Average
#2122 of 4,742 schools in NY
Top 45% in state
PS 186 Castlewood
Elementary School · New York City Geographic District #26 · Bellerose, NY
A New York City Geographic District #26 elementary school where students score 10 points above what's typical for similar communities.
252-12 72ND AVE, Bellerose, NY 11426
- Math 66% proficient (2022)
- Reading 58% proficient (2022)
- 6.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at PS 186 Castlewood score 62% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 52%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NY average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 7 points since 2019, to 62% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 69% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 71% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 34 test records from NY state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
48.8%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where PS 186 Castlewood sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the New York map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 58Somewhat Walkable
- Transit 53Good Transit
- Bike 47Somewhat Bikeable
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Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$107,591
Median home value
$676,100
Median rent
$2,158/mo
College educated
43.8%
Homeownership
70.2%
Poverty rate
7.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 11426; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PS 224Enrollment path unverified | 5.1 | PK–8 | 0.0 mi | 456 | Compare → |
| Yeshiva Har TorahPrivate · tuition | 4.5private | PK–8 | 0.2 mi | 816 | Compare → |
| New York City Children's CenterEnrollment path unverified | Not rated | 2–11 | 0.4 mi | 12 | Compare → |
| PS 23 at Queens Children CenterEnrollment path unverified | 3.4 | K–12 | 0.4 mi | 343 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
New York City Geographic District #26
- Schools in district
- 34
- Rank in district
- #28 of 34
- District spending per student
- The source marked this value as not applicable.
- District child poverty rate
- The source release did not match this district identifier.
PS 186 Castlewood is listed in NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #26; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About PS 186 Castlewood
PS 186 Castlewood is a public elementary school in Bellerose, NY, part of New York City Geographic District #26, serving approximately 346 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 6.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.5 out of 10 and ranks #2,122 of 4,742 schools in NY. State assessment records show 69% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 71% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about PS 186 Castlewood
What grades does PS 186 Castlewood serve?
PS 186 Castlewood serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend PS 186 Castlewood?
PS 186 Castlewood has an enrollment of approximately 346 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at PS 186 Castlewood?
The student-teacher ratio at PS 186 Castlewood is 6.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does PS 186 Castlewood rank in NY?
PS 186 Castlewood ranks #2,122 of 4,742 schools in NY.
What is PS 186 Castlewood's MySchoolScout rating?
PS 186 Castlewood has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.5 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at PS 186 Castlewood?
Based on loaded state assessment records, PS 186 Castlewood has 69% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 71% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is PS 186 Castlewood a charter school?
No, PS 186 Castlewood is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is PS 186 Castlewood a Title I school?
No, PS 186 Castlewood is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for PS 186 Castlewood?
48.8% of students at PS 186 Castlewood qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 346
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 6.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 57
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Queens County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 32.9%
- Phone
- (718) 831-4021
- Area population (ZIP 11426)
- 19,638
- Area average commute
- 39 min
- Area median age
- 46.4
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 11426; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
Related reading
- Best Public Schools in New York 2026: Top Districts from NYC to the Suburbsbest schools
- 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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