Large metallic letters on the building’s façade spell out “Booker T. Washington Junior High School,” though the New York City Department of Education designates it as MS 54, or Booker T. Washington Middle School.
This public middle school just south Morningside Park and Columbia University is a much sought-after learning institution for Upper West Side students. Enrolling a school population of nearly 900 sixth through eighth graders with a student-teacher ratio of 16-to-1, MS 54 teaches to Common Core standards but also offers a varied slate of enrichment programs.
The school aggressively embraces technology with two full-scale computer labs and innovative teaching methods that employ a variety of engaging technological resources. Foreign language options include Latin, French, Spanish and Mandarin, and there are a host of elective program in music and art. Extracurriculars at Booker T. Washington Middle School include Model United Nations and highly competitive teams in both boys and girls basketball, which help define the school’s expansive social educational reach.
Also indicative of MS 54’s determination to address the needs of its students is an on-site school health center, which functions on a 24-hour basis with licensed professionals providing vaccinations, vision and hearing screenings, physical examinations, care and treatment for acute and chronic conditions and mental health counseling, among other services.
The school honors its namesake with the breadth and depth of its institutional vision, making proud the memory of the educator, innovator and polymath, Booker T. Washington.
J.H.S. 54 - Booker T. Washington
Public Middle School
|
Grade 6-8
103 W 107th St,
New York, NY
New York City Geographic District No. 3
School Details
Head of School
Principal - Dr. Elana Elster
Student Teacher Ratio
14:1
Math Proficiency
74%
Reading Proficiency
82%
Niche Grade
A
A+
Source: Niche
Niche Grade Details
Academics
Reading Proficiency
82%
Math Proficiency
74%
Teachers
Student Teacher Ratio
14:1
Teachers
53
Full Time Teachers
53
Teachers in First or Second Year
18%
Clubs and Activities
Girls Athletic Participation
Very Low
Boys Athletic Participation
Very Low
GreatSchools Rating
Source: GreatSchools
GreatSchools Rating Details
Test Scores
Science
7%
State Average
20%
Math
5%
State Average
22%
Teachers and Staff
Students Per Counselor
276:1
Student Diversity
Female
52.1%
Male
47.9%
White
45.4%
Hispanic
22.2%
Asian or Pacific Islander
11.6%
Black
9.9%
Two or more races
9.7%
Native American
<1%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
<1%
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School Rankings
#61
Best Public MS in New York
#61
Best Public MS Teachers in New York
Specialty School Programs
Free/Reduced Lunch Offered
This School’s Reviews
Niche Reviews
5/22/2024
Well run school, due to it's principal. Homework is not overwhelming, enough to prepare kids for challenging high schools.
1/24/2022
I will be graduating from Booker T. at the end of 2022. I can say that my experience was pretty good. It's very white and the academics are pretty good. It is a lot of homework, and nearly everyone burns out. Be prepared for your sleep schedule to die forever. I have friends who went to bed before 9 every night in sixth grade and now go to bed around 4 simply because of the homework load. Choose French as a language because the teacher is the best. Still, it was a good school and I really have enjoyed my time here. I made some great friends and next to no enemies. The environment just feels nice. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what middle school you go to. They're all very similar and though there are minor differences in homework and whatnot, wherever you go, you'll get a decent education.
2/18/2018
Booker T. Washington is a good school in general. In 6th grade, it was average. One of my science teachers were really scary. 7th grade was the best, because of Ms. Orcher and Ms. Cea. Ms. Drouin was also a great teacher but her classes were boring to me. 8th grade (currently) was like under-meh. I am stuck with an extremely scary and harsh humanities teacher, meh math teacher, and nice science teacher.
GreatSchools Reviews
5/23/2025
I agree with other reviews, this school benefits from having a principal with strong character and leadership. Overall, it’s a great school. It might feel a bit larger than some other District 3 schools, but the structure helps students stay grounded. Students are mostly with their homeroom class th...
7/2/2023
Honestly I think this school is amazing due to principle strong character and dedication of the stuff. School is upfront about maintaining strong academics and discipline, if you don’t think it’s for your child there are plenty other schools in the district
4/26/2023
The Principal, Dr. Elser, should have been a business executive, like a CEO, because she behaves as if she's running a business, not a school. Dr. Elster can be very mean to both parents and children, especially minority. If she can't get her way with a child, she would opt to suspend the child, and...
8/19/2021
This is a great school so far for me, I really recommend it here! Teachers are amazing, so are the students, and there are tons of electives to choose from! There is a lot of homework, but once you get to the right time management, it's not too crazy. Overall, this is a great school.
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Map
About Manhattan Valley
List Price Range
$258K - $612K
Homes For Sale
1
Average Home Value
$1,045,258
Median Lot Size
1,742 Sq Ft
% Renters
81%
Household Income
$116,851
% of College Grads
59.2%
Median Age
42
Average House Size
1,787 Sq Ft
% Commercial Property
91.2%
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
Additional Schools in the Area
Public Schools shown may be Choice Schools
Choice Schools
Choice schools may not serve this home. Please check the school district website to see all schools serving this home.
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- 6th to 12th
- Public
- 6th to 12th
- Public
Parks in this Area
West 104th Street Garden
Frederick Douglass Playground
- Picnic Area
- Playground
- Multi-Purpose Field
Central Park 4 Mile Loop
Straus Park
- Trails
Booker T Washington Playground
- Baseball/Softball
- Basketball
- Soccer
Central Park
Julia Gabriel People's Garden
- Trails
Additional Neighborhoods in this Area
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Upper West Side
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Little Senegal
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East Harlem
Alive with NYC history, classic townhouses and developments coming to 125th Street
Central Harlem
Diverse, family-friendly NYC neighborhood steeped in Black history
Carnegie Hill
Quiet streets, Central Park adjacent and old-school local businesses