University Neighborhood Middle School

University Neighborhood Middle School, located on Manhattan's Lower East Side, serves students in grades 6-8 and is known for its nurturing environment and strong community focus. The school emphasizes providing a supportive and enriching experience where every child is valued. It benefits from partnerships with New York University and the Henry Street Settlement, offering students unique resources and extended learning opportunities, including time on the NYU campus for some. The school also offers a citywide one-way dual language program in Spanish, promoting bilingualism and multicultural understanding. Parent sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, with official surveys showing high satisfaction, and parents often praise the small class sizes and the responsiveness of the staff. Teachers generally approve of the school and would recommend it to other families. However, the school has consistently faced academic challenges, particularly in math proficiency, which is well below the citywide 25th percentile. ELA proficiency is also slightly below the citywide median. Chronic absenteeism is a significant concern, well above the citywide 75th percentile. While students generally feel safe, some student survey responses indicate concerns regarding bullying and physical fights.