IS 289

IS 289 is a close-knit middle school in NEW YORK, New York, operated by NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2. The school enrolls 253 students in grades 6 through 8. Compared to the state average of about 531 students per school, that is 52% below typical.

NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 comprises 119 schools with combined enrollment of 54,599 students; IS 289 is among them.

In terms of who attends, IS 289 reports that the largest single group is Asian at 42%, but no single group is in the majority. Beyond that, the school reports 26% White, 17% Hispanic, 9% Black, 5% multiracial. That is visibly more Asian than the county at large, where the share is closer to 12%.

On the income-and-resources front, Staff filings list 20 full-time-equivalent teachers, which works out to roughly 12.6:1 students per teacher. The state averages around 10.3:1, so this campus is higher than the state norm typical. Roughly 51% of students at IS 289 qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment. Set against New York County (around 70%), the school's rate is somewhat below typical.

On a demographically-adjusted basis, IS 289 ranks in the top 10% of New York public schools. The BeatsExpectations model, a per-state regression of composite proficiency on FRL share, predicts schools with this student profile to land around 56.2%; IS 289 posts 79.0%, +22.8 points above that line.

Across the wider county, ACS estimates for New York County put median household income runs about $103,931, 64% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 13%. In all, New York County runs 358 public schools (combined enrollment of about 152,104 students), of which IS 289 is one.

The closest other public school is PS 89, roughly 0.0 miles away. Counting just inside five miles, 8 other public schools cluster around IS 289. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts IS 289 at 6th of 9; the average score across the group is 74.2%.

IS 289 operates from a downtown location.

Trend over the last 7 years. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at IS 289 has edged down 11%, going from 283 students in 2018 to 253 in 2025. The White share of enrollment decreased from 39% to 26% over that span. Class-load math has narrowed: from 15.7:1 in 2018 to 12.6:1 in 2025.

On this page, posts here usually surface around science fair prep, picture-day reminders, and bus-route questions. Contributors range from current parents to recent graduates and teachers.