P.S. 247 Brooklyn

Test scores at P.S. 247 run consistently above the District 20 average — ELA hits 74.5% versus the district's 66.2%, and math reaches 79.9% against 71.2%. The school has climbed substantially from 2016 levels (52.5% ELA, 65.8% math), with a particularly strong math performance peaking at 83.4% in 2023 before settling at the current 79.9%. Grade-level breakdown shows consistent strength: Grade 3 leads in math at 83.7%, while Grades 4 and 5 hover between 75-78% across both subjects. The 3.09 overall score outpaces the district average of 2.75, placing this school in the upper tier of District 20 performers.

The survey data here is extraordinary: 96% parent satisfaction, 98% parent-teacher trust, 99% parent-principal trust, and — remarkably — 100% teacher-reported safety and teacher-principal trust. Teachers rate instruction quality at 95%. This isn't a school where families feel unheard or where teachers are checked out. Attendance sits at 94.6%, essentially matching the district average, though chronic absenteeism is notably high at 82.8%. Digging into the chronic absenteeism data reveals an interesting pattern: it's driven heavily by the Asian student population (90.3%) compared to Hispanic (74%) and White (69.9%) students — a disparity worth understanding if your child falls into any of these groups. Discipline is pristine: zero suspensions for three consecutive years.

The student body is 57% Asian, 27% White, 14% Hispanic, and 1% Black — a composition that mirrors Bensonhurst's demographics, which has a strong Asian and white presence. The diversity index of 58% reflects a school that's not monolithically one group, though it's less diverse than some District 20 schools. Twenty percent of students have IEPs, indicating robust special education services. PTA fundraising of $62 per student is essentially flat with the district average ($61.1), suggesting moderate but not extraordinary fundraising intensity.

Bensonhurst is a classic Brooklyn neighborhood: working-to-middle-class, dense with families (family density score of 89.27 percentile), and more affordable than neighboring Bay Ridge or Dyker Heights despite a median home value over $1 million. The safety score (40.61) and transit score (45.98) are modest — this is a neighborhood where you drive or take the bus more than you walk to the subway. There's a strong community feel, with 20.7% of households having children and a 31.3% BA+ education rate among adults. Lead exposure (17.2% elevated rate) and asthma rates (104.4 per 1,000) are areas of concern for young families.

Bensonhurst is more car-friendly than walkable for most families. Parents in the zoned area typically drive or use local bus routes; the nearest subway lines require a bus connection. This isn't a school where most kids walk independently.