I.S. 230

IS 230 is a large, well-run, overcrowded middle school in Jackson Heights with an attractive array of arts and music, including a band.

Opened in September 2000 to relieve overcrowding in nearby IS 145,  IS 230 is itself so overcrowded that it must hold four lunch periods a day. Despite this, the school is orderly and boasts good attendance. Teachers overwhelmingly recommend the school to other families, on school surveys.

The 6th grade is housed in an annex across the street, which helps ease new students into middle school routines, according to the middle school directory. 

The school offers four academies: Law and Government, Communications, Arts and Drama, Business and Finance, and Environmental Health and Science. Sixth graders in all academies cycle through band, guitar, visual arts, and vocal music, then select one to study their remaining years of middle school. 

Students are expected to wear a uniform. Those who engage in inappropriate behavior are judged by a jury of their peers; instead of serving detention, students are asked to perform community service, such as helping the staff clean up the lunchroom. 

The main building, which holds 7th and 8th grade, has a full-size gym and a newly renovated cafeteria with blue and white tile walls and diner-style booths. The school has a well-stocked art room, complete with a ceramics kiln and darkroom for photography classes. There are also two science labs, a computer lab and a library. 

Many students are new immigrants who do not speak English as home. There are five full-time ESL (English as a second language) classroom teachers on staff. A sixth works individually or in small groups with students in their regular classrooms or in another space.

Special education: The school has several small "self-contained" classes for students with special needs; one teacher and a paraprofessional work in a class capped at 12 students. Students with disabilities score above the citywide average on state exams.

Admissions: Zoned neighborhood school. (Lydie Raschka, web reports, February 2019)