P.S. 112 Lefferts Park

Test scores at P.S. 112 sit below the district average — ELA at 60.7% versus 66.2% district-wide, and math at 65.8% versus 71.2%. The school peaked in 2018-2019 with ELA hitting 63% and math reaching 66%, but has fluctuated since, with a notable dip in 2024 (ELA dropped to 53.4%) before recovering this year. Third graders perform strongest, particularly in math where 75.6% are proficient, but performance drops in grades 4 and 5. Teacher-reported instruction quality (84%) also trails the district average of 92%, which is worth noting — this may reflect teacher perception gaps rather than classroom reality, but it's a signal worth watching.

The climate data tells a compelling story: families absolutely love this school. Parent satisfaction hits 95%, with parent-teacher trust and parent-principal trust both at 97%. Every single family surveyed reported strong relationships with the school. Teacher collegial trust is nearly perfect at 98%, and teachers feel safe (96%). The discipline picture is remarkable — just 2 suspensions in the past year from essentially zero the prior two years, keeping the rate at effectively 0%. The trade-off is attendance: chronic absenteeism is high at 79.4%, significantly above what you'd hope to see, with female students (82.9%) and Asian students (90.2%) missing the most school days. This suggests the school climate is welcoming enough that families may not feel urgency around daily attendance, or there are underlying health or logistical challenges in the community.

With 708 students, P.S. 112 is a mid-sized elementary that reflects Bensonhurst's demographic mix: 38% Asian, 35% Hispanic, 25% White, and 1% Black. The diversity index of 64% is solid, and the economic need index of 69.6 indicates a significant portion of students come from higher-need households. About 17% receive special education services — slightly above typical. The PTA raises about $61 per student, essentially matching the district average, suggesting moderate but not exceptional family fundraising engagement.

Bensonhurst is a classic Brooklyn residential neighborhood — densely populated (family density score: 89), with a mix of income levels and a homeownership rate of 32%. The median home value is over $1 million, but the median household income sits at $65,272 with a 17.4% poverty rate, indicating many families are cost-burdened. Safety scores are moderate (40.6 percentile), transit access is decent (45.98 percentile), and the area has an education orientation score of 58. There are local parks and neighborhood institutions that families use, though it's more of a residential block feel than a commercial district.

Bensonhurst is highly walkable — most zoned families arrive on foot, and the neighborhood's grid layout makes it easy for older kids to walk independently. Street parking can be challenging during drop-off and pickup times.