The Barbara Esselborn School

The Barbara Esselborn School, also known as PS 53, is a highly-regarded elementary school in Staten Island, serving students from Pre-K through 5th grade. It consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in New York, earning high marks for its academic performance. Students demonstrate exceptional proficiency in both English Language Arts and Math, with scores well above citywide averages. The school maintains a very positive and safe learning environment, reflected in its perfect suspension rate and high student attendance. Parents and teachers express overwhelming satisfaction with the school, praising the caring and passionate staff, effective leadership, and strong encouragement of parent engagement. The school offers a dedicated Gifted & Talented program and integrates a gifted and talented pedagogy across all its programs, suggesting a generally enriched curriculum for all students. With a larger-than-average enrollment, the school serves a student population with lower economic need and fewer English Language Learners compared to many city schools.