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P.S. 256 Benjamin Banneker

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Grades PK-5 · 114 KOSCIUSZKO STREET · Brooklyn

SHARYN HEMPHILL, Principal · 718-857-9820

About

P.S. 256 Benjamin Banneker, serving students from PK through 5th grade in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, operates as a Magnet School of Architecture and Engineering. The school is known for its innovative STEAM-focused, project-based curriculum, drawing inspiration from its namesake, Benjamin Banneker. It offers a variety of enrichment programs, including robotics, dance, and arts partnerships. The school is situated near community landmarks such as the Hattie Carthan Community Garden and Von King Park. With an enrollment of 158 students, it is a smaller elementary school compared to the citywide median. Parents express exceptionally high satisfaction, with survey results indicating strong positive sentiment regarding instruction quality, teacher respect, and the school's welcoming and safe environment. However, academic proficiency in both ELA (29%) and Math (26%) is a significant area for growth, falling well below citywide medians and near the 25th percentile. While the school's official data lists its programs as zoned, it functions as a non-zoned magnet school open to all NYC students.

Sources (11)

Academics

Coursework, class size, and academic context.

3-K - School DayBalancedlow confidence

Kindergarten (13K256)Balancedlow confidence

Pre-K - School DayBalancedlow confidence

Attendance rate

96%

Avg class size (general ed)

Avg class size (ICT)

Average class size by classroom setting: general education vs. ICT (Integrated Co-Teaching, where general- and special-education students learn together with two teachers). NYC DOE Class Size Report, 2021–22.

Community & climate

Demographics, attendance, school survey results, and DOE quality ratings.

Quality signals

FacultyExcellentAI-estimated

Parent survey · overall positive

86%41% response rate

Teacher survey · overall positive

80%53% response rate

Survey topics

Safety90%city 89%

My students are safe…outside around this school.88%
My students are safe…traveling between home and this school.100%
My students are safe…in the hallways, bathrooms, locker rooms, and cafeteria of this school.88%
My students are safe…in my class(es).100%
Conflicts are resolved fairly in my school.75%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (90%) is their average, vs 89% citywide.

Bullying prevention80%city 42%

At this school students harass, bully, or intimidate other students.80%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (80%) is their average, vs 42% citywide.

Emotional support82%city 84%

How many adults at this school…help students develop the skills they need to complete challenging coursework despite obstacles?.80%
How many adults at this school…tell their students they believe they can achieve high academic standards?.89%
How many adults at this school…teach students how to advocate for themselves?.89%
How many adults at this school…recognize disruptive behavior as social-emotional learning opportunities?.70%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (82%) is their average, vs 84% citywide.

Academic expectations83%city 87%

In this school, the staff believes that all students can learn, including English language learners (ELLs), Emergent Multilingual Learners (EMLLs), and students with disabilities.90%
How many students in your classes…have to work hard to do well?.75%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (83%) is their average, vs 87% citywide.

Family outreach95%city 94%

At this school…teachers understand families' challenges and concerns.90%
At this school…teachers work closely with families to meet students' needs.100%
At this school…staff regularly communicate with families about how they can help students learn.90%
At this school…school staff value families' race, ethnicity, culture, family structure, and background.100%
School staff regularly communicate with me about how I can help my child learn.98%
Teachers work closely with me to meet my child's needs.92%
My child's school communicates with me in a language that I can understand.92%
I am greeted warmly when I contact or visit the school.100%
My child's school will make me aware if there are any concerns about my child’s social or emotional well-being.95%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (95%) is their average, vs 94% citywide.

Parent–teacher trust94%city 95%

I feel respected by my child's teachers.92%
Staff at this school work hard to build trusting relationships with parents/guardians like me.95%
My child's teachers treat me as a partner in educating my child.95%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (94%) is their average, vs 95% citywide.

Show all survey topics

Rigorous Instruction

Quality of Student Discussion54%city 67%

How many students in your classes…build on each other’s ideas during class discussions?.60%
How many students in your classes…use data or text references to support their ideas?.40%
How many students in your classes…show that they respect each other’s ideas?.70%
How many students in your classes…provide constructive feedback to their peers/teachers?.40%
How many students in your classes…participate in class discussions at some point?.60%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (54%) is their average, vs 67% citywide.

Collaborative Teachers

Cultural Awareness and Inclusive Classroom Instruction93%city 92%

I am able to...receive support around how to incorporate students' cultural and linguistic backgrounds in my practice.90%
I am able to...modify instructional activities and materials to meet the developmental needs and learning interests of all my students.100%
I am able to...ensure instruction represents multiple perspectives, cultures, and backgrounds.100%
I am able to…ensure instruction represents multiple genders, gender identities and expressions and sexual orientations.100%
I am able to…ensure instruction represents multiple races and ethnicities.100%
I am able to...design appropriate instruction that is matched to students' need (e.g. English language learners (ELLs) or Emergent Multilingual Learners (EMLLs) proficiency and students with disabilities).90%
I am able to...apply my knowledge of parents' various cultural backgrounds when collaborating with them regarding their child's educational progress.90%
I am able to...develop appropriate Individualized Education Programs for my students with disabilities.90%
I am able to...monitor progress on Individualized Education Program goals for my students with disabilities.90%
I am able to...distinguish linguistic/cultural differences from learning difficulties.90%
I have conversations about race and racism at my school that help me examine my own beliefs around identity.80%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (93%) is their average, vs 92% citywide.

Quality of Professional Development83%city 82%

Overall, my professional development experiences this year have...included enough time to think carefully about, try, and evaluate new ideas.78%
Overall, my professional development experiences this year have...Included opportunities to engage in inquiry-based, professional collaboration with peers and/or mentors from other schools.80%
Overall, my professional development experiences this year have...directly related to my students’ needs.90%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (83%) is their average, vs 82% citywide.

Peer Collaboration80%city 87%

At this school…the principal/school leader, teachers, and staff collaborate to make this school run effectively.60%
At this school…teachers design instructional programs (e.g. lessons, units) together.90%
At this school…teachers make a conscious effort to coordinate their teaching with instruction at other grade levels.89%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (80%) is their average, vs 87% citywide.

School Commitment77%city 83%

I usually look forward to each working day at this school.80%
I would recommend this school to parents/guardians seeking a place for their child.80%
I would recommend this school to other teachers as a place to work.70%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (77%) is their average, vs 83% citywide.

Innovation and Collective Responsibility70%city 79%

How many teachers at this school…help build a welcoming school environment in the entire school, not just their classroom?.70%
How many teachers at this school…are actively trying to improve their teaching?.60%
How many teachers at this school…take responsibility for improving the school?.60%
How many teachers at this school…are eager to try new ideas?.70%
How many teachers at this school…feel responsible that all students learn?.90%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (70%) is their average, vs 79% citywide.

Supportive Environment

Classroom Behavior70%city 66%

How many students in your classes…listen carefully when the teacher gives directions?.90%
How many students in your classes…follow the rules in class?.80%
How many students in your classes…respond to challenging questions in class?.60%
How many students in your classes…do their work when they are supposed to?.50%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (70%) is their average, vs 66% citywide.

Effective School Leadership

Inclusive Leadership91%city 95%

The principal/school leader at this school…puts decisions made with families into action.86%
The principal/school leader at this school…works to create a sense of community in the school.97%
The principal/school leader at this school…ensures families are comfortable communicating with the school.91%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (91%) is their average, vs 95% citywide.

Program Coherence89%city 83%

At this school…once we start a new program, we follow up to make sure that it’s working.89%
At this school…it is clear how all of the programs offered are connected to our school’s instructional vision.100%
At this school…curriculum, instruction, and learning materials are well coordinated across the different grade levels at this school.78%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (89%) is their average, vs 83% citywide.

Instructional Leadership81%city 86%

The principal/school leader at this school...makes clear to the staff their expectations for meeting instructional goals.90%
The principal/school leader at this school...understands how children learn.70%
The principal/school leader at this school...sets high standards for student learning.100%
The principal/school leader at this school...participates in instructional planning with teams of teachers.67%
The principal/assistant principal(s) at this school…supports teachers in implementing what they have learned in professional development.70%
The principal/assistant principal(s) at this school…carefully tracks student academic progress.90%
The principal/assistant principal(s) at this school…knows what’s going on in my classes.80%
The principal/assistant principal(s) at this school…provides teachers with formative feedback to improve practice.100%
How many adults at this school…have access to school-based supports to assist in behavioral/emotional escalations?.60%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (81%) is their average, vs 86% citywide.

Teacher Influence56%city 66%

At this school…the principal/school leader encourages feedback through regular meetings with families and teacher leaders.60%
How much influence do teachers have over school policy in...hiring new professional personnel?.60%
How much influence do teachers have over school policy in...planning how discretionary school funds should be used?.40%
How much influence do teachers have over school policy in...selecting instructional materials and/or curriculum used in classrooms?.60%
How much influence do teachers have over school policy in...setting standards for student behavior?.60%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (56%) is their average, vs 66% citywide.

Strong Family-Community Ties

Parent Involvement in School61%city 63%

Since the beginning of the school year, how often have you…communicated with your child's teachers about your child's performance?.92%
Since the beginning of the school year, how often have you…seen your child’s projects, artwork, homework, tests, or quizzes?.90%
I know how to contact the Parent Coordinator at my child’s school.0%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (61%) is their average, vs 63% citywide.

Strong Relationships57%city 90%

At this school, my child receives what they need to achieve their Individualized Education Plan (IEP) goal(s). [Families of students with IEPs].57%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (57%) is their average, vs 90% citywide.

Trust

Parent-Principal Trust87%city 94%

I feel respected by my child's principal/school leader.88%
I trust the principal/school leader at their word (to do what they say that they will do).90%
The principal/school leader is an effective manager who makes the school run smoothly.84%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (87%) is their average, vs 94% citywide.

Teacher-Teacher Trust87%city 86%

Teachers in this school trust each other.90%
It's OK in this school to discuss feelings, worries, and frustrations with other teachers.80%
I feel respected by other teachers at this school.90%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (87%) is their average, vs 86% citywide.

Teacher-Principal Trust73%city 84%

I feel respected by the principal/school leader at this school.80%
The principal/school leader at this school is an effective manager who makes the school run smoothly.70%
The principal/school leader has confidence in the expertise of the teachers at this school.60%
I trust the principal/school leader at their word (to do what they say that they will do).80%
The principal/school leader looks out for the personal welfare of the staff members.70%
The principal/school leader places the needs of children ahead of personal interests.80%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (73%) is their average, vs 84% citywide.

Overall positive % is averaged across every Pos/Neg survey question per respondent group (school year 2023-2024). Survey topics are the DOE’s framework measures (each the average favorable response across its questions; expand a topic to see them and the citywide average); the dimension scores themselves are no longer in the public data file.^[3]

Operational health

Attendance

96%

Chronic absenteeism

54%

Suspension rate

Teachers^[7]

Teachers with 4+ years' experience

68%

Students per teacher

5:1

Teaching out of certification

Teacher experience and certification from the NYSED School Report Card (2024–25); students per teacher = enrollment ÷ reported teachers. Fewer than 4 years counts as inexperienced.

Student body

Race / ethnicity^[4]

Asian 4%
Black 61%
Hispanic 32%
White 3%
Multiracial 1%

School-level totals; may not sum to 100% due to rounding and small subgroup suppression.

Gender^[4]

Female 52%
Male 48%

Female / male shares as published by the DOE; other gender identities aren’t reported in the source data.

Enrollment

158

Economic Need Index

92%

Free / reduced lunch

97%

English learners

15%

Students with IEPs

26%

Admissions

2 programs. Each has its own admissions method, and each track within a program has its own seats, demand, and priority order.

3-K - School Day

Program code 13K2563K · Cycle 2024-2025

Zoned

28 applicants · 15 seats last year; offers ran out before reaching All other applicants..

priority group	Seats	Applicants	Apps / seat
General education	15	28	—
↳ Students who live in the zone and have a sibling at the school.	—	—	—
↳ Other students who live in the zone.	—	—	—
↳ Students who live in the district and have a sibling at the school.	—	—	—
↳ Students who live outside the district and have a sibling at the school.	—	—	—
↳ Other students who live in the district.	10	15	1.50
↳ All other applicants.	0	5	—

Last year’s published figures. Schools make more offers than seats because not everyone enrolls, so offers can exceed seats. Counts under 10 are suppressed (shown as “<10”).

Pre-K - School Day

Program code 13K256PK · Cycle 2024-2025

Zoned

11 applicants · 18 seats last year; every priority group with applicants received offers.

priority group	Seats	Applicants	Apps / seat
General education	18	11	—
↳ Current students.	5	5	1.00
↳ Students who live in the zone and have a sibling at the school.	—	—	—
↳ Other students who live in the zone.	—	—	—
↳ Students who live in the district and have a sibling at the school.	—	—	—
↳ Students who live outside the district and have a sibling at the school.	—	—	—
↳ Other students who live in the district.	—	—	—
↳ All other applicants.	—	—	—

Last year’s published figures. Schools make more offers than seats because not everyone enrolls, so offers can exceed seats. Counts under 10 are suppressed (shown as “<10”).

How to read Apps / seat and where the outlook buckets come from is explained in our methodology.

Location & commute

Where the school is and how to get there.

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