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Average

#2396 of 4,742 schools in NY

PS 17 Henry David Thoreau

Elementary School · NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #30

28-37 29TH ST, Long Island City, NY 11102

Enrollment

583

Student-Teacher

15.3:1

Score

6.2

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

New York schools

#2,396 of 4,742

In Long Island City

#31 of 38

public schools

In district

#35 of 50

NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #30

Academic growth

7.5 / 10

Very Good

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PS 17 Henry David Thoreau

6.2/10

Elementary School in Long Island City · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

30th Avenue School (the) (g & T Citywide)

8.1/10

0.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Academy for New Americans

3.0/10

0.1 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About PS 17 Henry David Thoreau

PS 17 Henry David Thoreau is a public elementary school in Long Island City, NY, part of NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #30. PS 17 Henry David Thoreau serves approximately 583 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio. PS 17 Henry David Thoreau has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.2 out of 10 and ranks #2,396 of 4,742 schools in NY.

Structured state assessment records for PS 17 Henry David Thoreau show 38% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 38% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 6.2 · Average
  • District avg 6.3
  • NY avg 5.9

What Parents Should Know

48% of students at PS 17 Henry David Thoreau were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.5Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-0.61 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendStable
Academics6.2Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency42.7% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency39.3% (2022 EdFacts)
Math vs. State Avg-10.8 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-21.6 pts
Overall Proficiency41% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)45% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-4.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile46th
Resources & Environment2.8Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.3:1
Chronic Absenteeism47.9%

PS 17 Henry David Thoreau — Students at PS 17 Henry David Thoreau score 41% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 45%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

69.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NY EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 37.6% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
48.1% (2021 NYSED)
ELA Proficiency 37.6% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
57.0% (2021 NYSED)

Based on 34 test records from NY state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
74%
ELA
54%
2010
Math
48%
ELA
42%
2011
Math
54%
ELA
41%
2012
Math
21%
ELA
21%
2013
Math
23%
ELA
24%
2014
Math
29%
ELA
23%
2015
Math
25%
ELA
28%
2016
Math
32%
ELA
26%
2017
Math
32%
ELA
36%
2018
Math
40%
ELA
32%
2019
Math
40%
ELA
32%
2020*
Math
37%
ELA
47%
2021*
Math
35.5%
ELA
48.5%
2022
Math
42.7%
ELA
39.3%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 7.5/10.

How PS 17 Henry David Thoreau Compares

See how PS 17 Henry David Thoreau performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
6.2/10
50th percentile in NY
Academic
6.2/10
Average
Growth
7.5/10
Very Good
Environment
2.8/10
Needs Improvement

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
70%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
38 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
47.9%

Location

28-37 29TH ST, Long Island City, NY 11102

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering PS 17 Henry David Thoreau may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. 30TH AVENUE SCHOOL (THE) (G & T CITYWIDE) (rated 8.1/10, in nearby Astoria), which scores notably higher. Another option is PS 166 HENRY GRADSTEIN (rated 7.7/10, 0.8 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, PS 122 MAMIE FAY (rated 7.6/10, 0.9 miles away, in nearby Astoria), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Long Island City, see our Long Island City schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 0.9 mi
School Distance Rating
30TH AVENUE SCHOOL (THE) (G & T CITYWIDE) Astoria 0.0 mi 8.1
ACADEMY FOR NEW AMERICANS Astoria 0.1 mi 3.0
PS 234 Astoria 0.1 mi 7.5
LES ENFANTS MONTESSORI SCHOOL Astoria 0.1 mi
ST DEMETRIOS SCHOOL Astoria 0.2 mi 7.1
YOUNG WOMENS LEADERSHIP SCHOOL - ASTORIA Long Island City 0.2 mi 8.4
PS 171 PETER G VAN ALST Long Island City 0.4 mi 4.0
ALBERT SHANKER SCHOOL FOR VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS Long Island City 0.4 mi 7.8
PS 85 JUDGE CHARLES VALLONE Long Island City 0.5 mi 7.1
LONG ISLAND CITY HIGH SCHOOL Long Island City 0.6 mi 7.9
PS 70 Long Island City 0.6 mi 6.7
PS 166 HENRY GRADSTEIN Long Island City 0.8 mi 7.7
FRANK SINATRA SCHOOL OF THE ARTS HIGH SCHOOL Long Island City 0.8 mi 8.2
OUR WORLD NEIGHBORHOOD CHARTER SCHOOL Astoria 0.9 mi 6.1
IS 10 HORACE GREELEY Long Island City 0.8 mi 6.6
BACCALAUREATE SCHOOL FOR GLOBAL EDUCATION Long Island City 0.9 mi 7.7
PS 122 MAMIE FAY Astoria 0.9 mi 7.6
IS 204 OLIVER W HOLMES Long Island City 0.9 mi 6.3
ENERGY TECH HIGH SCHOOL Long Island City 0.9 mi 8.4
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CATHOLIC ACADEMY IN ASTORIA Astoria 0.9 mi 6.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 11102 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$102,996

Median Home Value

$779,800

Median Rent

$2,248/mo

Population

28,349

College Educated

58.2%

Homeownership

14.6%

Avg Commute

41.1 min

Poverty Rate

12.3%

Median Age

36.7

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
BRONX CHARTER SCHOOL FOR BETTER LEARNING II Bronx, NY 6.2
BRONX CHARTER SCHOOL FOR EXCELLENCE 3 Bronx, NY 6.2
BROOKSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Binghamton, NY 6.2
CANAL VIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Spencerport, NY 6.2
CHARLES E SCHWARTING SCHOOL Massapequa, NY 6.2
CICERO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Cicero, NY 6.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about PS 17 Henry David Thoreau

What grades does PS 17 Henry David Thoreau serve?

PS 17 Henry David Thoreau serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend PS 17 Henry David Thoreau?

PS 17 Henry David Thoreau has an enrollment of approximately 583 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at PS 17 Henry David Thoreau?

The student-teacher ratio at PS 17 Henry David Thoreau is 15.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does PS 17 Henry David Thoreau rank in NY?

PS 17 Henry David Thoreau ranks #2,396 of 4,742 schools in NY.

What is PS 17 Henry David Thoreau's MySchoolScout rating?

PS 17 Henry David Thoreau has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.2 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at PS 17 Henry David Thoreau?

Based on loaded state assessment records, PS 17 Henry David Thoreau has 38% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 38% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is PS 17 Henry David Thoreau a charter school?

No, PS 17 Henry David Thoreau is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is PS 17 Henry David Thoreau a Title I school?

No, PS 17 Henry David Thoreau is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for PS 17 Henry David Thoreau?

69.8% of students at PS 17 Henry David Thoreau qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
99 Walker's Paradise
Transit Score
85 Excellent Transit
Bike Score
76 Very Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
583
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
38
Free/Reduced Lunch
69.8%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Queens County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
47.9%

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