Total enrollment
268,205
-8,159 (-3%) vs SY 2020-21
Queens County
New York · Public K-12
Queens County, New York hosts 392 public K-12 schools and around 268,205 students, averaging roughly 684 per school. New York City Geographic District #24 runs the largest share. By grade band, the county runs 230 elementary, 59 middle, and 93 high schools.
4-year change in Queens County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
392
+8 (+2%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Queens County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In New York | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 57.6% | #10 of 61 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 268,205 | #2 of 61 | #16 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 392 | #3 of 61 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 12.6:1 | #60 of 61 | #768 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 76.9% | #3 of 61 | #546 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 71.0% | #4 of 61 | #73 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Queens County school rankings
Residents
2,323,052
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
392
39 districts
Enrollment
268,205
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$86,136
Above New York avg
Free/reduced lunch
76.9%
Above New York avg
Elementary
230
136,271 students
Middle
59
44,400 students
High
93
81,280 students
Combined / other
10
6,254 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #24
48,004 students · 39 districts in Queens County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Queens County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
36.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
10.0%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
7.2%
civilian labor
Median age
41
19.5% under 18
Test scores in Queens County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 368 schools ranked. New York state average: 58.3%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- PS 143 LOUIS ARMSTRONG· 23.0%
- PS 16 NANCY DEBENEDITTIS SCHOOL (THE)· 23.0%
- PS 14 FAIRVIEW· 24.0%
- PS 105 BAY SCHOOL (THE)· 25.0%
- PS 45 CLARENCE WITHERSPOON· 25.0%
Cities in Queens County
Jamaica49 schoolsFlushing45 schoolsLong Island City40 schoolsElmhurst17 schoolsBayside16 schoolsFar Rockaway16 schoolsSpringfield Gardens15 schoolsCorona14 schoolsSouth Ozone Park12 schoolsForest Hills10 schoolsOzone Park10 schoolsRichmond Hill10 schoolsRidgewood9 schoolsWoodside9 schoolsBellerose8 schoolsJackson Heights8 schoolsQueens Village8 schoolsRockaway Park8 schoolsSaint Albans8 schoolsAstoria7 schoolsCambria Heights6 schoolsEast Elmhurst6 schoolsRego Park6 schoolsGlendale5 schoolsRosedale5 schoolsWhitestone5 schoolsFloral Park4 schoolsHollis4 schoolsHoward Beach4 schoolsLittle Neck4 schoolsMaspeth4 schoolsMiddle Village4 schoolsCollege Point3 schoolsWoodhaven3 schoolsArverne2 schoolsSouth Richmond Hill2 schoolsBroad Channel1 schoolDouglaston1 schoolFresh Meadows1 schoolKew Gardens1 schoolRockaway Beach1 schoolSunnyside1 school
About Queens County
Across the sprawling New York county of Queens County of about 2,323,052 residents, the public-school footprint covers 392 schools and about 268,205 students.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show the median household earns about $86,136 a year, roughly 36% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the federal-poverty share is near 10%. That income level is 11% above the New York median.
On the school-mix side, Queens County comprises 230 elementary schools (136,271 students), 59 middle schools (44,400), 93 high schools (81,280), and 10 combined or other schools.
NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #24 is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 48,004 students across Queens County.
Looking at the last 4 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 268,205 students, contracted 3% from the 276,364 reported in SY 2020-21. The school count climbed from 384 to 392 across the same 4-year window.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Queens County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data