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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

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 metrics
Student Progress6.6Above Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data2
Annual Change-0.67 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2021
TrendStable
Academics9.6Exceptional30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency90%
Reading/ELA Proficiency90%
Math vs. State Avg+36.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+29.1 pts
Overall Proficiency90%
Expected (poverty-adj.)49%
vs. Expected+40.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile94th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment8.6Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio10.9:1

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%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

78%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NY NYSED (2020-21)

Math Proficiency 93.0%
School
State
48.2%
ELA Proficiency 89.0%
School
State
54.3%

Based on 8 test records from NY state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
96%
ELA
88%
2021*
Math
92%
ELA
89.3%

* 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.

Overall Score
7.9/10
86th percentile in NY
Academic
9.6/10
9.6/10
Growth
6.6/10
Above average
Environment
8.6/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
78%
Teaching Staff
11:1 student-teacher ratio
41 teachers

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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
88 Very Walkable
Transit Score
98 Rider’s Paradise
Bike Score
72 Very Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR. County-level only.

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
Data Year
2023–2024

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 methodology

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