Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The)

Summary:

Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The) is an elementary school in Brooklyn, New York, serving students from kindergarten to 5th grade. With a diverse student population and a focus on supporting high-poverty and specialized learners, the school faces unique challenges in academic performance.

Despite its relatively low student-teacher ratio and higher-than-average per-student spending, Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The) has consistently ranked in the lower half of New York elementary schools on state assessments, with proficiency rates in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math ranging from around 30% to 50% in recent years. However, the school has shown strengths in supporting specific student subgroups, such as English Language Learners and Special Education students, where it has ranked in the top half of New York elementary schools. Nearby schools, such as Ps 102 Bayview (The) and Ralph A Fabrizio School, have significantly higher academic performance and statewide rankings, suggesting opportunities for Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The) to learn from their successful practices.

Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The) serves a high-poverty student population, with over 90% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, significantly higher than the New York City Geographic District #20 and state averages. This socioeconomic challenge, combined with the school's diverse student body, may contribute to the lower academic performance. However, the school's commitment to supporting its specialized learners and its relatively low student-teacher ratio suggest that there may be opportunities to improve overall student outcomes and better meet the needs of its unique community.


Detail:

Public K-5

 330 59th St
       Brooklyn, NY  11220


(718) 439-5962

District: New York City Geographic District #20

SchoolDigger Rank:
1284th of 2,439 New York Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $26,804 Help


Students who attend Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The) usually attend:

Middle:    Junior High School 220 John J Pershing
High:    Fort Hamilton High School

Student/teacher ratio:  8.2 Help
Number of students:  630

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
72.1%
Asian:
17.6%
White:
8.9%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  94.3% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The) ranks worse than 52.6% of elementary schools in New York. It also ranks 28th among 31 ranked elementary schools in the New York City Geographic District #20. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 45.86. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (72.1%), Asian (17.6%), White (8.9%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 94.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The) is 8.2, which is the 2nd best among 31 elementary schools in the New York City Geographic District #20. (See more...)
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Compare Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The) employs 76.2 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The) is $26,804, which is the 2nd highest among 31 elementary schools in the New York City Geographic District #20.
Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The):

SchoolDigger ranks Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The) 1284th of 2439 New York public elementary schools. (See Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The) in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Homeless students:
Female students:
Male students:
Asian students:
Hispanic students:


New York City Geographic District #20:

SchoolDigger ranks New York City Geographic District #20 226th of 866 New York school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The)

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Rank History for all students at Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The)

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2008 18.50 1941st 2227 12.8%
2009 24.37 1910th 2257 15.4%
2010 12.55 2081st 2263 8.0%
2011 16.51 2008th 2286 12.2%
2012 18.37 1991st 2320 14.2%
2013 18.41 2012th 2325 13.5%
2014 25.80 1834th 2345 21.8%
2015 23.01 1864th 2352 20.7%
2016 18.75 2026th 2366 14.4%
2017 19.37 2020th 2386 15.3%
2018 31.53 1710th 2395 28.6%
2019 37.01 1514th 2413 37.3%
2021 24.49 1765th 2201 19.8%
2022 34.24 1650th 2434 32.2%
2023 45.86 1284th 2439 47.4%
See the entire list of New York Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The)

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 60.03 242nd 938 74.2%
2019 54.26 275th 860 68.0%
2021 45.63 222nd 454 51.1%
2022 64.67 222nd 1027 78.4%
2023 55.57 296th 1001 70.4%
See the entire list of Best New York Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The)

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 52.16 708th 1941 63.5%
2019 62.43 403rd 1859 78.3%
2022 45.82 920th 2031 54.7%
2023 54.89 649th 2016 67.8%
See the entire list of Best New York Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The)

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 41.43 1162nd 2045 43.2%
2019 47.74 949th 2032 53.3%
2022 43.53 1109th 2099 47.2%
2023 63.83 578th 2041 71.7%
See the entire list of Best New York Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Homeless students at Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The)

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 52.27 285th 730 61.0%
2019 61.61 144th 570 74.7%
2021 26.89 58th 70 17.1%
2022 54.33 230th 622 63.0%
2023 63.10 181st 637 71.6%
See the entire list of Best New York Elementary Schools for Homeless Students!

Rank History for Female students at Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The)

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 30.13 1753rd 2338 25.0%
2019 35.74 1539th 2357 34.7%
2021 28.98 1476th 1955 24.5%
2022 30.17 1748th 2401 27.2%
2023 42.77 1360th 2403 43.4%
See the entire list of Best New York Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The)

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 34.70 1602nd 2340 31.5%
2019 37.97 1461st 2358 38.0%
2021 19.84 1674th 1961 14.6%
2022 39.83 1464th 2400 39.0%
2023 49.28 1169th 2400 51.3%
See the entire list of Best New York Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The)

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 46.92 389th 601 35.3%
2019 56.27 280th 548 48.9%
2022 48.43 400th 671 40.4%
2023 55.19 302nd 605 50.1%
See the entire list of Best New York Elementary Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The)

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 32.61 1002nd 1392 28.0%
2019 36.90 820th 1315 37.6%
2021 24.51 677th 818 17.2%
2022 31.63 1097th 1503 27.0%
2023 40.49 849th 1429 40.6%
See the entire list of Best New York Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The)

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 34.36 1014th 1408 28.0%
See the entire list of Best New York Elementary 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.

Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The) Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: NY State Education Department

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Open Quote My daughter's will be entering as 2nd and 3rd graders this year. Both are reading past grade level and are past grade level in Math. The teachers we've had thus far have been amazing. The school community is better than I could ever have imagined and the entire staff works tirelessly to include families in their children's education. Not only do our children benefit by their hard work, but we do! I love PS503!! Close Quote



Enrollment information for Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The)

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2007 34 12 102 611 4 n/a n/a 0 763
2008 27 11 109 621 0 n/a n/a 0 768
2009 26 11 125 644 0 n/a n/a 0 806
2010 28 7 168 641 0 n/a n/a 0 844
2011 24 8 177 682 0 0 0 0 891
2012 29 9 166 738 1 0 1 0 944
2013 32 10 182 761 2 0 3 0 990
2014 36 9 174 804 2 0 3 0 1028
2015 35 9 193 824 2 0 2 0 1065
2016 51 16 212 845 2 0 3 0 1129
2017 58 10 205 817 1 0 3 0 1094
2018 52 6 224 794 2 0 3 0 1081
2019 46 6 200 738 0 1 1 0 992
2020 51 5 185 699 1 1 3 0 945
2021 45 3 169 635 1 1 3 0 857
2022 46 4 138 547 2 1 4 0 742
2023 56 3 111 454 1 0 5 0 630

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 Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The)

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2007 763 59.0 12.9 n/a
2008 768 66.0 11.6 0
2009 806 75.0 10.7 91.6
2010 844 78.0 10.8 n/a
2011 891 82.0 10.8 96.5
2012 944 80.5 11.7 95.8
2013 990 92.3 10.7 95.6
2014 1028 86.0 11.9 95.9
2015 1065 84.0 12.6 96.4
2016 1129 100.0 11.2 95
2017 1094 98.1 11.1 96.2
2018 1081 94.0 11.4 96.2
2019 992 94.0 10.5 94.4
2020 945 83.0 11.3 93.7
2021 857 78.0 10.9 94.9
2022 742 82.0 9.0 92.2
2023 630 76.2 8.2 94.3

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 Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The)

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2007 763 59.0 12.9 n/a
2008 768 66.0 11.6 0
2009 806 75.0 10.7 91.6
2010 844 78.0 10.8 n/a
2011 891 82.0 10.8 96.5
2012 944 80.5 11.7 95.8
2013 990 92.3 10.7 95.6
2014 1028 86.0 11.9 95.9
2015 1065 84.0 12.6 96.4
2016 1129 100.0 11.2 95
2017 1094 98.1 11.1 96.2
2018 1081 94.0 11.4 96.2
2019 992 94.0 10.5 94.4
2020 945 83.0 11.3 93.7
2021 857 78.0 10.9 94.9
2022 742 82.0 9.0 92.2
2023 630 76.2 8.2 94.3

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

Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The)

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Compare
YearCompletely Immunized
201599.4%

Data source: New York State Department of Health
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The)

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,587 (8.5%) $17,193 (91.5%) $18,780
2020 $1,334 (7.0%) $17,684 (93.0%) $19,019
2021 $1,977 (9.8%) $18,186 (90.2%) $20,163
2022 $3,947 (15.8%) $21,111 (84.2%) $25,058
2023 $3,331 (12.4%) $23,472 (87.6%) $26,804

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The)

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 1514th of 2413 Elementary schoolsRanks 1284th of 2439 Elementary schools
 10.1%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The))4350
 7%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (New York City Geographic District #20)6357.9
 5.1%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (New York)5244.9
 7.1%
3rd Grade Math (Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The))5763
 6%
   3rd Grade Math (New York City Geographic District #20)6868.9
 0.8%
   3rd Grade Math (New York)5453.7
 0.3%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The))4846.6
 1.4%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (New York City Geographic District #20)6065.5
 5.5%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (New York)4848.8
 0.8%
4th Grade Math (Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The))4646.2
 0.2%
   4th Grade Math (New York City Geographic District #20)6869.3
 1.3%
   4th Grade Math (New York)5053.9
 3.8%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The))1843.8
 25.8%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (New York City Geographic District #20)5063.8
 13.8%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (New York)3845.1
 7.1%
5th Grade Math (Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The))3031.8
 1.8%
   5th Grade Math (New York City Geographic District #20)6467.7
 3.7%
   5th Grade Math (New York)4649.7
 3.7%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students992630
 36.5%
African American63
 50%
American Indian01
Asian200111
 44.5%
Hispanic738454
 38.5%
Pacific Islander10
 100%
White4656
 21.7%
Two or More Races15
 400%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients94.4%94.3%
 0.1%


Schools Near Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The)









Frequently Asked Questions about Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The)

In the 2022-23 school year, 630 students attended Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The).

Students who attend Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The) usually go on to attend:

Middle : Junior High School 220 John J Pershing
High : Fort Hamilton High School

Students at Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The) are 72% Hispanic, 18% Asian, 9% White.

Ps 503 School Of Discovery (The) ranks 1284th of 2439 New York elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.


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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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