CATHERINE & COUNT BASIE MIDDLE SCHOOL 72

133-25 GUY R BREWER BLVD
JAMAICA, NY 11434

www.ms72q.org

270 Students

Middle School 6th - 8th

School Overview

Catherine and Count Basie Middle School 72 (I.S. 72), located in Jamaica, Queens, is a public middle school serving students in grades 6 through 8. Named in honor of the legendary jazz pianist and bandleader William "Count" Basie, the school operates within the New York City Department of Education. It is situated on Guy R. Brewer Boulevard and serves as a key educational institution for the surrounding South Jamaica community, focusing on preparing students for the transition to high school through a structured academic curriculum.

The school is well-regarded for its emphasis on both academic achievement and the arts, reflecting the legacy of its namesake. Beyond core subjects like mathematics, science, and English Language Arts, I.S. 72 provides various extracurricular opportunities and programs designed to foster student engagement. The school community strives to create a supportive environment that encourages personal growth, discipline, and civic responsibility, aiming to equip its diverse student body with the skills necessary for future success in competitive high school programs and beyond.

270

Total Students

31.3

Full-Time Teachers

8.6

Student/Teacher Ratio

106.7%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for CATHERINE & COUNT BASIE MIDDLE SCHOOL 72
Demographic	Student Count
White	3
Hispanic	43
Black	181
Asian	15
Two or More	2
American Indian	23
Pacific Islander	3

Black
181 (67.0 %)
Hispanic
43 (15.9 %)
American Indian
23 (8.5 %)
Asian
15 (5.6 %)
White
3 (1.1 %)
Pacific Islander
3 (1.1 %)
Two or More
2 (0.7 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Middle School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #28
Phone:	(718)723-6200
Website:	http://www.ms72q.org
Grade Range:	6th - 8th
Total Students:	270
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	31.3
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	8.6
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	283
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	5

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 6 79

Grade 7 100

Grade 8 90

Ungraded 1