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Harold O. Levy School 52

Grades: 6-8
650 Academy Street
Manhattan NY 10034
Phone: 212-567-9162

Our Insights

What’s Special

Technology focus; Band

The Downside

Declining enrollment

On the northern tip of Manhattan, IS 52 is a safe school with a technology focus. Students use iPads and laptops to create digital documents, track their progress online, and study computer science and graphic design, according to the middle school directory.

Once an overcrowded school with an enrollment of about 1,300, IS 52 now serves fewer than 300 children. As rents in the neighborhood have skyrocketed, many families with children have moved to the Bronx; the neighborhood's new residents have fewer children and some of those choose charter or other options. 

The school serves a large number of Spanish-speaking new immigrants, including many who have had very weak preparation in elementary school. All students in the transitional bilingual education program are tested and placed with other English speakers at their level, according to the Comprehensive Educational Plan (CEP).

Instead of using textbooks with scripted lessons, teachers have created their own units with thoughtful attention to their many Spanish-speaking students. Teachers assign books such as The House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros, a Latinx writer, the school website shows. One unit of study is about the new immigrant experience; students tap into their own stories, and explore themes of cultural identity and assimilation.   

In science, teens do hands-on experiments. Recent activities include designing and building simple machines such as ramps and levers. Students investigatedthe effect of different types of fertilizer on plants.

Test scores have a ways to go. The Quality Review shows the school could do a better job of identifying, tracking and meeting instructional goals for students across the school. A teacher team works with a mix of district and charter schools to share ideas, in addition to more sharing of ideas within IS 52, the CEP shows. 

Principal Lupe Leon took the helm in 2014. She is a former IS 52 student, paraprofessional, teacher, dean and administrator. 

The building is shared with the High School for Excellence and Innovation, and Inwood Early College for Health and Information Technologies. IS 52 shares the cafeteria, the gym, bathrooms and auditorium with the other schools.

Admissions: Zoned neighborhood school. The Apple ConnectED Program is open to students and residents of District 6. (Lydie Raschka, web reports, May 2019) 

 

 

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School Stats

Citywide Average Key
This school is Better Near Worse than the citywide average

Is this school safe and well-run?

From the 2020-21 NYC School Survey

How many students say they feel safe in the hallways, bathrooms and locker rooms?
69%
78% Citywide Average
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
56%
58% Citywide Average
How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
96%
84% Citywide Average

From the 2019-20 NY State Report Card

How many students were suspended?
2%
4% Citywide Average

From this school's most recent Quality Review Report

Are teachers effective?

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
82%
79% Citywide Average
Years of principal experience at this school
3.1

How do students perform academically?

From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database

How many middle school students scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
7%
46% Citywide Average
How many middle school students scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
29%
51% Citywide Average

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

How many 8th-graders earn high school credit?
24%
39% Citywide Average

Who does this school serve?

From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot

Enrollment
145
Asian
1%
Black
6%
Hispanic
94%
White
0%
Other
0%
Free or reduced priced lunch
100%
Students with disabilities
35%
English language learners
38%

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

Average daily attendance
86%
90% Citywide Average
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
49%
38% Citywide Average

From the 2020 School Directories

Uniforms required?
No
This school offers Transitional Bilingual Education in Spanish.

How does this school serve special populations?

From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database

How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
0%
15% Citywide Average


For more information about our data sources, see About Our Data · More DOE statistics for this school

Contact & Location

Location

Inwood (District 6)
Trains: A Line to Dyckman St-200th St; 1 Line to Dyckman St
Buses: Bx12, Bx12-SBS, Bx20, Bx7, BxM1, M100, M3, M4

Contact

Principal
Sandra Capers
Parent Coordinator
Licette Vasquez

Other Details

Shared campus?
Yes
This school shares the building with the Inwood Early College for Health & Information Technologies and the HS for Excellence and Innovation
Uniforms required?
No
Metal detectors?
No

Zone for the 2019-2020 school year. Call school to confirm.

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