Best Schools in Hempstead, New York
13 schools · 6 Elementary · 2 Middle · 2 High · 3 Other
Choosing a school in Hempstead?
Use this page to compare every school in Hempstead 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.
Academy Charter School
Other · Academy Charter School. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Barack Obama Elementary School
Elementary · Hempstead Union Free School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Rhodes Academy of Humanities and the Arts
Elementary · Hempstead Union Free School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Hempstead for 2026 are Academy Charter School (6.8/10), Barack Obama Elementary School (6.7/10), and Rhodes Academy of Humanities and the Arts (6.6/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 10 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
13
11 public · 2 private
Avg Score
5.5
out of 10
Median Home
$446,500
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Schools
13
11 public · 2 private
Avg Score
5.5
out of 10
Median Home
$446,500
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Rates 6.6/10 despite 69% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.1 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 Hempstead schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +15.1 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Hempstead schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Hempstead
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (10 rated schools; 13 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Academy Charter School | 6.8 / 10 |
| 2 | Barack Obama Elementary School | 6.7 / 10 |
| 3 | Rhodes Academy of Humanities and the Arts | 6.6 / 10 |
| 4 | Lawrence Road Middle School | 6.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Joseph Mcneil School | 5.7 / 10 |
| 6 | Jackson Main Elementary School | 5.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Evergreen Charter School | 5.0 / 10 |
| 8 | Alverta B Gray Schultz Middle School | 5.0 / 10 |
| 9 | Hempstead High School | 4.7 / 10 |
| 10 | David Paterson School | 4.5 / 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
- 5.5/10
- Median household income
- $86,904
- Median home value
- $446,500
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 21%
- Avg commute
- 33 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 48%
0% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Hempstead compares
New York rank
#425 of 473
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.8
below New York avg (6.4)
Median household income
$87k
93% of New York median
Schools in this city
13
Hempstead Union Free School District runs 73% of Hempstead's public schools
Hempstead touches 4 districts, but Hempstead Union Free School District is the one most addresses actually attend.
Hempstead Union Free School District accounts for 8 of 11 public schools (73%). The other 3 districts hold the remaining 3.
Among 10 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 4.5 to 6.8 — the spread is inside Hempstead, not a citywide average.
- Hempstead Union Free School District8 public · 73%
- Academy Charter School1 public · 9%
- Evergreen Charter School1 public · 9%
- Uniondale Union Free School District1 public · 9%
About Schools in Hempstead, New York
Hempstead, New York has 11 ranked public schools, and their average score of 5.0 out of 10 places the city right at the midpoint of the rating scale. The school landscape covers elementary grades through middle school, with both traditional district schools and independently operated charter schools represented across all 11 ranked campuses.
Charter schools claim the top spots. Evergreen Charter School leads the city with a 6.2 out of 10 — the highest rating among all 11 ranked schools. Academy Charter School scores 5.8, meaning two of the top three performers operate outside the traditional district structure. For families open to charter enrollment, those scores represent a real performance advantage over the city average.
Among traditional district schools, Barack Obama Elementary stands out with a 5.9, the second-highest rating citywide and the strongest score of any district-run campus. Joseph McNeil School and Lawrence Road Middle School both land at 5.1, just above the city average. Lawrence Road Middle is the only ranked middle school in Hempstead, so families with children approaching those grades have a single local benchmark to work from.
The 5.0 city average reflects a school environment with meaningful variation between campuses. The 1.2-point gap between Evergreen Charter and the city average is the key signal for performance-focused parents: the best local option substantially outperforms the typical one. Families with elementary-age students have the broadest range of choices, with multiple ranked schools to compare at that level. Charter seats are not guaranteed, so confirm application timelines before the school year begins. Pairing these ratings with current state assessment data and campus visits will sharpen any final decision.
Elementary Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 524 students · 1st–6th | 6.7 |
| 2 | 756 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.6 |
| 3 | 422 students · 1st–6th | 5.7 |
| 4 | 483 students · 1st–6th | 5.5 |
| 5 | 435 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.5 |
| 6 | 490 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | 3.0 |
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 635 students · 6th–8th | 6.2 |
| 2 | 900 students · 7th–10th | 5.0 |
High Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,984 students · 9th–12th | 4.7 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Sacred Heart AcademyPrivate 677 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,895 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.8 | ||
| 2 | 1,088 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.0 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Crescent SchoolPrivate 270 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Hempstead
Hempstead, New York · 13 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$86,904
Median Home Value
$446,500
Median Rent
$1,647/mo
Population
60,658
College Educated
21%
Homeownership
48%
Avg Commute
33 min
Poverty Rate
14.3%
Community Profile
Hempstead has a median household income of $86,904. It is a community where 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $446,500, with a median rent of $1,647/month. The area has a poverty rate of 14.3%. The average commute for residents is 33 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- New York
- Elementary
- 6
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 2
- Other
- 3
Resources
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 Hempstead, New York
How many schools are in Hempstead, New York?
Hempstead has 13 schools, including 11 public and 2 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Hempstead, New York?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Hempstead is 5.5 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 Hempstead, New York?
The top-ranked school in Hempstead on MySchoolScout is Academy Charter School with a composite score of 6.8/10.
What is the best elementary school in Hempstead, New York?
The top-ranked elementary school in Hempstead on MySchoolScout is Barack Obama Elementary School with a composite score of 6.7/10.
What is the best middle school in Hempstead, New York?
The top-ranked middle school in Hempstead on MySchoolScout is Lawrence Road Middle School with a composite score of 6.2/10.
What is the best high school in Hempstead, New York?
The top-ranked high school in Hempstead on MySchoolScout is Hempstead High School with a composite score of 4.7/10.
How many school districts serve Hempstead, New York?
Hempstead is served by 4 school districts: Evergreen Charter School, Academy Charter School, Hempstead Union Free School District, Uniondale Union Free School District.
What is the education level in Hempstead, New York?
According to Census data, 21% of adults in Hempstead have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Hempstead, New York?
The median household income in Hempstead is approximately $86,904 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Hempstead, New York?
Yes, Hempstead has 2 private schools alongside 11 public schools. The top-rated private school is Crescent School with a score of 6.4/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Hempstead, New York?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Hempstead is 19.0:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Hempstead, 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 States for Public Schools in 2026: A Complete Rankingdata insights
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- The New School Choice Map: Is Your State Participating in the Federal Tuition Tax Credit?data insights
- Student-Teacher Ratio by State: Complete 2026 Rankingsdata insights
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings and parent guides, free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.
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.