P.S. 194 Raoul Wallenberg

The 2025 test scores show a school in dramatic transition — ELA jumped 21 points year-over-year to hit 51%, while math climbed to 43.6%. These gains are real and noteworthy, yet both remain significantly below the district averages of 61% ELA and 60.5% math. The school earned an overall score of 1.89 out of 4, compared to the district average of 2.43. Looking at grade-level patterns, Grade 5 shows particularly strong ELA performance at 68.2%, while math is more consistent across grades (42-46%). The historical data shows volatility — ELA dipped as low as 29.6% in 2024 before the recent surge — suggesting the academic program may be finding its footing or that leadership changes have had positive effects.

This is where P.S. 194 truly shines. Parent satisfaction sits at 95% (above the 91% district average), with near-universal trust in both teachers (98%) and the principal (99%). Teachers report 100% quality of instruction and 97% feeling safe — both above district averages. The school has maintained zero suspensions for three consecutive years. However, the attendance data tells a more complicated story: overall attendance is 88.6% (below the 91.4% district average), and chronic absenteeism is a serious concern at 51.6%. This means the school has a trust and culture problem that is NOT about relationships or safety — families and teachers clearly love the environment — but rather about getting kids to school in the first place.

With 487 students, P.S. 194 is a mid-sized elementary serving a economically diverse zoned population. The demographics are notably diverse: 43% Black, 22% Hispanic, 18% Asian, and 16% White, yielding a diversity index of 77%. The economic need index of 86.1% is very high — the majority of students come from families facing economic hardship. About 27% of students have IEPs, suggesting robust special education services. PTA fundraising is modest at $11 per student ($5,168 total), well below the district average of $56 per student, reflecting the community's economic realities rather than any lack of engagement.

P.S. 194 sits in the Sheepshead Bay-Manhattan Beach-Gerritsen Beach area of Brooklyn, a neighborhood of single-family homes, some waterfront properties, and a mix of working-class and middle-class families. The area has a 52.8% homeownership rate, a median home value of $721,560, and a relatively low poverty rate of 13% — though the school's 86.1% economic need index suggests many renting families within the zone. The neighborhood scores 72.41 for education orientation, indicating a community that values schools, and 68.97 for family density. Safety scores 59 (moderate), and transit access is decent at 56.7. There are parks and waterfront access nearby, and the area has a distinctly residential, family-oriented feel.

Sheepshead Bay is a car-oriented neighborhood, and most families drive or walk. The area is relatively flat and pedestrian-friendly for a Brooklyn neighborhood, but public transit options are limited compared to more urban parts of the borough.