Joseph F. Quinn Intermediate School 77

A large neighborhood school in the Ridgewood section of Queens, IS 77 serves many Spanish-speaking children as well as some who speak Arabic, Polish, Chinese or 14 other languages at home. It offers dual language classes in Spanish and English. Children speaking other languages receive instruction in English either as part of their regular classes or in small pull-out sessions, according to the school’s yearly plan.

Teachers say the school is safe and orderly and nearly all recommend it to prospective parents, according to school surveys. The school is part of the Middle School Quality Initiative, a well-regarded program to improve reading instruction. High-achieving students may be placed in Special Progress or honors classes. 

The school has a band, a chorus and classes in studio art.

About one quarter of the students are still learning English and the same proportion have special needs. The school is working to improve test scores for these students, according to yearly plan, called the Comprehensive Educational Plan.      

The main school building was erected in 1911, and a new annex opened in 2002. The building has the capacity to hold about 1300 students.

Admissions: Zoned neighborhood school, also open to children from District 24. The dual language program is open to Spanish-speakers from anywhere in Queens. (Clara Hemphill, web reports, April 2019)