Excellent
#670 of 4,742 schools in NY
Top 14% in state
PS 397 Foster-laurie
Elementary School · NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #17
490 FENIMORE ST, Brooklyn, NY 11203
Enrollment
167
Student-Teacher
11.9:1
Score
8.0
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
167
Student-Teacher
11.9:1
Score
8.0
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
New York schools
#670 of 4,742
In Brooklyn
#67 of 570
public schools
In district
#4 of 49
NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #17
Academic growth
9.6 / 10
Excellent
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PS 397 Foster-laurie
Elementary School in Brooklyn · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Maurice Sendak Community School (the)
Brooklyn, NY. Compare side by side with PS 397 Foster-laurie before ruling this option in or out.
Darchai Menachem Inc
0.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About PS 397 Foster-laurie
PS 397 Foster-laurie is a public elementary school in Brooklyn, NY, part of NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #17. PS 397 Foster-laurie serves approximately 167 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio. PS 397 Foster-laurie has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 out of 10 and ranks #670 of 4,742 schools in NY.
Structured state assessment records for PS 397 Foster-laurie show 41% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
- This school 8.0 · Excellent
- District avg 5.6
- NY avg 5.9
What Parents Should Know
At 167 students, PS 397 Foster-laurie is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.
48% of students at PS 397 Foster-laurie were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
PS 397 Foster-laurie — Students at PS 397 Foster-laurie score 50% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 41%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
80.8%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores NY EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 34 test records from NY state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↓ DecliningAverage 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: 9.6/10.
How PS 397 Foster-laurie Compares
See how PS 397 Foster-laurie performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Location
490 FENIMORE ST, Brooklyn, NY 11203
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering PS 397 Foster-laurie may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. GAN ACADEMY (rated 6.9/10, 0.5 miles away), a more accessible option. Another option is PS 235 JANICE MARIE KNIGHT SCHOOL (rated 6.4/10, 0.4 miles away), a more accessible option. Additionally, PS 161 CROWN (THE) (rated 6.2/10, 0.5 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Brooklyn, see our Brooklyn schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 0.4 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| DARCHAI MENACHEM INC Brooklyn | 0.0 mi | 6.3 |
| HIGH SCHOOL FOR PUBLIC SERVICE-HEROES OF TOMORROW Brooklyn | 0.2 mi | 7.5 |
| SCHOOL FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (THE) Brooklyn | 0.2 mi | 6.8 |
| BROOKLYN INSTITUTE FOR LIBERAL ARTS Brooklyn | 0.2 mi | 7.3 |
| MARY BOBB LEARNING ACADEMY Brooklyn | 0.2 mi | — |
| ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC ACADEMY Brooklyn | 0.2 mi | 5.6 |
| MS 61 DR GLADSTONE H ATWELL Brooklyn | 0.4 mi | 5.4 |
| PARKSIDE PREPARATORY ACADEMY Brooklyn | 0.3 mi | 5.8 |
| PS 141 Brooklyn | 0.3 mi | 4.6 |
| EXPLORE CHARTER SCHOOL Brooklyn | 0.3 mi | 6.1 |
| BNOS CHOMESH Brooklyn | 0.5 mi | 6.1 |
| LEFFERTS GARDEN MONTESSORI Brooklyn | 0.4 mi | — |
| MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF LEFFERTS GARDEN II Brooklyn | 0.4 mi | — |
| PS 235 JANICE MARIE KNIGHT SCHOOL Brooklyn | 0.4 mi | 6.4 |
| PS 91 ALBANY AVENUE SCHOOL (THE) Brooklyn | 0.4 mi | 6.0 |
| GAN ACADEMY Brooklyn | 0.5 mi | 6.9 |
| PS 161 CROWN (THE) Brooklyn | 0.5 mi | 6.2 |
| SUCCESS ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL-CROWN HEIGHTS Brooklyn | 0.5 mi | 5.9 |
| BETH RIVKA HIGH SCHOOL Brooklyn | 0.5 mi | 5.3 |
| PS 92 ADRIAN HEGEMAN Brooklyn | 0.4 mi | 4.2 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 11203 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$68,028
Median Home Value
$677,700
Median Rent
$1,566/mo
Population
76,853
College Educated
25.9%
Homeownership
39.4%
Avg Commute
46 min
Poverty Rate
16%
Median Age
43.2
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| COLD SPRING EARLY LEARNING CENTER Stanfordville, NY | 8.0 |
| 47 AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE AND ENGLISH LOWER SCHOOL (THE) New York, NY | 8.1 |
| A FANTIS PAROCHIAL SCHOOL Brooklyn, NY | 8.1 |
| CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL New City, NY | 7.9 |
| FORT ANN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Fort Ann, NY | 7.9 |
| HARBOR COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Saint James, NY | 8.1 |
Compare PS 397 Foster-laurie with similar schools nearby
Side-by-side ratings, test scores, and demographics for the schools parents most often weigh against this one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PS 397 Foster-laurie
What grades does PS 397 Foster-laurie serve?
PS 397 Foster-laurie serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend PS 397 Foster-laurie?
PS 397 Foster-laurie has an enrollment of approximately 167 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at PS 397 Foster-laurie?
The student-teacher ratio at PS 397 Foster-laurie is 11.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does PS 397 Foster-laurie rank in NY?
PS 397 Foster-laurie ranks #670 of 4,742 schools in NY.
What is PS 397 Foster-laurie's MySchoolScout rating?
PS 397 Foster-laurie has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 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 397 Foster-laurie?
Based on loaded state assessment records, PS 397 Foster-laurie has 41% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is PS 397 Foster-laurie a charter school?
No, PS 397 Foster-laurie is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is PS 397 Foster-laurie a Title I school?
No, PS 397 Foster-laurie is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for PS 397 Foster-laurie?
80.8% of students at PS 397 Foster-laurie 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
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How does PS 397 Foster-laurie stack up?
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 167
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 14
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 80.8%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Kings County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 47.9%
- Phone
- (718) 774-5200
Resources & Links
District
NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #17- District Enrollment
- 17,805
- Schools in District
- 49
- District Rank
- #4 of 49
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