Bell Academy

Summary:

Bell Academy is a public middle school located in Bayside, New York, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 348 students. It is part of the New York City Geographic District #25, which is ranked 320 out of 865 districts in New York and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Bell Academy consistently ranks among the top middle schools in New York, ranking 44th out of 1,504 schools in the 2023-2024 school year and earning a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's proficiency rates in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math are significantly higher than the district and state averages across all grade levels. For example, in 2023-2024, 79.84% of 6th graders, 89.77% of 7th graders, and 87.27% of 8th graders were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 56.65% and 43.64% at the district and state levels, respectively. In Math, 92.5% of 6th graders, 87.78% of 7th graders, and 88.19% of 8th graders were proficient or better, compared to 63.91% and 50.56% at the district and state levels.

Bell Academy's strong performance extends to all student subgroups, including female, male, Asian, Hispanic, White, special education, and low socioeconomic status students. The school's high per-student spending of $17,678 in the 2022-2023 school year and low student-teacher ratio of 13.3 may contribute to its exceptional results. While nearby schools like Junior High School 189 Daniel Carter Beard and IS 237 also demonstrate strong academic performance, Bell Academy consistently outperforms these schools, suggesting that it may have additional resources, programs, or practices that contribute to its success.


Detail:

Public 6-8

 18-25 212th St
       Bayside, NY  11360


(718) 428-0587

District: New York City Geographic District #25

SchoolDigger Rank:
44th of 1,504 New York Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $17,678 Help


Student/teacher ratio:  13.3 Help
Number of students:  360

Racial breakdown:

Asian:
42.8%
White:
25.3%
Hispanic:
24.2%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  42.2% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Bell Academy ranks better than 97.1% of middle schools in New York. It also ranks first among 8 ranked middle schools in the New York City Geographic District #25! (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 96.8. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Student population at Bell Academy is diverse. Racial makeup is: Asian (42.8%), White (25.3%), Hispanic (24.2%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 42.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the New York City Geographic District #25. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Bell Academy is 13.3, which is the 4th best among 8 middle schools in the New York City Geographic District #25. (See more...)
Help
Compare Bell Academy employs 27 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Bell Academy is $17,678, which is the 3rd highest among 8 middle schools in the New York City Geographic District #25.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Bell Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks Bell Academy 44th of 1504 New York public middle schools. (See Bell Academy in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Asian students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


New York City Geographic District #25:

SchoolDigger ranks New York City Geographic District #25 320th of 865 New York school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Bell Academy.

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Rank History for Bell Academy

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Rank History for all students at Bell Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2009 69.82 443rd 1224 63.8%
2010 77.77 270th 1243 78.3%
2011 74.34 350th 1295 73.0%
2012 80.62 226th 1337 83.1%
2013 84.11 165th 1373 88.0%
2014 77.85 221st 1401 84.2%
2015 68.39 375th 1407 73.3%
2016 74.15 284th 1429 80.1%
2017 91.07 100th 1455 93.1%
2018 88.86 121st 1438 91.6%
2019 88.99 130th 1439 91.0%
2021 94.49 43rd 1242 96.5%
2022 94.54 68th 1479 95.4%
2023 96.15 52nd 1500 96.5%
2024 96.80 44th 1504 97.1%
See the entire list of New York Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Bell Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 82.62 82nd 1170 93.0%
2019 83.09 93rd 1139 91.8%
2021 73.59 66th 522 87.4%
2022 82.09 90th 1283 93.0%
2023 97.98 29th 1307 97.8%
2024 94.12 42nd 1303 96.8%
See the entire list of Best New York Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Bell Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 93.59 60th 1245 95.2%
2019 95.05 61st 1241 95.1%
2021 98.65 12th 935 98.7%
2022 97.07 36th 1306 97.2%
2023 96.68 39th 1288 97.0%
2024 97.82 35th 1296 97.3%
See the entire list of Best New York Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Bell Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 89.53 103rd 1353 92.4%
2019 88.33 120th 1370 91.2%
2021 96.18 19th 1066 98.2%
2022 93.09 70th 1454 95.2%
2023 94.88 55th 1463 96.2%
2024 95.31 54th 1465 96.3%
See the entire list of Best New York Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Bell Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 90.11 101st 1352 92.5%
2019 88.48 130th 1366 90.5%
2021 88.95 82nd 1071 92.3%
2022 94.24 68th 1455 95.3%
2023 95.88 54th 1464 96.3%
2024 96.92 40th 1464 97.3%
See the entire list of Best New York Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Bell Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 81.69 55th 374 85.3%
2019 84.66 37th 369 90.0%
2021 78.07 37th 236 84.3%
2022 85.69 33rd 381 91.3%
2023 84.81 35th 388 91.0%
2024 85.85 29th 396 92.7%
See the entire list of Best New York Middle Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Bell Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 86.64 66th 810 91.9%
2019 80.26 117th 826 85.8%
2022 76.82 137th 914 85.0%
2023 90.20 55th 943 94.2%
2024 89.03 68th 953 92.9%
See the entire list of Best New York Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Bell Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 76.45 138th 763 81.9%
2019 67.39 232nd 716 67.6%
2021 85.79 62nd 614 89.9%
2022 84.26 93rd 748 87.6%
2023 90.16 59th 772 92.4%
2024 90.51 57th 778 92.7%
See the entire list of Best New York Middle Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: NY State Education Department, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Bell Academy Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: NY State Education Department

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 3)
50%

0%

0%

0%

50%

  

Reviews:
by a student
Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Open Quote Let me start off by saying that I graduated from this school in 2012, so things have changed and administration has changed. However, what does NOT change is my horrible three years of experience at this school. After graduating from Bell, I went to a specialized high school and I am now a college student at one of the top 15 nationally ranked universities in the US. However, Bell Academy always found a way to put me and many other bright Asian students into trouble that white kids were able to get away with. Therefore, I must advise parents to stay away from this school. The school teachers always favored white and hispanic students over asian students and the grades and awards were given to white and hispanic students despite better performance on exams by the asian students. I remember teachers threatening students with grades and always screaming at them. The teachers were incompetent as Russell whom I remember as the technology teacher did not even know how to properly use Microsoft word and powerpoint and always ordered the students whom she favored to do her job. The lunch time which served as a hiatus from the dreadful classroom was hampered by the most unprofessional and deplorable lunch room ladies whose job were to scream at the students. Overall, I felt like I was in a jail, always supervised, and was under the supervision of the most incompetent and authoritative teachers. My time at Bell only degraded by learning experience. The people, commenting that this school was like a family, are students who were either white or students whose parent had a good relationship with the administrators, always helping out at school. I do NOT recommend this school and the administration that I was under moved to Veritas Academy, a high school in Flushing. DO NOT send your child there either. Close Quote


by a parent
Thursday, August 24, 2017

Open Quote Bell academy is a very excellent school where student, each one of them received a good education and can thrive in their school live.
Starting from principal, assistant principal, and all teachers and support staff, they are very wonderful at what they doing. I'm very fortunate that my two kids can go there and got the foundation that they needed it for H.S. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Bell Academy

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2008 58 7 75 46 1 n/a n/a 0 187
2009 107 14 110 64 2 n/a n/a 0 297
2010 119 13 117 63 1 n/a n/a 0 313
2011 122 13 102 67 1 0 0 0 305
2012 127 19 112 78 0 1 0 0 337
2013 158 17 111 85 0 0 0 0 371
2014 149 17 122 78 0 0 0 0 366
2015 152 13 116 88 0 0 1 0 370
2016 125 15 125 100 0 0 2 0 367
2017 114 18 122 109 0 2 3 0 368
2018 117 19 113 116 0 3 6 0 374
2019 113 14 133 96 0 1 7 0 364
2020 115 9 140 88 0 1 9 0 362
2021 94 11 141 95 0 0 11 0 352
2022 88 16 147 96 0 0 10 0 357
2023 86 17 143 93 0 1 8 0 348
2024 91 19 154 87 0 1 8 0 360

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Bell Academy

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2008 187 13.0 14.4 54
2009 297 16.0 18.6 49.5
2010 313 15.9 19.5 n/a
2011 305 19.0 16.0 49.5
2012 337 20.0 16.8 51.3
2013 371 23.2 15.9 51.2
2014 366 22.9 15.9 48.4
2015 370 23.0 16.0 45.4
2016 367 23.0 15.9 49.9
2017 368 23.7 15.4 53
2018 374 26.9 13.8 48.4
2019 364 23.0 15.8 41.8
2020 362 25.0 14.4 46.4
2021 352 23.1 15.2 48.6
2022 357 24.8 14.3 49.3
2023 348 26.0 13.3 44.3
2024 360 27.0 13.3 42.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Bell Academy

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2008 187 13.0 14.4 54
2009 297 16.0 18.6 49.5
2010 313 15.9 19.5 n/a
2011 305 19.0 16.0 49.5
2012 337 20.0 16.8 51.3
2013 371 23.2 15.9 51.2
2014 366 22.9 15.9 48.4
2015 370 23.0 16.0 45.4
2016 367 23.0 15.9 49.9
2017 368 23.7 15.4 53
2018 374 26.9 13.8 48.4
2019 364 23.0 15.8 41.8
2020 362 25.0 14.4 46.4
2021 352 23.1 15.2 48.6
2022 357 24.8 14.3 49.3
2023 348 26.0 13.3 44.3
2024 360 27.0 13.3 42.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Immunization Rates

Bell Academy

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Compare
YearCompletely Immunized
201599.2%

Data source: New York State Department of Health
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Bell Academy

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $433 (2.8%) $14,964 (97.2%) $15,397
2020 $344 (2.4%) $14,184 (97.6%) $14,528
2021 $266 (1.7%) $14,993 (98.3%) $15,259
2022 $1,429 (8.5%) $15,294 (91.5%) $16,723
2023 $911 (5.2%) $16,767 (94.8%) $17,678

Data source: New York Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Bell Academy

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 130th of 1439 Middle schoolsRanks 52nd of 1500 Middle schools
 5.6%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (Bell Academy)8081.4
 1.4%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (New York City Geographic District #25)6159.3
 1.7%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (New York)4745.8
 1.2%
6th Grade Math (Bell Academy)7485.9
 11.9%
   6th Grade Math (New York City Geographic District #25)6362
 1%
   6th Grade Math (New York)4748.1
 1.1%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Bell Academy)6686.6
 20.6%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (New York City Geographic District #25)5562.4
 7.4%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (New York)4048
 8%
7th Grade Math (Bell Academy)6087.4
 27.4%
   7th Grade Math (New York City Geographic District #25)6167.2
 6.2%
   7th Grade Math (New York)4451.9
 7.9%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Bell Academy)7983.8
 4.8%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (New York City Geographic District #25)6272
 10%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (New York)4855.2
 7.2%
End of Course Common Core Algebra I (Bell Academy)97.593.2
 4.3%
   End of Course Common Core Algebra I (New York City Geographic District #25)71.467.1
 4.3%
   End of Course Common Core Algebra I (New York)71.164.6
 6.5%
End of Course Living Environment (Bell Academy)91.584.3
 7.2%
   End of Course Living Environment (New York City Geographic District #25)70.867.3
 3.6%
   End of Course Living Environment (New York)73.265.7
 7.5%
End of Course U.S. History and Government (Bell Academy)86.678.3
 8.3%
   End of Course U.S. History and Government (New York City Geographic District #25)76.781.1
 4.3%
   End of Course U.S. History and Government (New York)76.979.7
 2.8%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students364348
 4.4%
African American1417
 21.4%
American Indian00
Asian133143
 7.5%
Hispanic9693
 3.1%
Pacific Islander11
White11386
 23.9%
Two or More Races78
 14.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients41.8%44.3%
 2.5%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Bell Academy

Students at Bell Academy are 43% Asian, 25% White, 24% Hispanic, 5% African American, 2% Two or more races.

In the 2023-24 school year, 360 students attended Bell Academy.

Yes! Bell Academy is one of the best middle schools in the state. It ranks 44th of 1504 New York middle schools.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, the WNYC and the New York State Department of Health and the NY State Education Department.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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