P.S. 74 Future Leaders Elementary School

Test scores here have taken a remarkable leap. In 2016, ELA proficiency was 23.4% and math was 20.9%; by 2025, those numbers reached 42.9% and 40.4% respectively — the biggest single-year jump on record. That said, both subjects remain well below the district averages of roughly 61%. Grade 3 is leading the way (48% ELA, 41.7% math), with grades 4 and 5 trailing slightly. The school's overall score of 1.67 out of 4 sits below the district average of 2.45, but the direction matters as much as the destination right now.

The internal culture here is genuinely strong in ways that don't always show up in test scores. Teacher trust in their principal and in each other both sit at 100%, and 99% rate instruction quality positively — those are exceptional numbers. Parents report 94-95% trust in teachers and the principal, and 100% say there are strong relationships between teachers and students. The flip side: teacher-reported safety is 78%, well below the district's 94.8%, and parent satisfaction is 88% versus 93% districtwide. Five suspensions last year (a 2% rate, up from 1 the prior year) and 34.9% chronic absenteeism are the things parents should ask about directly.

The student body is about 60% Hispanic and 29% Black, with smaller Asian, white, and multiracial populations, and a diversity index of 57%. The economic need index of 88.1% is high, meaning most students qualify for free or reduced lunch, and 31% have IEPs — a meaningfully larger share than most elementary schools. PTA fundraising totals just $6 per student compared to the district average of $141, which means parents here contribute far less to enrichment than at typical schools in the borough.

St. George-New Brighton is a working- and middle-class pocket of Staten Island's north shore where median household income is around $73,000 and about 19.5% of residents live below the poverty line. About 13% of households have children under 18, and a third of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher. Homeownership is relatively low at 35%, and the median home value sits near $557,000. The neighborhood has a commuter-friendly feel given its proximity to the Staten Island Ferry terminal area.

Families can reach the school via the SIR at Tompkinsville (about a 6-minute walk) or St George (about a 9-minute walk); Stapleton station is roughly a 17-minute walk. Most families likely drive or take local buses.