PS 161 ARTHUR ASHE SCHOOL

Located at 101-33 124TH ST, in JAMAICA, New York, PS 161 ARTHUR ASHE SCHOOL is an average-sized elementary-level community that educates 558 students (grades pre-K through 5), part of NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #28. Enrollment runs roughly 26% bigger than the state mean of about 443.

PS 161 ARTHUR ASHE SCHOOL is one of 50 schools operated by NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #28, a district that works with 36,340 students overall.

On demographics, PS 161 ARTHUR ASHE SCHOOL reports that Asian students make up the majority at 59%. Other groups include 19% Hispanic, 14% Native American, 3% Black. The wider county runs roughly 26% Asian, putting the school's mix visibly more Asian than the area baseline.

Looking at the economic backdrop, The school currently runs with 38 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 14.7:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 12.8:1, putting PS 161 ARTHUR ASHE SCHOOL higher than the state norm the norm. About 83% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, which schools and policymakers use as a rough income-mix signal.

With demographic context factored in, PS 161 ARTHUR ASHE SCHOOL sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 44.4%; this one delivers 64.3%.

In the broader community, census data for Queens County shows median household earnings sit near $86,136, about 36% of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or above, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 10%. Across Queens County's 392 public schools (combined enrollment of about 268,205 students), PS 161 ARTHUR ASHE SCHOOL is one campus in the mix.

The closest other public school is PS 55 MAURE, roughly 0.3 miles away. 8 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts PS 161 ARTHUR ASHE SCHOOL at 3rd of 7; the average score across the group is 56.9%.

The school occupies a city-core site.

Over the past 7-year window. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at PS 161 ARTHUR ASHE SCHOOL has edged down 21%, going from 702 students in 2018 to 558 in 2025. Asian enrollment moved from 65% to 59% across the same window.

In the discussion threads here, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around school events, parent volunteer needs, and clubs. The community welcomes input from current and former families.