Ps 253

Summary:

PS 253 is an exceptional elementary school located in Brooklyn, New York, serving 875 students in grades K-5. As part of the New York City Geographic District #21, PS 253 has consistently ranked among the top elementary schools in the state, with a current statewide ranking of 430 out of 2,445 schools and a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

PS 253's academic performance is truly remarkable, consistently outperforming both the district and state averages in standardized test scores across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, the school's proficiency rates in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math were significantly higher than the district and state averages, with 3rd-grade ELA at 66.43% (vs. 41.54% district, 42.6% state), 4th-grade ELA at 76.03% (vs. 49.2% district, 47.05% state), and 5th-grade Math at 66.39% (vs. 51.76% district, 48.93% state). This strong performance extends across various student subgroups, including female students, male students, Asian students, Hispanic students, white students, English Language Learners, Special Education students, and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds.

Interestingly, while PS 253 outperforms the district and state averages, some of the nearby schools within the same district, such as PS 216 Arturo Toscanini and PS 90 Edna Cohen School, have lower academic performance and rankings compared to PS 253. This suggests that PS 253 may have unique practices or resources that contribute to its exceptional success, which could serve as a model for other schools in the region.


Detail:

Public, Magnet K-5

 601 Oceanview Ave
       Brooklyn, NY  11235-6399


(718) 332-3331

District: New York City Geographic District #21

SchoolDigger Rank:
430th of 2,445 New York Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $17,696 Help


Students who attend Ps 253 usually attend:

High:    Abraham Lincoln High School

Student/teacher ratio:  14.5 Help
Number of students:  913

Racial breakdown:

White:
37.9%
Asian:
30.7%
Hispanic:
27.5%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  90.5% Help


 See top rated New York elementary schools

 Compare Ps 253 to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Ps 253 ranks better than 82.4% of elementary schools in New York. It also ranks 2nd among 22 ranked elementary schools in the New York City Geographic District #21. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 79.8. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Student population at Ps 253 is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (37.9%), Asian (30.7%), Hispanic (27.5%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 90.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Ps 253 is 14.5. 16 elementary schools in the New York City Geographic District #21 have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Ps 253 employs 62.5 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Ps 253 is $17,696. 18 elementary schools in the New York City Geographic District #21 spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Ps 253:

SchoolDigger ranks Ps 253 430th of 2445 New York public elementary schools. (See Ps 253 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:
White students:


New York City Geographic District #21:

SchoolDigger ranks New York City Geographic District #21 537th of 865 New York school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Ps 253.

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Rank History for Ps 253

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Ps 253

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 21.87 1858th 2206 15.8%
2007 24.89 1785th 2219 19.6%
2008 29.33 1767th 2227 20.7%
2009 48.50 1438th 2257 36.3%
2010 53.36 1205th 2263 46.8%
2011 54.54 1158th 2286 49.3%
2012 67.09 800th 2320 65.5%
2013 61.35 822nd 2325 64.6%
2014 64.30 787th 2345 66.4%
2015 59.77 903rd 2352 61.6%
2016 63.22 818th 2366 65.4%
2017 72.86 579th 2386 75.7%
2018 86.29 242nd 2395 89.9%
2019 94.45 94th 2413 96.1%
2021 88.57 156th 2201 92.9%
2022 87.48 254th 2434 89.6%
2023 84.39 352nd 2439 85.6%
2024 79.80 430th 2445 82.4%
See the entire list of New York Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Ps 253

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 82.11 65th 938 93.1%
2019 94.49 15th 860 98.3%
2022 87.52 64th 1027 93.8%
2023 90.51 36th 1001 96.4%
2024 84.32 57th 1066 94.7%
See the entire list of Best New York Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Ps 253

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 88.76 96th 1941 95.1%
2019 98.58 33rd 1859 98.2%
2022 94.68 47th 2031 97.7%
2023 83.11 193rd 2016 90.4%
2024 77.29 289th 2110 86.3%
See the entire list of Best New York Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Ps 253

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 90.53 100th 2045 95.1%
2019 97.00 50th 2032 97.5%
2022 93.16 86th 2099 95.9%
2023 89.51 157th 2041 92.3%
2024 85.03 197th 2078 90.5%
See the entire list of Best New York Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Homeless students at Ps 253

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 96.54 22nd 730 97.0%
2019 95.36 12th 570 97.9%
2022 86.17 48th 622 92.3%
2023 80.27 80th 637 87.4%
2024 93.42 36th 766 95.3%
See the entire list of Best New York Elementary Schools for Homeless Students!

Rank History for Female students at Ps 253

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 85.23 239th 2338 89.8%
2019 91.59 132nd 2357 94.4%
2022 85.97 272nd 2401 88.7%
2023 83.26 354th 2403 85.3%
2024 82.17 349th 2413 85.5%
See the entire list of Best New York Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Ps 253

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 85.51 225th 2340 90.4%
2019 95.08 72nd 2358 96.9%
2022 87.31 227th 2400 90.5%
2023 84.07 316th 2400 86.8%
2024 75.77 484th 2411 79.9%
See the entire list of Best New York Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Ps 253

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 70.36 166th 601 72.4%
2019 83.00 56th 548 89.8%
2022 72.06 178th 671 73.5%
2023 72.71 157th 605 74.0%
2024 61.30 269th 662 59.4%
See the entire list of Best New York Elementary Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Ps 253

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 84.86 131st 1392 90.6%
2019 90.82 78th 1315 94.1%
2022 86.05 126th 1503 91.6%
2023 79.97 187th 1429 86.9%
2024 72.90 293rd 1531 80.9%
See the entire list of Best New York Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Ps 253

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 85.53 114th 1399 91.9%
2023 83.95 167th 1337 87.5%
2024 69.52 376th 1392 73.0%
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 253 Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: NY State Education Department

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 4)
0%

100%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Sunday, February 4, 2018

Open Quote My child is in Kindergarden at this school. I would say that the gem of this school is Ms Mastropierro. She is an AMAZING teacher, so experienced, caring and kind. The atmosphere that she creates in class makes the children love school and thrive. The parent-teacher coordinator Ms Gina is very approachable and friendly. The school is clean and it seems like the staff is kind, open, and friendly (with the exception of security guards who are often very rude) However, the reading requirements that are pushed and the amount of testing done in Kindergarden is INAPPROPRIATE for children of this age group. The constant testing creates unnecessary amount of stress for five year old children, especially for the English language learners that make up about 1/3 of our class. I also feel that not enough time is dedicated to the arts. Otherwise, its a very nice neighborhood school. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Ps 253

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1989 279 46 247 312 2 n/a n/a 0 886
1990 266 43 215 259 0 n/a n/a 0 783
1991 342 38 201 278 0 n/a n/a 0 859
1992 311 42 217 265 6 n/a n/a 0 841
1993 287 38 227 272 5 n/a n/a 0 829
1994 280 35 230 280 14 n/a n/a 0 839
1995 277 21 240 327 1 n/a n/a 0 866
1996 277 21 240 327 1 n/a n/a 0 866
1997 242 22 225 333 4 n/a n/a 0 826
1998 227 27 244 352 6 n/a n/a 0 856
1999 199 24 280 385 1 n/a n/a 0 889
2000 134 19 258 361 0 n/a n/a 0 772
2001 121 21 273 341 2 n/a n/a 0 758
2002 90 19 231 353 3 n/a n/a 0 696
2003 90 19 231 353 3 n/a n/a 0 696
2004 70 14 191 324 3 n/a n/a 0 602
2005 73 13 209 324 3 n/a n/a 0 622
2006 64 13 208 309 4 n/a n/a 0 598
2007 50 7 219 305 0 n/a n/a 0 581
2008 56 4 211 295 0 n/a n/a 0 566
2009 72 4 224 301 2 n/a n/a 0 603
2010 107 4 246 304 2 n/a n/a 0 663
2011 111 2 261 327 2 0 0 0 703
2012 108 8 279 332 1 8 1 0 737
2013 101 6 276 345 1 15 8 0 752
2014 131 6 301 351 3 0 9 0 801
2015 156 4 337 360 4 0 6 0 867
2016 168 3 332 356 6 0 5 0 870
2017 185 3 336 351 6 12 5 0 898
2018 214 2 339 336 8 9 4 0 912
2019 235 4 328 347 9 4 6 0 933
2020 240 6 344 334 9 3 5 0 941
2021 216 6 304 318 7 4 5 0 860
2022 214 7 273 296 7 3 4 0 804
2023 300 10 276 268 6 3 12 0 875
2024 346 8 280 251 8 2 18 0 913

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 253

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 886 44.9 19.7 n/a
1990 783 40.9 19.1 n/a
1991 859 43.9 19.5 n/a
1992 841 43.9 19.1 n/a
1993 829 47.1 17.6 n/a
1994 839 45.1 18.6 n/a
1995 866 47.7 18.2 n/a
1996 866 47.7 18.2 n/a
1997 826 49.0 16.9 88.4
1998 856 54.8 15.6 83.4
1999 889 61.2 14.5 86.7
2000 772 61.8 12.5 86.5
2001 758 61.4 12.3 92
2002 696 n/a n/a n/a
2003 696 n/a n/a n/a
2004 602 n/a n/a n/a
2005 622 n/a n/a 0
2006 598 47.0 12.7 95
2007 581 48.0 12.1 93.5
2008 566 49.3 11.5 89.8
2009 603 49.8 12.1 90
2010 663 50.1 13.2 n/a
2011 703 48.3 14.5 90.9
2012 737 52.0 14.1 91.2
2013 752 58.0 12.9 94.5
2014 801 55.0 14.5 95.5
2015 867 60.0 14.4 70.6
2016 870 67.0 12.9 69.8
2017 898 64.8 13.8 66.5
2018 912 67.0 13.6 83.8
2019 933 68.0 13.7 79.4
2020 941 63.0 14.9 82.4
2021 860 64.2 13.3 84.8
2022 804 62.0 12.9 80.5
2023 875 62.0 14.1 83.8
2024 913 62.5 14.5 90.5

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 253

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 886 44.9 19.7 n/a
1990 783 40.9 19.1 n/a
1991 859 43.9 19.5 n/a
1992 841 43.9 19.1 n/a
1993 829 47.1 17.6 n/a
1994 839 45.1 18.6 n/a
1995 866 47.7 18.2 n/a
1996 866 47.7 18.2 n/a
1997 826 49.0 16.9 88.4
1998 856 54.8 15.6 83.4
1999 889 61.2 14.5 86.7
2000 772 61.8 12.5 86.5
2001 758 61.4 12.3 92
2002 696 n/a n/a n/a
2003 696 n/a n/a n/a
2004 602 n/a n/a n/a
2005 622 n/a n/a 0
2006 598 47.0 12.7 95
2007 581 48.0 12.1 93.5
2008 566 49.3 11.5 89.8
2009 603 49.8 12.1 90
2010 663 50.1 13.2 n/a
2011 703 48.3 14.5 90.9
2012 737 52.0 14.1 91.2
2013 752 58.0 12.9 94.5
2014 801 55.0 14.5 95.5
2015 867 60.0 14.4 70.6
2016 870 67.0 12.9 69.8
2017 898 64.8 13.8 66.5
2018 912 67.0 13.6 83.8
2019 933 68.0 13.7 79.4
2020 941 63.0 14.9 82.4
2021 860 64.2 13.3 84.8
2022 804 62.0 12.9 80.5
2023 875 62.0 14.1 83.8
2024 913 62.5 14.5 90.5

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.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Ps 253

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,154 (7.5%) $14,294 (92.5%) $15,448
2020 $1,089 (7.1%) $14,214 (92.9%) $15,303
2021 $1,456 (9.0%) $14,702 (91.0%) $16,158
2022 $2,690 (14.1%) $16,373 (85.9%) $19,063
2023 $1,816 (10.3%) $15,880 (89.7%) $17,696

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Ps 253

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 94th of 2413 Elementary schoolsRanks 352nd of 2439 Elementary schools
 10.5%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Ps 253)8984.6
 4.4%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (New York City Geographic District #21)5546.6
 8.4%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (New York)5244.9
 7.1%
3rd Grade Math (Ps 253)9794.7
 2.3%
   3rd Grade Math (New York City Geographic District #21)6056.7
 3.3%
   3rd Grade Math (New York)5453.7
 0.3%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Ps 253)8160
 21%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (New York City Geographic District #21)5450.7
 3.3%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (New York)4848.8
 0.8%
4th Grade Math (Ps 253)9380.7
 12.4%
   4th Grade Math (New York City Geographic District #21)5655.9
 0.1%
   4th Grade Math (New York)5053.9
 3.8%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Ps 253)5649.3
 6.7%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (New York City Geographic District #21)4451.5
 7.5%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (New York)3845.1
 7.1%
5th Grade Math (Ps 253)8582.7
 2.3%
   5th Grade Math (New York City Geographic District #21)5455.6
 1.5%
   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 Students933875
 6.2%
African American410
 150%
American Indian96
 33.3%
Asian328276
 15.9%
Hispanic347268
 22.8%
Pacific Islander43
 25%
White235300
 27.7%
Two or More Races612
 100%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients79.4%83.8%
 4.4%


Schools Near Ps 253









Frequently Asked Questions about Ps 253

In the 2023-24 school year, 913 students attended Ps 253.

Students who attend Ps 253 usually go on to attend:

High : Abraham Lincoln High School

Ps 253 ranks 430th of 2445 New York elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Students at Ps 253 are 38% White, 31% Asian, 27% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.


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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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