P.S. 256 Benjamin Banneker

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.