P.S. 11 Thomas Dongan School

Test scores have rebounded impressively from pandemic lows (21.7% ELA in 2023) to land at 53.7% ELA and 48.5% math — still below the district averages of 61.3% and 61.0%, but the trajectory matters. Third graders are performing strongest (57.6% ELA, 61.8% math), while fourth grade math drops to 36%. The school outperforms its overall score of 2.04/4 suggests, because the recent climb from 22.2% ELA in 2024 to current levels shows real momentum.

The numbers tell a two-story tale. Families love this school: 95% satisfaction, 96% parent-teacher trust, and 97% report strong relationships. Teachers give 100% on instruction quality and 99% on safety — exceptional. But only 45% of teachers trust the principal (with just 22 responses, a caveats-needed figure), and the chronic absenteeism of 70.2% is extraordinary. Zero suspensions in 3 of the last 4 years signals a gentle discipline approach. The day-to-day feel for families seems warm and safe; what happens behind the scenes with staff morale is less clear.

With 334 students, this is a modestly-sized elementary school. Demographics mirror a working-to-middle-class suburb: 36% Hispanic, 32% White, 16% Black, 14% Asian. The diversity index of 79% is notably high for Staten Island. Twenty-one percent have IEPs, and 65.4% face economic need — meaningful but not extreme. The PTA raised $38 per student, far below the district average of $141, suggesting less fundraising infrastructure than peer schools.

The Grasmere-Arrochar-South Beach-Dongan Hills area is a stable, family-oriented Staten Island neighborhood with 63% homeownership and a median home value of $651,000. Education orientation scores 74.33, meaning families here prioritize schools. Safety scores 71.26 — solid but not exceptional. Transit access is limited (46.74), reflecting Staten Island's car-dependent nature. The poverty rate is low at 10.2%, and only 20.5% of households have children under 18, suggesting an older, established community.

This is a car-oriented neighborhood — families typically drive. The limited transit score reflects Staten Island's general reliance on vehicles, though some families may walk from the immediate residential blocks.