Needs Improvement
#4472 of 4,742 schools in NY
PS 256 Benjamin Banneker
Elementary School · New York City Geographic District #13 · Brooklyn, NY
A New York City Geographic District #13 elementary school where students score 19 points below what's typical for similar communities.
114 KOSCIUSKO ST, Brooklyn, NY 11216
- Math 18% proficient (2022)
- Reading 18% proficient (2022)
- 9.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at PS 256 Benjamin Banneker score 18% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 36%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NY average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 17 points since 2019, to 18% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 30% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 33% (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 33 test records from NY state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
95%
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 256 Benjamin Banneker 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 93Walker's Paradise
- Transit 91Rider’s Paradise
- Bike 89Very Bikeable
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Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$95,000
Median home value
$1,398,400
Median rent
$2,180/mo
College educated
55.8%
Homeownership
23.3%
Poverty rate
15.9%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 11216; 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 54 Samuel C BarnesEnrollment path unverified | 3.2 | PK–5 | 0.2 mi | 171 | Compare → |
| Brooklyn Charter School (the)Charter · enrollment unverified | 2.2 | K–5 | 0.3 mi | 199 | Compare → |
| PS 23 Carter G WoodsonEnrollment path unverified | 4.8 | PK–5 | 0.3 mi | 221 | Compare → |
| Academy of Arts and LettersEnrollment path unverified | 8.2 | PK–8 | 0.4 mi | 723 | 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.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
New York City Geographic District #13
- Schools in district
- 41
- Rank in district
- #35 of 40
- 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 256 Benjamin Banneker is listed in NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #13; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About PS 256 Benjamin Banneker
PS 256 Benjamin Banneker is a public elementary school in Brooklyn, NY, part of New York City Geographic District #13, serving approximately 199 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 9.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.5 out of 10 and ranks #4,472 of 4,742 schools in NY. State assessment records show 30% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 33% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about PS 256 Benjamin Banneker
What grades does PS 256 Benjamin Banneker serve?
PS 256 Benjamin Banneker serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend PS 256 Benjamin Banneker?
PS 256 Benjamin Banneker has an enrollment of approximately 199 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at PS 256 Benjamin Banneker?
The student-teacher ratio at PS 256 Benjamin Banneker is 9.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does PS 256 Benjamin Banneker rank in NY?
PS 256 Benjamin Banneker ranks #4,472 of 4,742 schools in NY.
What is PS 256 Benjamin Banneker's MySchoolScout rating?
PS 256 Benjamin Banneker has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.5 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 256 Benjamin Banneker?
Based on loaded state assessment records, PS 256 Benjamin Banneker has 30% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 33% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is PS 256 Benjamin Banneker a charter school?
No, PS 256 Benjamin Banneker is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is PS 256 Benjamin Banneker a Title I school?
No, PS 256 Benjamin Banneker is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for PS 256 Benjamin Banneker?
95.0% of students at PS 256 Benjamin Banneker 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
- 199
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 9.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 21
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Kings County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 79.9%
- Phone
- (718) 857-9820
- Area population (ZIP 11216)
- 59,913
- Area average commute
- 42 min
- Area median age
- 34.8
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 11216; 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
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- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
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