P.S./I.S. 26 The Carteret School

The Carteret School is outpacing its district by a wide margin — ELA proficiency of 77.9% sits well above the district average of 61.3%, and math at 83.6% blows the district's 61% out of the water. Looking at the grade-level breakdown, Grade 5 is performing exceptionally (91.3% ELA), while Grade 4 shows more modest results (61.1% ELA). The historical trend shows impressive growth from 2016's starting point of 38.4% ELA, with the most recent jump from 67% to 77.9% in a single year being particularly striking. Math has been consistently strong, climbing from 47.2% in 2016 to the current 83.6%. The overall score of 3.23/4 places it well above the district average of 2.45, confirming this is one of the stronger elementary options in Staten Island's District 31.

The school culture reads as genuinely healthy by almost every measure. Teachers report 97% safety at school, 93% trust in the principal, and 97% collegial trust among staff — these are numbers that indicate a functioning, supportive workplace. Families echo that sentiment: 99% parent-teacher trust and 98% parent-principal trust suggest strong home-school partnerships. The discipline record is clean with zero suspensions across three consecutive years. However, the chronic absenteeism rate of 79.2% is a significant concern — nearly 8 in 10 students are considered chronically absent, which drags down the otherwise strong attendance rate of 94.1%. The survey response rate was healthy at 76% for families, giving these results credibility.

The student body skews majority-white (47%) with substantial Hispanic representation (28%) and a notable Asian population (18%), giving the school a diversity index of 71% — meaningful variety for a Staten Island zoned school. The economic need index of 42.9% indicates a mixed-income population, though the neighborhood surrounding the school trends more affluent (median household income $98,222, only 10.5% poverty). About 20% of students have IEPs, and the class size of 23.4 matches the district average exactly. PTA fundraising of $160 per student exceeds the district average of $141, suggesting active family involvement.

The New Springville-Willowbrook-Bulls Head-Travis area is a classic Staten Island residential neighborhood — high on stability (86.59 score), family orientation (though only 23.8% of households have children), and safety (85.06 score). Transit options are limited (18.39 score), which is typical for SI. The health environment scores near-perfect at 99.23, reflecting clean air and low environmental hazards. With a median home value of $641,336 and 76.2% homeownership, this is a financially stable community where families tend to stay put.

This is a car-dependent neighborhood — families will need to drive or rely on school buses, as transit access is minimal