P.S. 046 Albert V. Maniscalco

Test scores at P.S. 046 have climbed steadily from their pandemic-era lows — ELA rose from 25.6% in 2022 to 37.7% this year, and math improved from 25.8% to 31.7%. That's genuine growth, but it still places the school roughly 24 points below the Staten Island district average in both subjects. The school's overall quality rating of 1.39 out of 4 reflects this gap. Grade 5 outperforms Grade 4 (39% vs 27% in ELA), suggesting older students may be benefiting from intervention efforts or simply time to catch up.

The survey data tells a nuanced story. Teachers give their leadership near-perfect marks — 100% trust in the principal and 95% collegial trust — and 95% report feeling safe. Parents are somewhat more cautious: 82% satisfaction versus the district's 93%, with trust scores in the mid-80s. The standout is 'strong relationships' at 100%, meaning families feel connected. But there's a serious attendance problem: 60% of students are chronically absent, with white students missing the most (73%) and Black students the least (35%). Zero suspensions is a genuine strength, indicating restorative or supportive approaches rather than exclusionary discipline.

With 211 students in grades pre-K through 5, this is a small zoned school reflecting its neighborhood's diversity: 33% Hispanic, 26% white, 25% Black, and 10% Asian, plus 5% multi-racial and 1% Native American. The diversity index of 82% is notably high for Staten Island. A quarter of students have IEPs, and 75% qualify for free or reduced lunch — higher economic need than many nearby schools.

The Grasmere-Arrochar-South Beach-Dongan Hills area on Staten Island's East Shore is a stable, family-oriented neighborhood where 63% of residents own homes and median values exceed $650,000. It's not particularly transit-rich (score of 47 out of 100) but scores high on education orientation (74) and stability (83). The area is quite safe relative to the city, with a safety percentile of 71, and has excellent air quality. Families report it as a place where people put down roots.

This is a car-dependent part of Staten Island — families typically drive or rely on school buses. The school sits in a residential area where walking is pleasant but options limited without a vehicle.