Best Schools in Forest Hills, New York
16 schools · 9 Elementary · 1 Middle · 4 High · 2 Other
Choosing a school in Forest Hills?
Use this page to compare every school in Forest Hills 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.
PS 196 Grand Central Parkway
Elementary · New York City Geographic District #28. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Academy for Excellence Through the Arts (the)
Elementary · New York City Geographic District #28. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
PS 101 School in the Gardens
Elementary · New York City Geographic District #28. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Forest Hills for 2026 are PS 196 Grand Central Parkway (8.6/10), Academy for Excellence Through the Arts (the) (8.5/10), and PS 101 School in the Gardens (8.3/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 15 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
16
10 public · 6 private
Avg Score
7.1
out of 10
Median Home
$572,800
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
16
10 public · 6 private
Avg Score
7.1
out of 10
Median Home
$572,800
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 7.9/10 despite 74% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 0.9 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 Forest Hills schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Forest Hills
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (15 of 16). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PS 196 Grand Central Parkway | 8.6 / 10 |
| 2 | Academy for Excellence Through the Arts (the) | 8.5 / 10 |
| 3 | PS 101 School in the Gardens | 8.3 / 10 |
| 4 | The Kew-forest School | 8.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Forest Hills High School | 7.9 / 10 |
| 6 | PS 144 Col Jeromus Remsen | 7.7 / 10 |
| 7 | Queens Metropolitan High School | 7.7 / 10 |
| 8 | Ezra Academy | 7.4 / 10 |
| 9 | Jhs 190 Russell Sage | 7.3 / 10 |
| 10 | PS 220 Edward Mandel | 6.8 / 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
- 7.1/10
- Median household income
- $104,319
- Median home value
- $572,800
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 61%
- Avg commute
- 45 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 52%
56% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Forest Hills compares
New York rank
#118 of 475
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.9
above New York avg (6.2)
Median household income
$104k
112% of New York median
Schools in this city
16
About Schools in Forest Hills, New York
Forest Hills, New York is home to 16 schools, including 10 public schools and 6 private schools. The city's schools span 9 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 4 high schools.
With an average rating of 7.1 out of 10, schools in Forest Hills perform strongly on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in Forest Hills is PS 196 Grand Central Parkway with a composite score of 8.6/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Forest Hills is served by 2 school districts: NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #28, NYC SPECIAL SCHOOLS - DISTRICT 75. These districts collectively serve 38,052 students.
Forest Hills's community shows 61% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $104,319. The poverty rate in the area is 7.9%.
Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.
Elementary Schools
9 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 794 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.6 | ||
| 2 | 518 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.5 | ||
| 3 | 612 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.3 | ||
| 4 | 805 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.7 | ||
| 5 | 599 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.8 | ||
| Private Schools 4 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Forest Hills Montessori School
Private
47 students · Pre-K–6th | 6.8 | ||
| 2 | 283 students · Pre-K–8th | 6.5 | ||
| 3 | 284 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.2 | ||
| 4 | Bnos Malka Academy
Private
376 students · Pre-K–8th | 5.7 | ||
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 929 students · 6th–8th | 7.3 |
High Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3,425 students · 9th–12th | 7.9 | ||
| 2 | 973 students · 9th–12th | 7.7 | ||
| 3 | 833 students · 6th–12th | 6.1 | ||
| 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 | Ezra Academy
Private
145 students · 8th–12th | 7.4 | ||
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 523 students · Kindergarten–12th | 4.5 | ||
| 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 | The Kew-forest School
Private
208 students · Pre-K–12th | 8.2 | ||
Schools in Forest Hills
Forest Hills, New York · 16 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$104,319
Median Home Value
$572,800
Median Rent
$2,126/mo
Population
75,320
College Educated
61%
Homeownership
52%
Avg Commute
45 min
Poverty Rate
7.9%
Community Profile
Forest Hills has a median household income of $104,319. It is a well-educated community where 61% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $572,800, with a median rent of $2,126/month. The local poverty rate of 7.9% is relatively low. The average commute in the area is 45 minutes, which is above the national average. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- New York
- Elementary
- 9
- Middle
- 1
- High
- 4
- Other
- 2
Resources
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 Forest Hills, New York
How many schools are in Forest Hills, New York?
Forest Hills has 16 schools, including 10 public and 6 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Forest Hills, New York?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Forest Hills is 7.1 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 Forest Hills, New York?
The top-ranked school in Forest Hills on MySchoolScout is PS 196 Grand Central Parkway with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What is the best elementary school in Forest Hills, New York?
The top-ranked elementary school in Forest Hills on MySchoolScout is PS 196 Grand Central Parkway with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What is the best middle school in Forest Hills, New York?
The top-ranked middle school in Forest Hills on MySchoolScout is Jhs 190 Russell Sage with a composite score of 7.3/10.
What is the best high school in Forest Hills, New York?
The top-ranked high school in Forest Hills on MySchoolScout is Forest Hills High School with a composite score of 7.9/10.
How many school districts serve Forest Hills, New York?
Forest Hills is served by 2 school districts: New York City Geographic District #28, Nyc Special Schools - District 75.
What is the education level in Forest Hills, New York?
According to Census data, 61% of adults in Forest Hills have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Forest Hills, New York?
The median household income in Forest Hills is approximately $104,319 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Forest Hills, New York?
Yes, Forest Hills has 6 private schools alongside 10 public schools. The top-rated private school is The Kew-forest School with a score of 8.2/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Forest Hills, New York?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Forest Hills is 13.1:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Forest Hills, 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
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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.