Best Schools in Long Island City, New York

Long Island City's public school landscape is one of the stronger performing in New York, with 38 ranked schools and a city average of 7.0 out of 10. That average matters: across comparable urban districts, hitting 7.0 citywide signals a consistently solid floor rather than a split between a handful of standout schools and a struggling majority. The numbers back that up — 21 of the 38 ranked schools, or 55%, score 7 or higher, meaning parents have real options across the map rather than chasing a single address.

Elementary families have the clearest runway here. PS 85 Judge Charles Vallone leads the city at 8.6 out of 10, the top score among all 38 ranked schools. PS/IS 78 follows closely at 8.2, and PS 166 Henry Gradstein rounds out the elementary tier at 8.0. Three elementary schools at 8.0 or above in the same city is unusual and gives younger families genuine choice without having to compromise sharply on quality to stay in the area.

The high school picture is just as competitive. Energy Tech High School scores 8.3, second overall in the city, and Frank Sinatra School of the Arts High School matches the 8.0 threshold held by the top elementary schools. Both sit well above the city average, which means families don't face the common trade-off of strong elementary years followed by a step down at the secondary level. The presence of a specialized arts high school also broadens the range of academic environments available to older students.

For parents weighing Long Island City against other New York neighborhoods, the practical takeaway is straightforward. The 7.0 city average and the 55% rate of schools at 7 or above suggest a market where mid-tier options are genuinely viable, not just fallbacks. The top of the distribution — five schools at 8.0 or better across both elementary and high school levels — gives ambitious families multiple targets. School assignment boundaries and enrollment deadlines are worth verifying directly with the district, but the underlying quality pool here is strong from kindergarten through graduation.