PS 180 HUGO NEWMAN vs PS 153 ADAM CLAYTON POWELL

PS 153 Adam Clayton Powell holds a meaningful edge in overall rating, scoring 8.6/10 against PS 180 Hugo Newman's 7.5/10 — a 1.1-point gap that translates into a stark difference in state standing. PS 153 ranks #211 of 4,742 New York schools, placing it in the top 5 percent statewide. PS 180 ranks #1,165 of 4,742, which is solidly above average but a full 954 positions behind its neighbor 1.4 miles away.

The academic scores drive most of that gap. PS 153 Adam Clayton Powell scores 8.8/10 in academics versus PS 180 Hugo Newman's 6.6/10 — a 2.2-point difference that reflects measurably stronger proficiency outcomes. Growth tells a different story: both schools are near-identical, with PS 180 at 9.8/10 and PS 153 at 9.9/10. That near-perfect growth performance at PS 180 signals that students there are advancing at an exceptional rate relative to their starting points, even if absolute proficiency levels trail PS 153.

On demographics and classroom structure, PS 153 Adam Clayton Powell serves a higher share of economically disadvantaged students — 89% free or reduced lunch versus 81% at PS 180 Hugo Newman — while also running slightly larger classes. PS 180's student-teacher ratio is 9.9:1 compared to PS 153's 11.4:1, meaning PS 180 averages roughly one fewer student per adult in the classroom. PS 153 enrolls 389 students to PS 180's 346, making both schools relatively small by New York City standards.

The most concrete structural difference is grade span. PS 180 Hugo Newman runs PK through grade 8, keeping students in one building through middle school. PS 153 Adam Clayton Powell serves PK through grade 5 only, meaning families will face a school transition at the end of fifth grade. For parents who value continuity and want to avoid a middle school search, PS 180's K–8 model eliminates that decision entirely.