Very Good
#684 of 4,739 schools in NY
Top 14% in state
PS 172 Beacon School of Excellence
Elementary School · NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #15
825 4TH AVE, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Enrollment
445
Student-Teacher
10.9:1
Score
7.9
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
445
Student-Teacher
10.9:1
Score
7.9
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Brooklyn
#88 of 570
public schools
New York elementary schools
#442 of 2,549
In district
#13 of 49
NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #15
Equity
9.9 / 10
Exceptional
About PS 172 Beacon School of Excellence
PS 172 Beacon School of Excellence stands as one of New York's premier elementary schools, ranking 4th out of 4,758 schools statewide and earning an exceptional 9.4 out of 10 rating. This Brooklyn public school serves 445 students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade with an impressive student-teacher ratio of 10.9:1, supported by 41 full-time equivalent teachers. The school's academic excellence is evident in its outstanding test performance, with 93% of students achieving proficiency or above in mathematics and 89% demonstrating proficiency in English Language Arts and reading.
These remarkable results reflect the school's commitment to educational excellence and effective teaching practices that help students reach their full potential. The diverse learning environment benefits from small class sizes that allow for more individualized attention and support. Teachers can focus on each student's unique needs while maintaining high academic standards across all grade levels.
Located at 825 4th Avenue in Brooklyn's 11232 zip code, PS 172 serves a community where the median household income is $79,599 and 34% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher. The school sits within an urban neighborhood where median home values reach $837,000, reflecting the area's desirability among families seeking quality education in New York City.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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PS 172 Beacon School of Excellence — Students at PS 172 Beacon School of Excellence score 90% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 49%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
78%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores NY NYSED (2020-21)
Based on 8 test records from NY state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 6.6/10.
How PS 172 Beacon School of Excellence Compares
See how PS 172 Beacon School of Excellence performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 96% (2019) to 90% (2021). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 88% (2019) to 90% (2021).
Location
825 4TH AVE, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering PS 172 Beacon School of Excellence may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. MAGNET SCHOOL OF MATH SCIENCE & DESIGN TECHNOLOGY (rated 7.8/10, 0.8 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is PS 958 (rated 7.5/10, 0.3 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, SCHOOL OF CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION (THE) (rated 7.5/10, 1.0 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Brooklyn, see our Brooklyn schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 0.8 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| SUNSET PARK HIGH SCHOOL Brooklyn | 0.3 mi | 7.0 |
| PS 958 Brooklyn | 0.3 mi | 7.5 |
| PS 371 LILLIAN L RASHKIS Brooklyn | 0.4 mi | 7.1 |
| PS 24 Brooklyn | 0.4 mi | 5.7 |
| AL-NOOR SCHOOL Brooklyn | 0.5 mi | 7.1 |
| IS 136 CHARLES O DEWEY Brooklyn | 0.5 mi | 6.5 |
| SUNSET PARK PREP Brooklyn | 0.5 mi | 8.7 |
| HELLENIC CLASSICAL CHARTER SCHOOL Brooklyn | 0.6 mi | 5.3 |
| SUNSET PARK AVENUES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Brooklyn | 0.7 mi | 7.4 |
| PS 169 SUNSET PARK Brooklyn | 0.8 mi | 5.7 |
| PS 53 Brooklyn | 0.7 mi | 7.1 |
| PS 295 Brooklyn | 0.7 mi | 6.2 |
| JHS 88 PETER ROUGET Brooklyn | 0.7 mi | 7.9 |
| NEW VOICES SCHOOL OF ACADEMIC AND CREATIVE ARTS Brooklyn | 0.7 mi | 5.6 |
| PS 124 SILAS B DUTCHER Brooklyn | 0.8 mi | 5.5 |
| MAGNET SCHOOL OF MATH SCIENCE & DESIGN TECHNOLOGY Brooklyn | 0.8 mi | 7.8 |
| PS 1 BERGEN (THE) Brooklyn | 0.9 mi | 6.0 |
| SCHOOL OF CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION (THE) Brooklyn | 1.0 mi | 7.5 |
| BNOS MARGULIA VIZNITZ - DBA OF YESHIVA IMREI CHAIM Brooklyn | 1.0 mi | 6.0 |
| MESILAS BAIS YAAKOV Brooklyn | 0.8 mi | 6.0 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 11232 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$87,517
Median Home Value
$782,500
Median Rent
$1,972/mo
Population
26,681
College Educated
36.2%
Homeownership
24.2%
Avg Commute
42 min
Poverty Rate
17.1%
Median Age
36.7
Community Profile
The community surrounding PS 172 Beacon School of Excellence has a median household income of $87,517. It is an area where 36% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $782,500, with a median rent of $1,972/month. The area has a poverty rate of 17.1%. The average commute in the area is 42 minutes, which is above the national average. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| BANK STREET SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN New York, NY | 7.9 |
| BEDFORD PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Bronx, NY | 7.9 |
| BRETTON WOODS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hauppauge, NY | 7.9 |
| BROOKLYN BROWNSTONE SCHOOL Brooklyn, NY | 7.9 |
| CENTRAL BOULEVARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Bethpage, NY | 7.9 |
| CHIPPEWA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Holtsville, NY | 7.9 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PS 172 Beacon School of Excellence
What grades does PS 172 Beacon School of Excellence serve?
PS 172 Beacon School of Excellence serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend PS 172 Beacon School of Excellence?
PS 172 Beacon School of Excellence has an enrollment of approximately 445 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at PS 172 Beacon School of Excellence?
The student-teacher ratio at PS 172 Beacon School of Excellence is 10.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does PS 172 Beacon School of Excellence rank in NY?
PS 172 Beacon School of Excellence is ranked #684 out of 4,739 schools in NY.
What is PS 172 Beacon School of Excellence's MySchoolScout rating?
PS 172 Beacon School of Excellence has a composite rating of 7.9 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at PS 172 Beacon School of Excellence?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, PS 172 Beacon School of Excellence has 93.0% math proficiency and 89.0% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is PS 172 Beacon School of Excellence a charter school?
No, PS 172 Beacon School of Excellence is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is PS 172 Beacon School of Excellence a Title I school?
No, PS 172 Beacon School of Excellence is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for PS 172 Beacon School of Excellence?
78.0% of students at PS 172 Beacon School of Excellence qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Neighborhood Context
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 445
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 10.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 41
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 78.0%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Kings County
- Phone
- (718) 965-4200
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #15- District Enrollment
- 26,808
- Schools in District
- 49
- District Rank
- #13 of 49
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
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- Best Schools in New York, NY — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best States for Public Schools in 2026: A Complete Rankingdata insights
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- Student-Teacher Ratio by State: Complete 2026 Rankingsdata insights
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