P.S. 329 Surfside

Test scores at P.S. 329 have been historically below district averages — the 2024 scores of 15.8% ELA and 14.5% Math placed the school among the lowest performers. However, the 2025 results show a dramatic improvement: 38.8% ELA and 42.5% Math — nearly tripling in one year for reading. This is a notable jump, though the longer historical pattern (2016-2024) shows volatility rather than steady growth. When compared to district averages of 60% ELA and 63% Math, the school still has a gap to close. Grade-level data shows Grade 3 performing strongest at 50% ELA, while Grade 4 trails at 29.8% — suggesting uneven progress across the elementary years.

The survey data paints a remarkably positive picture of school culture. Parent satisfaction sits at 88%, and trust metrics are exceptional: 95% parent-teacher trust, 95% parent-principal trust, and a perfect 100% of families reporting strong relationships with teachers. Teachers are equally positive — 100% rate instruction quality as strong, 95% trust the principal, and 97% report collegial trust among staff. However, this strong culture exists alongside troubling attendance patterns. The 86.6% attendance rate is below the 91.2% district average, and chronic absenteeism at 45.7% is exceptionally high — nearly half of students are missing significant school time. Discipline is minimal (1% suspension rate, only 3 suspensions total), but the trend shows an uptick from zero in 2022-23.

The school population is predominantly Black (56%) and Hispanic (27%), with smaller Asian (5%) and White (3%) populations and a notably high Native American enrollment at 9%. This mirrors the neighborhood's demographics in the Coney Island-Sea Gate area, which has lower homeownership (28.6%) and higher poverty (27.8%) compared to borough averages. Nearly a quarter of students (23%) have IEPs, indicating significant special education population. The PTA fundraising is minimal at $4 per student (versus $78.56 district average), reflecting the neighborhood's lower median household income of $43,818.

Coney Island-Sea Gate is a neighborhood with real tradeoffs. The median home value of $886,404 has risen substantially, but median household income remains modest at $43,818. The area scores low on safety (36.78) and stability (12.26), with elevated environmental health concerns including higher lead rates and asthma emergency department visits. Transit access is decent (60.15), and family density is moderate (45.21), but education orientation scores just 43.68 — indicating this isn't a neighborhood where families are primarily choosing based on school quality. There's a Boardwalk and beach access nearby, and the neighborhood has a distinct community feel, but parents should understand the context.

Many families walk to this zoned school given the neighborhood setting, though the area's lower safety scores mean this is a consideration for younger students walking alone.