At a Glance
A car-dependent Brooklyn elementary where test scores surged and families show up — 100% of them responded to the survey.
Best suited for
Families already zoned for or rooted in Gerritsen Beach who want strong academics, a close-knit community, and a school where parents are deeply involved — and who don't need subway access to get there.
Overall Rating
Rating = average of NY State ELA + math proficiency, grades 3–8
Bands are Motley's thresholds on a 0–100 scale, not New York State performance levels.
How this is scored→What stands out
- 100% family survey response rate and 96% parent satisfaction — extraordinarily high family engagement for any public school.
- Math proficiency rebounded from 47.7% in 2022 to 77% in 2025, an unusually dramatic recovery.
- $182 raised per student by the PTA — more than triple the district average of $56.
- Zero suspensions across three consecutive years (2021-22 through 2023-24).
- Overall score of 3.04/4 places the school well above the District 22 average of 2.43.
Things to consider
- Chronic absenteeism is reported at 78.5%, with striking subgroup variation (91.5% among Asian students, 59.1% among Hispanic students) — worth asking the school directly about.
- No subway access means this school is genuinely car-dependent; commuting from elsewhere in the borough is a real commitment.
- Enrollment of 353 is modest, which can mean a tight community but also fewer enrichment options than larger schools.
- IEP enrollment at 23% is on the higher side, so special education staffing is a meaningful factor here.
Based on 2024-25 data
School SummaryDistrict 22
PS 277 is one of the stronger performers in District 22, posting scores that place it in the same conversation as P.S. 195 Manhattan Beach and P.S. K134 — well above the district average overall score of 2.43/4.
Academics
In 2025, 75.2% of students reached ELA proficiency and 77% hit math — both well above the district averages of about 61% and 60%. The more interesting story is the trajectory: after a notable dip in 2022 (52.3% ELA, 47.7% math), the school has rebounded sharply, with math now outpacing ELA. All tested grades (3-5) perform strongly, with Grade 4 leading at 81% proficiency in both subjects.
Culture
The survey numbers here are nearly across-the-board exceptional: 100% family survey response rate, 96% parent satisfaction, 98% teacher-reported instruction quality, 100% teacher-reported safety, and zero suspensions in each of the past three years. The day-to-day feel is one of strong family engagement and high teacher trust in leadership. One flag worth asking about: chronic absenteeism is reported at 78.5% — high by any standard and notably skewed across subgroups (91.5% for Asian students, 59.1% for Hispanic students).
Community
The student body is 58% White, 22% Asian, 15% Hispanic, and 4% Black — a notably different mix than most Brooklyn public schools. The economic need index of 35.7 is below the typical city school, reflecting fewer families in deep poverty. IEP enrollment at 23% is on the higher side, and average class size of 23.9 is roughly typical for the district.
Neighborhood
The school anchors the Marine Park-Plumb Island area of southern Brooklyn — a residential neighborhood that, given its geography and lack of subway access, draws families who have chosen to settle there for the school and the community rather than for transit convenience. Census figures for the area are not available in our dataset, so the picture comes from the school itself and from the obvious reality that this is a car-oriented pocket of the borough.
There are no subway stations within a 20-minute walk of PS 277, so families should plan on driving, biking, or using school bus service to get here.
Academic Performance
ELA Proficiency
Students scoring proficient or above on the NY State ELA exam.
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Math Proficiency
Students scoring proficient or above on the NY State Math exam.
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Historical Trends
The dashed line marks 2023, when New York changed its grades 3–8 state tests. Scores before and after it aren’t directly comparable.
2020–2021 data unavailable due to COVID-19
Source: NYC DOE School Quality Reports
Survey Results
NYC School Survey (2025) · 275 families responded (100% rate)
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
PTA Fundraising
Source: DOE Local Law 171 disclosure
Discipline
NYSED Student & Educator Database (2023-24)
Economic Need & Special Populations
How to get in, step by step
Pre-K
P.S. 277 Gerritsen Beach also has Pre-K classes. They're a separate application from kindergarten, made on MySchools.
Pre-K application
Applications typically open in the winter and close in the spring, with offers in late spring; the city announces exact dates each year.
Kindergarten
P.S. 277 Gerritsen Beach has an attendance zone. At elementary level, in-zone students get a guaranteed seat. Every family still applies on MySchools: the application confirms the zoned seat, and ranking other schools doesn't cost you it.
Kindergarten application
- Opens
- Wed, Dec 9
- Closes
- Fri, Jan 22
- Offers
- Tue, Mar 30
The DOE’s published dates.
- 1Check that your address is inside the zone — zones change, so confirm it before you sign a lease.
- 2Apply during the kindergarten application, even with a zoned seat.
- 3Rank this school along with any others you'd take, in true preference order.
Open houses and tours
We haven’t seen open-house dates for this school yet.
From the MySchools admissions calendar, checked weekly.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is P.S. 277 Gerritsen Beach a good school?
- On Motley, P.S. 277 Gerritsen Beach earns an overall rating of 76/100 — the average of the school's New York State ELA and math proficiency, grades 3–8, shown out of 100. Its state test results run above the District 22 average.
- What grades does P.S. 277 Gerritsen Beach serve?
- P.S. 277 Gerritsen Beach serves grades Pre-K to 5.
- How do students get into P.S. 277 Gerritsen Beach?
- P.S. 277 Gerritsen Beach admits by zone — children who live in its attendance zone get a guaranteed seat.
- Is P.S. 277 Gerritsen Beach public, charter, or private?
- P.S. 277 Gerritsen Beach is a public school in NYC Community School District 22.
- What neighborhood is P.S. 277 Gerritsen Beach in?
- P.S. 277 Gerritsen Beach is in Marine Park-Plumb Island, Brooklyn.