P.S. 251 Paerdegat is an elementary school in Brooklyn serving students from Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade. The school aims to cultivate a nurturing and inclusive environment, emphasizing student-centered learning and the development of critical thinking skills. While parent surveys indicate overwhelmingly positive sentiment regarding staff relationships, communication, and support, academic proficiency in both English Language Arts (40%) and Math (35%) falls below the citywide 25th percentile, which is a notable concern. The school maintains a very low suspension rate of 0.0%, suggesting a safe and well-managed environment. Parents consistently report high satisfaction with the school's efforts to build trusting relationships and provide a supportive atmosphere. P.S. 251 offers free after-school programs and a variety of extracurricular activities, including Chess Clubs, Arts and Crafts, Chorus, Sports, and a Garden Club. A school uniform is required for students.
What this school has to spend, and what it spends it on. Spending is not a measure of quality. Schools serving more students with higher needs receive more money.
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.
100% response rate
Teacher survey · overall positive
85%90% response rate
Survey topics
Safety95%city 89%
My students are safe…outside around this school.91%
My students are safe…traveling between home and this school.95%
My students are safe…in the hallways, bathrooms, locker rooms, and cafeteria of this school.96%
My students are safe…in my class(es).100%
Conflicts are resolved fairly in my school.91%
Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (95%) is their average, vs 89% citywide.
Bullying prevention50%city 42%
At this school students harass, bully, or intimidate other students.50%
Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (50%) is their average, vs 42% citywide.
Emotional support94%city 84%
How many adults at this school…help students develop the skills they need to complete challenging coursework despite obstacles?.96%
How many adults at this school…tell their students they believe they can achieve high academic standards?.100%
How many adults at this school…teach students how to advocate for themselves?.96%
How many adults at this school…recognize disruptive behavior as social-emotional learning opportunities?.85%
Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (94%) is their average, vs 84% citywide.
Academic expectations92%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.92%
How many students in your classes…have to work hard to do well?.91%
Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (92%) is their average, vs 87% citywide.
College & career guidance100%city 90%
It’s a priority at this school that adults…provide students with guidance on the high school application process.100%
It’s a priority at this school that adults…provide families with guidance on the high school application process.100%
Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (100%) is their average, vs 90% citywide.
Family outreach96%city 94%
At this school…teachers understand families' challenges and concerns.92%
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.100%
At this school…school staff value families' race, ethnicity, culture, family structure, and background.92%
School staff regularly communicate with me about how I can help my child learn.93%
Teachers work closely with me to meet my child's needs.95%
My child's school communicates with me in a language that I can understand.96%
I am greeted warmly when I contact or visit the school.97%
My child's school will make me aware if there are any concerns about my child’s social or emotional well-being.
Parent–teacher trust97%city 95%
I feel respected by my child's teachers.98%
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.98%
Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (97%) is their average, vs 95% citywide.
Show all survey topicsShow fewer
Rigorous Instruction
Strong Core Instruction89%city 91%
In planning my last instructional unit, I had the resources and tools I needed to include multiple opportunities for…reading and writing experiences grounded in evidence from text, both literary and informational. [Social Studies].100%
In planning my last instructional unit, I had the resources and tools I needed to include multiple opportunities for…students to interact with complex grade-level text and tasks. [Social Studies].89%
In planning my last instructional unit, I had the resources and tools I needed to include multiple opportunities for…students to engage with texts and tasks reflective of their diverse racial, cultural, and linguistic perspective. [Social Studies].78%
In planning my last instructional unit, I had the resources and tools I needed to include multiple opportunities for…students to engage in meaningful discussion that critically examines topics that connect to the daily lives of students. [Social Studies].78%
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]
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.
Female / male shares as published by the DOE; other gender identities aren’t reported in the source data.
Seats
Applicants
Applications / seat
General education
54
7
—
↳ 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 Applications / seat and where the outlook buckets come from is explained in our methodology.
27th percentile citywide
School-managed budget
$6.2MPositions: 48
31st percentile citywide
Total spend per student
$32,541
43rd percentile citywide · city median $33,606
Staffing costs
Principal’s salary
$203K
50th percentile citywide
Principal and assistant principals
$381KPositions: 2
36th percentile citywide
Teaching staff
$3.5MPositions: 28
38th percentile citywide
Where the school-managed budget goes
These five categories add up to the school-managed budget. They do not include the centrally-paid costs in total spend.
Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (96%) is their average, vs 94% citywide.
In planning my last instructional unit, I had the resources and tools I needed to include multiple opportunities for…focusing deeply on the concepts emphasized in the standards to help students build strong foundations for learning. [Social Studies].
89%
In planning my last instructional unit, I had the resources and tools I needed to include multiple opportunities for…reading and writing experiences grounded in evidence from text, both literary and informational. [Science].88%
In planning my last instructional unit, I had the resources and tools I needed to include multiple opportunities for…students to interact with complex grade-level text and tasks. [Science].88%
In planning my last instructional unit, I had the resources and tools I needed to include multiple opportunities for…students to engage with texts and tasks reflective of their diverse racial, cultural, and linguistic perspective. [Science].75%
In planning my last instructional unit, I had the resources and tools I needed to include multiple opportunities for…students to engage in meaningful discussion that critically examines topics that connect to the daily lives of students. [Science].88%
In planning my last instructional unit, I had the resources and tools I needed to include multiple opportunities for…creating coherent progressions within the standards from previous grades to current grade to build onto previous learning. [Science].88%
In planning my last instructional unit, I had the resources and tools I needed to include multiple opportunities for…reading and writing experiences grounded in evidence from text, both literary and informational. [ELA].80%
In planning my last instructional unit, I had the resources and tools I needed to include multiple opportunities for…students to interact with complex grade-level text and tasks. [ELA].100%
In planning my last instructional unit, I had the resources and tools I needed to include multiple opportunities for…students to engage with texts and tasks reflective of their diverse racial, cultural, and linguistic perspective. [ELA].93%
In planning my last instructional unit, I had the resources and tools I needed to include multiple opportunities for…students to engage in meaningful discussion that critically examines topics that connect to the daily lives of students. [ELA].100%
In planning my last instructional unit, I had the resources and tools I needed to include multiple opportunities for…focusing deeply on the concepts emphasized in the standards to help students build strong foundations for learning. [ELA].100%
In planning my last instructional unit, I had the resources and tools I needed to include multiple opportunities for…students to interact with complex grade-level text and tasks. [Math].92%
In planning my last instructional unit, I had the resources and tools I needed to include multiple opportunities for…students to engage with texts and tasks reflective of their diverse racial, cultural, and linguistic perspective. [Math].82%
In planning my last instructional unit, I had the resources and tools I needed to include multiple opportunities for…students to engage in meaningful discussion that critically examines topics that connect to the daily lives of students. [Math].92%
In planning my last instructional unit, I had the resources and tools I needed to include multiple opportunities for…focusing deeply on the concepts emphasized in the standards to help students build strong foundations for learning. [Math].92%
Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (89%) is their average, vs 91% citywide.
Quality of Student Discussion64%city 67%
How many students in your classes…build on each other’s ideas during class discussions?.64%
How many students in your classes…use data or text references to support their ideas?.64%
How many students in your classes…show that they respect each other’s ideas?.65%
How many students in your classes…provide constructive feedback to their peers/teachers?.52%
How many students in your classes…participate in class discussions at some point?.73%
Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (64%) is their average, vs 67% citywide.
Collaborative Teachers
Innovation and Collective Responsibility95%city 79%
How many teachers at this school…help build a welcoming school environment in the entire school, not just their classroom?.100%
How many teachers at this school…are actively trying to improve their teaching?.100%
How many teachers at this school…take responsibility for improving the school?.92%
How many teachers at this school…are eager to try new ideas?.92%
How many teachers at this school…feel responsible that all students learn?.92%
Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (95%) is their average, vs 79% citywide.
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.88%
I am able to...modify instructional activities and materials to meet the developmental needs and learning interests of all my students.96%
I am able to...ensure instruction represents multiple perspectives, cultures, and backgrounds.92%
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.96%
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).92%
I am able to...apply my knowledge of parents' various cultural backgrounds when collaborating with them regarding their child's educational progress.96%
I am able to...develop appropriate Individualized Education Programs for my students with disabilities.96%
I am able to...monitor progress on Individualized Education Program goals for my students with disabilities.100%
I am able to...distinguish linguistic/cultural differences from learning difficulties.100%
Peer Collaboration91%city 87%
At this school…the principal/school leader, teachers, and staff collaborate to make this school run effectively.81%
At this school…teachers design instructional programs (e.g. lessons, units) together.100%
At this school…teachers make a conscious effort to coordinate their teaching with instruction at other grade levels.92%
Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (91%) is their average, vs 87% 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.81%
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.81%
Overall, my professional development experiences this year have...directly related to my students’ needs.88%
Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (83%) is their average, vs 82% citywide.
School Commitment80%city 83%
I usually look forward to each working day at this school.85%
I would recommend this school to parents/guardians seeking a place for their child.85%
I would recommend this school to other teachers as a place to work.69%
Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (80%) is their average, vs 83% citywide.
Supportive Environment
Classroom Behavior65%city 66%
How many students in your classes…listen carefully when the teacher gives directions?.58%
How many students in your classes…follow the rules in class?.69%
How many students in your classes…respond to challenging questions in class?.54%
How many students in your classes…do their work when they are supposed to?.77%
Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (65%) is their average, vs 66% citywide.
Effective School Leadership
Inclusive Leadership92%city 95%
The principal/school leader at this school…puts decisions made with families into action.93%
The principal/school leader at this school…works to create a sense of community in the school.92%
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 (92%) is their average, vs 95% citywide.
Program Coherence91%city 83%
At this school…once we start a new program, we follow up to make sure that it’s working.92%
At this school…it is clear how all of the programs offered are connected to our school’s instructional vision.96%
At this school…curriculum, instruction, and learning materials are well coordinated across the different grade levels at this school.84%
Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (91%) is their average, vs 83% citywide.
Instructional Leadership84%city 86%
The principal/school leader at this school...makes clear to the staff their expectations for meeting instructional goals.92%
The principal/school leader at this school...understands how children learn.81%
The principal/school leader at this school...sets high standards for student learning.96%
The principal/school leader at this school...participates in instructional planning with teams of teachers.73%
The principal/assistant principal(s) at this school…supports teachers in implementing what they have learned in professional development.77%
The principal/assistant principal(s) at this school…carefully tracks student academic progress.96%
The principal/assistant principal(s) at this school…knows what’s going on in my classes.85%
The principal/assistant principal(s) at this school…provides teachers with formative feedback to improve practice.81%
Teacher Influence39%city 66%
At this school…the principal/school leader encourages feedback through regular meetings with families and teacher leaders.81%
How much influence do teachers have over school policy in...hiring new professional personnel?.27%
How much influence do teachers have over school policy in...planning how discretionary school funds should be used?.8%
How much influence do teachers have over school policy in...selecting instructional materials and/or curriculum used in classrooms?.23%
How much influence do teachers have over school policy in...setting standards for student behavior?.54%
Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (39%) is their average, vs 66% citywide.
Strong Family-Community Ties
Strong Relationships71%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].71%
Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (71%) is their average, vs 90% citywide.
Parent Involvement in School65%city 63%
Since the beginning of the school year, how often have you…communicated with your child's teachers about your child's performance?.88%
Since the beginning of the school year, how often have you…seen your child’s projects, artwork, homework, tests, or quizzes?.92%
I know how to contact the Parent Coordinator at my child’s school.16%
Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (65%) is their average, vs 63% citywide.
Trust
Parent-Principal Trust90%city 94%
I feel respected by my child's principal/school leader.92%
I trust the principal/school leader at their word (to do what they say that they will do).88%
The principal/school leader is an effective manager who makes the school run smoothly.89%
Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (90%) is their average, vs 94% citywide.
Teacher-Teacher Trust87%city 86%
Teachers in this school trust each other.81%
It's OK in this school to discuss feelings, worries, and frustrations with other teachers.88%
I feel respected by other teachers at this school.92%
Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (87%) is their average, vs 86% citywide.
Teacher-Principal Trust79%city 84%
I feel respected by the principal/school leader at this school.77%
The principal/school leader at this school is an effective manager who makes the school run smoothly.77%
The principal/school leader has confidence in the expertise of the teachers at this school.65%
I trust the principal/school leader at their word (to do what they say that they will do).81%
The principal/school leader looks out for the personal welfare of the staff members.69%
The principal/school leader places the needs of children ahead of personal interests.88%
The principal and assistant principals function as a cohesive unit.96%
Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (79%) is their average, vs 84% citywide.
Enrollment
314
Economic Need Index
85%
Free / reduced lunch
87%
English learners
17%
Students with IEPs
24%
$77K
$155K
ARTS / WHOLE CLASS1$151K$151K
1 / WHOLE CLASS1$146K$146K
5 / WHOLE CLASS1$123K$123K
1 / ICT - General Ed Teacher1$119K$119K
1 / ICT - Special Ed Teacher1$119K$119K
2 / SELF-CONTAINED SP ED1$119K$119K
3 / ICT - General Ed Teacher1$119K$119K
3 / ICT - Special Ed Teacher1$119K$119K
4 / ICT - General Ed Teacher1$119K$119K
4 / WHOLE CLASS1$119K$119K
5 / ICT - General Ed Teacher1$119K$119K
5 / ICT - Special Ed Teacher1$119K$119K
5 / SELF-CONTAINED SP ED1$119K$119K
ESL / WHOLE CLASS1$119K$119K
K, 1 / SELF-CONTAINED SP ED1$119K$119K
PHYSICAL EDUCATION / WHOLE CLASS1$119K$119K
4 / SELF-CONTAINED SP ED1$101K$101K
COMPUTER / WHOLE CLASS1$70K$70K
4 / ICT - Special Ed Teacher1$62K$62K
$120K
$120K
SPEECH / PULL-OUT -all students1$117K$117K
SPEECH / PUSH IN/PULL OUT1$117K$117K
Guidance Counselor1$104K$104K
IEP-CRISIS MANAGEMENT(CIT)2$45K$90K
School Aides and Other Support Staff0—$63K
Substance Abuse Prevention & Interv Special Annual1$55K$55K
School Secretary1$48K$48K
PARENT COORDINATOR1$44K$44K
DC 37 Para More Than 20 Hrs0—$4,986
$21K
Professional Development$20K
$39K
Textbooks$20K
Furniture Object 300$18K
School Funded Copier$7,224
Data Processing Repair - Contractual$6,237
Equipment - General$4,662
Transportation of Staff - Non-Contract$4,344
Library Books$1,963
Internal DOE Services$600
I have conversations about race and racism at my school that help me examine my own beliefs around identity.
69%
Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (93%) is their average, vs 92% citywide.
How many adults at this school…have access to school-based supports to assist in behavioral/emotional escalations?.79%
Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (84%) is their average, vs 86% citywide.