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P.S. 203 Oakland Gardens

Grades: Pre-K, K-5
Staff Pick
53-11 Springfield Boulevard
Queens NY 11364
Phone: 718-423-8652

Our Insights

What’s Special

Strong arts and music program

The Downside

Some overcrowding in recent years

PS 203 is one of the highest-performing schools in the city. It has stable leadership, good teaching and a satisfied parent body.

The arts are big at PS 203. Students study artists such as Picasso, Wang Yani, Van Gogh, and Matisse. There is a school band, a 4th and 5th grade chorus and even an accordion club.

In 2012, the school was named a Blue Ribbon school by the U.S. Department of Education for students’ academic achievement and improvement. Only 1,700 schools received this honor nationally, and only five recipient schools were from New York.

PS 203 students “express the belief that all can and will succeed,” said Jacquelyn Pitta a communication director for the U.S. Department of Education.

Each student has access to his or her own computer, and every classroom houses a SMARTBoard, which allows teachers to prepare interactive creative lessons for students.

In 2013 a team of 5th grade P.S. 203 students placed first in New York and 10th nationally at the Odyssey of the Mind, an academic competition. Odyssey of the Mind taps into students’ critical thinking and creative skills, including challenges such as building mechanical devices and interpreting literary classics.

Enrollment has increased and the school has more children than it was originally designed to serve.

Special education: The school has team-teaching and self-contained special education classes.

Admissions: Neighborhood school with a districtwide gifted and talented program. (Owen Minott, web reports, July 2013)

Read more

School Stats

Citywide Average Key
This school is Better Near Worse than the citywide average

Is this school safe and well-run?

From the 2022-2023 NYC School Survey

How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
94%
82% Citywide Average
How many teachers say they would recommend this school to other families?
100%
84% Citywide Average

From the 2019-20 NY State Report Card

How many students were suspended?
0%
1% Citywide Average

From this school's most recent Quality Review Report

Are teachers effective?

From 2023 End-of-year Attendance and Chronic Absenteeism Report

How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
96%
85% Citywide Average
Years of principal experience at this school
8.2

How do students perform academically?

From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database

How many elementary school students scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
93%
53% Citywide Average
How many elementary school students scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
86%
50% Citywide Average

What is the Pre-K like?

From the NYC Program Assessment (CLASS and ECERS-R) Database through 2019-2020

Instruction: Teachers ask kids to explain their reasoning when they solve problems
Activities: Children explore art, music, sand/water, dramatic play and more
Language: Teachers talk and listen to kids in a supportive way
Interaction: Teachers ask kids good questions and invite back-and-forth conversation

Who does this school serve?

From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot

Enrollment
813
Asian
77%
Black
1%
Hispanic
12%
White
7%
Other
3%
Free or reduced priced lunch
42%
Students with disabilities
14%
English language learners
13%
Pre-K seats
52

From the 2022-23 School Quality Guide

Average daily attendance
96%
91% Citywide Average
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
10%
36% Citywide Average

From the 2020 School Directories

How does this school serve special populations?

From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database

How many students with disabilities scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
67%
30% Citywide Average
How many students with disabilities scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
50%
23% Citywide Average
How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
61%
21% Citywide Average
How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
12%
12% Citywide Average


For more information about our data sources, see About Our Data · More DOE statistics for this school

Contact & Location

Location

Bayside (District 26)
Buses: Q27, Q30, Q31, QM5

Contact

Principal
Deborah Florio
Parent Coordinator
Debra Halpern

Other Details

Shared campus?
No
This school is in its own building.

Zone for the 2019-2020 school year. Call school to confirm.

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