P.S. 35 The Clove Valley School

The test scores are extraordinary: 97.6% ELA proficiency and 99.4% math proficiency, compared to district averages around 61% in both subjects. That's not just above average — it's in a different league. Looking at the trend, the school hit a rough patch in 2019 (ELA dropped to 78.8%) and again in 2022 post-pandemic (math to 78.8%), but has roared back with consecutive years of growth, reaching its highest marks ever in 2025. The consistency across grades is notable — Grade 3-5 all exceed 96% in both subjects — suggesting strong instruction across the elementary years rather than a single standout cohort.

The survey data tells a story of very happy families in a safe environment: 98% parent satisfaction, 98% parent-teacher trust, and 100% teacher-reported safety. Teachers give 96% marks for instruction quality. That said, there's a noteworthy gap — teacher-principal trust sits at 80%, and teacher collegial trust at 89% — lower than the near-perfect family scores. This suggests parents love the experience while teachers may have some reservations about leadership. The attendance picture is nuanced: 94.4% daily attendance (above district average) but a striking 86.3% chronic absenteeism rate, meaning many students miss enough days to be flagged even if most show up regularly. Discipline is exemplary — zero suspensions for three consecutive years.

Enrollment of 385 students makes this a mid-sized elementary school with class sizes averaging 23.4 — essentially tied with the district average. The demographics lean majority White (50%) with significant Hispanic (20%) and Asian (15%) representation, reflecting a diverse but not extremely high-need community. The economic need index of 30.6 is notably below citywide averages, and the diversity index of 75% indicates a mix of backgrounds. PTA fundraising of $301 per student is robust, though slightly below the district average of $141 per student — still, 241 family survey responses shows strong engagement.

The West New Brighton-Silver Lake-Grymes Hill area is one of Staten Island's more stable, family-oriented neighborhoods — 89.6% stability score and 57.1% homeownership rate tell you this is a place where people put down roots. Median household income of $109,431 and a low 10% poverty rate confirm economic strength. The neighborhood scores well on safety (70.5 percentile), family density (58.2), and education orientation (73.2). Environmental health indicators are excellent (91.95), though asthma rates (47.3 per 10,000) and lead exposure (15.1%) are worth noting for families with health concerns. Transit access (51%) is moderate — this is a car-friendly area.

This is a residential neighborhood where most families walk or drive. Transit options are available but not as robust as in Manhattan or parts of Brooklyn — families should expect a car or bus commute for most errands.