2024 School Rankings: Best Public Schools Near Times Square

October 15, 2024

ZIP code 10036 covers Midtown West including Times Square — not an area most people associate with great public schools, but the NCES data tells a more nuanced story.

PS 51 Elias Howe and Clinton School are the standouts. Both show math proficiency rates above 60% and reading rates above 65%, outperforming the NYC district average in both subjects. The Theater Arts Production school serves a specialized population and shows strong outcomes for its enrollment.

10036's school score of 74/100 reflects solid but not exceptional performance. The population of school-age children in Midtown is lower than in residential neighborhoods, which means smaller cohort sizes and more variation year-to-year in assessment data.

For families living or considering a move to 10036, the schools are meaningfully better than the zip code's commercial reputation would suggest. Pairing 10036 schools with 10001 (Chelsea/Hudson Yards, school score 82/100) gives a useful contrast: Chelsea's schools score higher on average, particularly at the elementary level.