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Below Average

#4281 of 4,739 schools in NY

PS 96

Elementary School · NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #27

130-01 ROCKAWAY BLVD, South Ozone Park, NY 11420

Enrollment

320

Student-Teacher

17.8:1

Score

4.3

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In South Ozone Park

#11 of 11

public schools

New York elementary schools

#2,244 of 2,549

In district

#60 of 63

NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #27

Equity

7.3 / 10

Strong

About PS 96

PS 96 is a regular public elementary school located in South Ozone Park, Queens County. Serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, PS 96 has an enrollment of 320 students and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 17.8:1 with 18 full-time equivalent teachers. The school's academic performance is reflected in its MySchoolScout rating of 4.6 out of 10 and a state ranking of #3145 out of 4758 schools in New York, placing it around the 34th percentile.

In terms of test scores, PS 96 shows that 55% of students are proficient or above in ELA/Reading and 58% in Math. PS 96 is situated within a large city setting, making it part of a vibrant urban community where students benefit from diverse cultural experiences and resources. Despite the current academic performance data indicating room for improvement, PS 96 remains committed to providing a supportive learning environment for its students.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress3.8Fair50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data2
Annual Change-5.25 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2021
TrendDeclining
Academics6.8Above Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency54.5%
Reading/ELA Proficiency54.5%
Math vs. State Avg+1 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-6.4 pts
Overall Proficiency55%
Expected (poverty-adj.)49%
vs. Expected+5.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile54th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment1.7Significantly Below Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio17.8:1

PS 96 — Students at PS 96 score 54% 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

79.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NY NYSED (2020-21)

Math Proficiency 57.5%
School
State
48.1%
ELA Proficiency 54.7%
School
State
57.0%

Based on 10 test records from NY state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2019
Math
67%
ELA
62%
2021*
Math
55.1%
ELA
52.9%

* 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: 3.8/10.

How PS 96 Compares

See how PS 96 performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
4.3/10
10th percentile in NY
Academic
6.8/10
6.8/10
Growth
3.8/10
Below average
Environment
1.7/10
Below average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
79%
Teaching Staff
18:1 student-teacher ratio
18 teachers

Location

130-01 ROCKAWAY BLVD, South Ozone Park, NY 11420

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering PS 96 may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. PS 50 TALFOURD LAWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 8.5/10, 1.4 miles away, in nearby Jamaica), which scores notably higher. Another option is PS 121 (rated 7.9/10, 0.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, PS 55 MAURE (rated 7.4/10, 1.4 miles away, in nearby Richmond Hill), which scores notably higher. For more schools in South Ozone Park, see our South Ozone Park schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.2 mi
School Distance Rating
AL-IHSAN ACADEMY South Ozone Park 0.0 mi 6.6
PS 155 South Ozone Park 0.3 mi 5.5
SUCCESS ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL-SOUTH JAMAICA Jamaica 0.4 mi 4.2
JHS 226 VIRGIL I GRISSON South Ozone Park 0.5 mi 6.7
HAWTREE CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL South Ozone Park 0.5 mi 6.2
EPIC HIGH SCHOOL-SOUTH South Ozone Park 0.5 mi 5.5
PS 124 OSMOND A CHURCH South Ozone Park 0.7 mi 5.4
QUEENS TRANSITION CENTER Jamaica 0.7 mi 7.2
PS 121 South Ozone Park 0.7 mi 7.9
PS 123 South Ozone Park 0.7 mi 6.2
PS 100 GLEN MORRIS South Ozone Park 0.8 mi 4.9
PS 160 WALTER FRANCIS BISHOP Jamaica 1.0 mi 6.2
OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP CATHOLIC ACADEMY South Ozone Park 0.9 mi 5.4
PS 223 LYNDON B JOHNSON Jamaica 0.9 mi 4.3
PS 45 CLARENCE WITHERSPOON South Ozone Park 1.0 mi 7.1
PS 50 TALFOURD LAWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Jamaica 1.4 mi 8.5
PS 161 ARTHUR ASHE SCHOOL Jamaica 1.2 mi 4.1
PS 55 MAURE Richmond Hill 1.4 mi 7.4
DAVID N DINKINS SCHOOL Jamaica 1.4 mi 7.4
PS 108 CAPTAIN VINCENT G FOWLER South Ozone Park 1.2 mi 6.6

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 11420 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$98,584

Median Home Value

$673,700

Median Rent

$2,032/mo

Population

50,060

College Educated

21.8%

Homeownership

71.7%

Avg Commute

46 min

Poverty Rate

10.8%

Median Age

41

Community Profile

The community surrounding PS 96 has a median household income of $98,584. It is a community where 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $673,700, with a median rent of $2,032/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.8%. The average commute in the area is 46 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
CENTRAL VALLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Central Valley, NY 4.3
DELAWARE COMMUNITY SCHOOL Albany, NY 4.3
EXPLORE EXCEED CHARTER SCHOOL Brooklyn, NY 4.3
FREDERICK CARDER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Corning, NY 4.3
HENRY J KALFAS MAGNET SCHOOL Niagara Falls, NY 4.3
NATIVE AMERICAN MAGNET Buffalo, NY 4.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about PS 96

What grades does PS 96 serve?

PS 96 serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend PS 96?

PS 96 has an enrollment of approximately 320 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at PS 96?

The student-teacher ratio at PS 96 is 17.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does PS 96 rank in NY?

PS 96 is ranked #4281 out of 4,739 schools in NY.

What is PS 96's MySchoolScout rating?

PS 96 has a composite rating of 4.3 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 96?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, PS 96 has 57.5% math proficiency and 54.7% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is PS 96 a charter school?

No, PS 96 is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is PS 96 a Title I school?

No, PS 96 is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for PS 96?

79.4% of students at PS 96 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 →

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
320
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
18
Free/Reduced Lunch
79.4%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Queens 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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