P.S. 044 Thomas C. Brown

Test scores at this school are well below district averages — ELA proficiency of 19.5% and math at 20.6% compare to district averages above 61%. The school earned an overall quality score of 0.8 out of 4, placing it among the lower-performing schools in Staten Island. Historical data shows some fluctuation: scores climbed from 2016-2019, dipped during pandemic remote learning, then partially recovered in 2022-2023 before settling back down. Grade 4 performs modestly better than grades 3 and 5, but no grade level exceeds 30% proficiency in either subject.

This is a story of two different realities. On the family side, parent satisfaction hits 95%, trust in teachers reaches 97%, and families report 100% strong relationships with school staff. Teachers themselves give 100% marks for instruction quality. However, only 73% of teachers report feeling safe — a striking gap from the district average of 95%. Chronic absenteeism is a serious concern at 44.6%, affecting students across all demographic groups. Discipline is minimal with just one suspension last year, but the combination of low attendance and teacher safety concerns suggests underlying instability in daily school experience.

The school enrollment of 599 reflects a predominantly Hispanic (49%) and Black (38%) student body, with the neighborhood's moderate poverty rate of 15.2% and high economic need index of 89.7% indicating substantial family hardship. A quarter of students have IEPs. The diversity index of 64% suggests a mixed community, though the neighborhood itself skews toward working-class families with moderate education levels (28% with bachelor's degrees or higher).

Mariner's Harbor-Arlington-Graniteville is a Staten Island neighborhood with mixed indicators. Safety scores are moderate (68.58), transit access is limited (32.57), and the area scores low on education orientation (31.42). However, it ranks high on environmental health (91.19) and stability (77.39), with 65% homeownership providing neighborhood stability. The area has some environmental concerns including elevated lead rates and asthma-related ER visits.

This is a car-dependent stretch of Staten Island. Families without vehicles will face challenges getting to school given the low transit score, and the commute to other schools or activities requires significant planning.