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Below Average

#4215 of 4,742 schools in NY

PS 171 Peter G Van Alst

Elementary School · NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #30

14-14 29TH AVE, Long Island City, NY 11102

Enrollment

472

Student-Teacher

12.1:1

Score

4.0

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

New York schools

#4,215 of 4,742

In Long Island City

#38 of 38

public schools

In district

#49 of 50

NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #30

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PS 171 Peter G Van Alst

4.0/10

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

Young Womens Leadership School - Astoria

8.4/10

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

Albert Shanker School for Visual and Performing Arts

7.8/10

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

About PS 171 Peter G Van Alst

PS 171 Peter G Van Alst is a public elementary school in Long Island City, NY, part of NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #30. PS 171 Peter G Van Alst serves approximately 472 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio. PS 171 Peter G Van Alst has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.0 out of 10 and ranks #4,215 of 4,742 schools in NY.

Structured state assessment records for PS 171 Peter G Van Alst show 35% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 37% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares2.3 pts below district
  • This school 4.0 · Below Average
  • District avg 6.3
  • NY avg 5.9

What Parents Should Know

60% of students at PS 171 Peter G Van Alst 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 Progress4.7Below Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-1.84 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics3.3Needs Improvement30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency10.9% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency28.7% (2022 EdFacts)
Math vs. State Avg-42.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-32.2 pts
Overall Proficiency20% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)38% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-17.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile14th
Resources & Environment3.4Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.1:1
Chronic Absenteeism60.2%

PS 171 Peter G Van Alst — Students at PS 171 Peter G Van Alst score 20% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 38%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

91.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NY EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 34.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
48.1% (2021 NYSED)
ELA Proficiency 36.7% (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
85%
ELA
55%
2010
Math
52%
ELA
39%
2011
Math
58%
ELA
43%
2012
Math
20%
ELA
22%
2013
Math
28%
ELA
18%
2014
Math
24%
ELA
12%
2015
Math
25%
ELA
18%
2016
Math
21%
ELA
18%
2017
Math
27%
ELA
31%
2018
Math
21%
ELA
31%
2019
Math
21%
ELA
31%
2020*
Math
37%
ELA
54.5%
2021*
Math
39.3%
ELA
55.9%
2022
Math
10.9%
ELA
28.7%

* 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: 4.7/10.

How PS 171 Peter G Van Alst Compares

See how PS 171 Peter G Van Alst performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
4.0/10
11th percentile in NY
Academic
3.3/10
Needs Improvement
Growth
4.7/10
Below Average
Environment
3.4/10
Needs Improvement

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
92%
Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
39 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
60.2%

Location

14-14 29TH AVE, Long Island City, NY 11102

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering PS 171 Peter G Van Alst may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. 30TH AVENUE SCHOOL (THE) (G & T CITYWIDE) (rated 8.1/10, 0.4 miles away, in nearby Astoria), which scores notably higher. Another option is PS 166 HENRY GRADSTEIN (rated 7.7/10, 1.0 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 1.1 mi
School Distance Rating
YOUNG WOMENS LEADERSHIP SCHOOL - ASTORIA Long Island City 0.2 mi 8.4
ALBERT SHANKER SCHOOL FOR VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS Long Island City 0.3 mi 7.8
PS 17 HENRY DAVID THOREAU Long Island City 0.4 mi 6.2
30TH AVENUE SCHOOL (THE) (G & T CITYWIDE) Astoria 0.4 mi 8.1
LONG ISLAND CITY HIGH SCHOOL Long Island City 0.4 mi 7.9
ACADEMY FOR NEW AMERICANS Astoria 0.4 mi 3.0
PS 234 Astoria 0.4 mi 7.5
ST DEMETRIOS SCHOOL Astoria 0.5 mi 7.1
LES ENFANTS MONTESSORI SCHOOL Astoria 0.4 mi
PS 166 HENRY GRADSTEIN Long Island City 1.0 mi 7.7
PS 85 JUDGE CHARLES VALLONE Long Island City 0.8 mi 7.1
PS 112 DUTCH KILLS Long Island City 1.0 mi 6.0
IS 204 OLIVER W HOLMES Long Island City 1.0 mi 6.3
ENERGY TECH HIGH SCHOOL Long Island City 1.0 mi 8.4
VOICE CHARTER SCHOOL OF NEW YORK Long Island City 0.9 mi 5.7
FRANK SINATRA SCHOOL OF THE ARTS HIGH SCHOOL Long Island City 1.0 mi 8.2
PS 122 MAMIE FAY Astoria 0.9 mi 7.6
OUR WORLD NEIGHBORHOOD CHARTER SCHOOL Astoria 1.1 mi 6.1
PS 111 JACOB BLACKWELL Long Island City 1.0 mi 4.3
BACCALAUREATE SCHOOL FOR GLOBAL EDUCATION Long Island City 1.1 mi 7.7

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
ARTHUR P MOMOT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Plattsburgh, NY 4.0
BENNETT PARK MONTESSORI SCHOOL Buffalo, NY 4.0
BIRCHWOOD INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL Melville, NY 4.0
BROOKHAVEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Brookhaven, NY 4.0
DONLIN DRIVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Liverpool, NY 4.0
DURAND-EASTMAN INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL Rochester, NY 4.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about PS 171 Peter G Van Alst

What grades does PS 171 Peter G Van Alst serve?

PS 171 Peter G Van Alst serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend PS 171 Peter G Van Alst?

PS 171 Peter G Van Alst has an enrollment of approximately 472 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at PS 171 Peter G Van Alst?

The student-teacher ratio at PS 171 Peter G Van Alst is 12.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does PS 171 Peter G Van Alst rank in NY?

PS 171 Peter G Van Alst ranks #4,215 of 4,742 schools in NY.

What is PS 171 Peter G Van Alst's MySchoolScout rating?

PS 171 Peter G Van Alst has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.0 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 171 Peter G Van Alst?

Based on loaded state assessment records, PS 171 Peter G Van Alst has 35% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 37% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is PS 171 Peter G Van Alst a charter school?

No, PS 171 Peter G Van Alst is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is PS 171 Peter G Van Alst a Title I school?

No, PS 171 Peter G Van Alst is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for PS 171 Peter G Van Alst?

91.5% of students at PS 171 Peter G Van Alst 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
95 Walker's Paradise
Transit Score
80 Excellent Transit
Bike Score
89 Very Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
472
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
39
Free/Reduced Lunch
91.5%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Queens County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
60.2%

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