Living close to these Top NYC public elementary schools
Go Back To Previous PageIf you want to start and raise a family in New York City, the quality of education is probably at the forefront of your mind. So, what is the NYC
public school system like? To begin with, New York City’s public school system is operated by the New York City Department of Education.
NYC’s public school system is – by far – the largest in the United States, covering all five boroughs. For example, they have more than 1,800 public schools, teach more than 1.1 million students, and have an annual budget of almost $25 billion.
According to the New York Census Data, there are 7,056,860 total households in NYC; 65.7% are family households, and 34.4% are non-family households. We will highlight the top 10 public elementary schools in NYC.
In 2018, NYC spent $26,869 per student, its highest amount among previous school years.
Out of the 1.1 million students in the public education system, almost half, 488,000, are elementary school students.
Then, the NYC Department of Education was divided into 32 community school districts and smaller zones that determine which local school serves which area. A child is then assigned a school within a zone based on their home address.
However, a few districts don’t have zoned schools and are known as “choice districts,” where students in the area rank their preferred schools when applying. Many public schools also offer special programs such as gifted and talented education, English language learners’ education, and small learning communities.
Tips for finding a home near the best public elementary schools in New York
The NYC public school system has much to offer its students, but how can you ensure your child attends the best public school in New York City? Living near good schools is essential because a student’s school choice is based on their zone and district. We will provide you with tips on renting near good schools in NYC.
Apartment hunting can be stressful and time-consuming, especially if you have young children to care for. You must find the perfect space for you and your family while ensuring you live in the same zone as a highly rated American school.
NYC’s top 10 public elementary schools in NYC
If you’re still curious about the highly rated public schools in NYC, here are just 10 of the city’s top public elementary schools. We showcased various schools in all five boroughs.
1. Battery Park City School is one of the top public elementary schools in NYC
55 Battery Place, Manhattan, NY 10280
Battery Park City School is one of NYC’s top public elementary schools, serving Pre-K through 8th grade. The school opened in 2009 and is New York’s first green public school building. Students here perform above average on state tests and show above-average year-over-year academic improvement.
Battery Park City School serves its disadvantaged students well and offers special education through a modified form of integrated co-teaching. The school also has a strong science program, plenty of extra enrichment activities, and Spanish instruction starting in the 1st grade.
2. East Side Elementary School, P.S. 267
13 East 63rd Street, Manhattan, NY 10065
East Side Elementary School is located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and serves students in grades K-5. It opened in 2010 and is an eight-story
building with a large lunchroom, gym, modern classrooms, and a music room. Students perform above average on all the state tests and in year-over-year academic improvement.
They have 92% proficiency in math, higher than the state average of 50%, and 90% proficiency in English, higher than the state average of 46%. The school’s location allows children to explore the city’s museums, and class trips are frequent.
The New York Historical Society also helps teachers create lessons that help students learn about the city and its neighborhoods. East Side Elementary School is wheelchair-accessible and offers special education, with one integrated co-teaching class in every grade.
3. P.S. 40 Augustus Saint-Gaudens: one of the top public elementary schools in NYC
320 East 20th Street, Manhattan, NY 10003
P.S. 40 Augustus Saint-Gaudens is located in Gramercy, Manhattan, and is an essential part of the close-knit neighborhood. It is on 
the bottom three floors of a historic five-story building and serves Pre-K and grades K-5.
They offer integrated co-teaching classrooms for each grade where students with functional needs get mixed with general education students. Students at P.S. 40 perform at high levels.
4. P.S. 87 William Sherman
160 West 78th Street, Manhattan, NY 10024
P.S. 87 William Sherman is located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and serves Pre-K and K-5. The school is known for its passionate teachers,
active parents, and commitment to the arts. They also have a popular dual-language Spanish-English program, which allows students to become proficient in both languages.
P.S. 87 William Sherman offers exceptional education support, including SETSS (special education teacher support services) and ICT (integrated co-teaching) classes for every grade level. It also provides speech, occupational, physical, and counseling therapy.
5. P.S. 321 William Penn
180 7th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, 11215
William Penn is one of the best elementary schools in Brooklyn, located in Park Slope. The school serves grades K-5 and has a reputation for being one of the best schools in NYC. It teaches children to think deeply, learn independently, and take responsibility for their education.
William Penn has a demanding and fun atmosphere. It excels at challenging top students while supporting students who need extra help. There are two ICT classes per grade and two teachers, one of whom is trained in special education.
The school integrates children with support needs into regular classrooms, with extra support such as a full-time aide. They also have a mentor teacher with exceptional experience in special education available to help guide and support teachers.
6. P.S. 29 John M. Harrigan
425 Henry Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
John M. Harrigan is located in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, and serves Pre-K and K-5. It is one of the most popular schools in the area as it’s a progressive
school that rivals any private school. The school seeks to connect studies to children’s real lives and to include them in decisions, which means plenty of collaboration and brainstorming in the classroom.
Writing is also a large part of the school, and there is even a journalism club where 4th and 5th graders can write and publish a “PS29 Post.”
Parents are very active at PS29, helping run after-school clubs and programs, raising money to pay for kindergarten assistants, and even funding the post put out by the journalism club.
7. P.S. 41 Crocheron
214-43 35th Avenue, Queens, NY 11361
P.S. 41 Crocheron is located in Bayside, Queens, and serves grades K-5. The school is traditional and cozy and has a strong record of academic 
achievement. It is focused on academics and the emotional well-being of the students.
P.S. 41 emphasizes teaching students to write well but also has an annual science fair and exposure to the arts through ballroom dancing, musicals, and a chorus.
The school offered a class called “Horizon” for children with autism. These students can also attend regular classes for part of the day, accompanied by an aide.
8. P.S. 188 Kingsbury
218-12 Hartland Avenue, Queens, NY, 11364
P.S. 188 Kingsbury is in the quiet neighborhood of Oakland Gardens in Queens and serves Pre-K and K-5. It is one of the top public elementary 
schools in NYC, with high attendance, vital “As” on progress reports, and over 90% proficiency in math and reading tests.
The school has rigorous academic standards and a strong writing program focused on nonfiction. It also offers arts and athletics, with an art and music teacher and clubs for basketball, art, yearbook, and chorus.
9. P.S. 69 Journey Prep: the Bronx’s top public elementary schools in NYC
560 Thieriot Avenue, Bronx, NY 10473
Journey Prep is located in Clason Point, Bronx, and serves Pre-K and K-5. The Department of Education rated this school as “high impact,” meaning students here perform better than similar schools in the city. However, many students here are low-income, and more than two-thirds meet state standards for math and English.
The school also won an award for its environmental programs from the National Wildlife Federation. P.S. 69 has a well-equipped science facility and an “Outside World” where children can grow herbs and flowers, study soil and seeds, and conduct experiments. Journey Prep also has enrichment classes in journalism, computer programming, debate, and inventions.
10. P.S. 5 Huguenot: one of Staten Island’s top public elementary schools in NYC
348 Deisius Street, Staten Island, NY 10312
P.S. 5 Huguenot is located on the South Shore of Staten Island and serves grades K-5. The school is situated in its building and focuses on preparing
students for the next grade. Compared to other schools, P.S. 5 helps students improve their test scores, and the school performs well on test scores compared to other schools in NYC
Georges has been working in Wall Street for the last 16 years trading derivatives with hedge funds. He has been an active real estate investor for over a decade. Georges graduated from HEC Business School in Paris and holds a master in Finance from ESADE Barcelona.
