meaningful gap between the top performers and the rest of the field. Only 2 schools, or 12 percent, break the 7-point threshold, so strong options exist but competition for them is real.
Maspeth High School leads the city at 7.7 out of 10, the highest-rated public school in Elmhurst. Civic Leadership Academy follows at 7.2, making it the second school to clear that bar. Both are high schools, which means the district's strongest academic outcomes are concentrated at the upper grade levels. For families with younger children, Renaissance Charter School (The) rates 6.8 — the top non-traditional option in the city — while PS 13 Clement C Moore and PS 102 Bayview both land in the 6.5 to 6.6 range, representing the strongest elementary choices available.
Below those five, the remaining 11 schools pull the city average down toward that 5.8 mark. That spread carries a practical consequence: a parent who defaults to the nearest neighborhood assignment may end up at a school a full point or more below the top performers. In a dense urban area like Elmhurst, school boundaries often concentrate demand around the highest-rated buildings. Families who want access to Maspeth or Civic Leadership Academy should confirm enrollment zones and application windows well ahead of the school year.
The picture for parents is clear. Elmhurst has a defined performance tier at the top — two high schools above 7.0 and three additional schools clustered between 6.5 and 6.8 — and a longer tail of schools pulling the average down. For elementary families, PS 13 Clement C Moore and PS 102 Bayview are the standout public options. For high school, Maspeth and Civic Leadership Academy are the first stops in any serious search. Verify current attendance boundaries through the New York City Department of Education, since zone lines can shift and eligibility changes with them.
Elementary Schools
8 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 804 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.3 | ||
| 2 | 1,146 students · Pre-K–8th | 7.3 | ||
| 3 | 1,198 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.6 | ||
| 4 | 442 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.0 | ||
| 5 | 1,125 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.2 | ||
| 6 | 931 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.1 | ||
| Private Schools 2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | St Adalbert Elementary School
Private
194 students · Pre-K–8th | 5.9 | ||
| 2 | St Bartholomew Catholic Academy
Private
170 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.6 | ||
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 443 students · 5th–9th | 7.2 |
| 2 | 1,297 students · 6th–8th | 6.9 |
High Schools
8 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 568 students · 9th–12th | 8.0 | ||
| 2 | 1,023 students · 9th–12th | 8.0 | ||
| 3 | 507 students · 9th–12th | 7.9 | ||
| 4 | 1,892 students · 9th–12th | 6.7 | ||
| 5 | 187 students · 9th–12th | 6.0 | ||
| 6 | 245 students · 9th–12th | 4.4 | ||
| 7 | 520 students · 9th–12th | 4.3 | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 151 students · 9th–12th | 6.2 | ||
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 587 students · Kindergarten–9th | 5.4 | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 455 students · Pre-K–12th | 4.6 | ||
Schools in Elmhurst
Elmhurst, New York · 20 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$71,470
Median Home Value
$683,200
Median Rent
$1,913/mo
Population
99,433
College Educated
30%
Homeownership
28%
Avg Commute
42 min
Poverty Rate
11.8%
Community Profile
Elmhurst has a median household income of $71,470. It is an area where 30% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $683,200, with a median rent of $1,913/month. The area has a poverty rate of 11.8%. The average commute in the area is 42 minutes, which is above the national average. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- New York
- Elementary
- 8
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 8
- Other
- 2
Resources
School Districts (6)
NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #24
57 schools · 50,843 students
NYC SPECIAL SCHOOLS - DISTRICT 75
59 schools
CENTRAL QUEENS ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL
1 school · 804 students
FORTE PREPARATORY ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL
1 school · 443 students
ELM COMMUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL
1 school · 442 students
RENAISSANCE CHARTER SCHOOL 2 (THE)
1 school · 587 students
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in New York
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Elmhurst, New York
How many schools are in Elmhurst, New York?
Elmhurst has 20 schools, including 16 public and 4 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Elmhurst, New York?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Elmhurst is 6.3 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Elmhurst, New York?
The top-ranked school in Elmhurst on MySchoolScout is Central Queens Academy Charter School with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best elementary school in Elmhurst, New York?
The top-ranked elementary school in Elmhurst on MySchoolScout is Central Queens Academy Charter School with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best middle school in Elmhurst, New York?
The top-ranked middle school in Elmhurst on MySchoolScout is Forte Preparatory Academy Charter School with a composite score of 7.2/10.
What is the best high school in Elmhurst, New York?
The top-ranked high school in Elmhurst on MySchoolScout is Civic Leadership Academy with a composite score of 8.0/10.
How many school districts serve Elmhurst, New York?
Elmhurst is served by 6 school districts: New York City Geographic District #24, Nyc Special Schools - District 75, Central Queens Academy Charter School, Forte Preparatory Academy Charter School, Elm Community Charter School, Renaissance Charter School 2 (the).
What is the education level in Elmhurst, New York?
According to Census data, 30% of adults in Elmhurst have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Elmhurst, New York?
The median household income in Elmhurst is approximately $71,470 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Elmhurst, New York?
Yes, Elmhurst has 4 private schools alongside 16 public schools. The top-rated private school is Cathedral Preparatory School and Seminary with a score of 6.2/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Elmhurst, New York?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Elmhurst is 35.4:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Elmhurst, New York?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
- Best Public Schools in New York 2026: Top Districts from NYC to the Suburbsbest schools
- Best Schools in New York, NY — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best States for Public Schools in 2026: A Complete Rankingdata insights
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- Student-Teacher Ratio by State: Complete 2026 Rankingsdata insights
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, New York State Education Dept., and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.