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P.S. 48 William G. Wilcox

Grades: Pre-K, K-8
Staff Pick
1050 Targee Street
Staten Island NY 10304
Phone: 718-447-8323

Our Insights

What’s Special

Arts integration, exceptional library, strong leadership

The Downside

Not enough pre-k seats to meet demand

PS 48 is a large neighborhood elementary school where arts and enrichment are not an afterthought but a vital part of the school day, championed by longtime school leader Jacqueline Mammolito.

PS 48 moved from its old building across the street in 2013 to an impressive new building which includes 32 classrooms, two science labs with an emergency eye wash machine, a soundproof music room, an art classroom, a theater and dance studio, a physical therapy room and a fourth-floor library with panoramic views of the treetops of Emerson Hill and the Manhattan skyline. It also expanded its grade levels to become a pre-k-8th-grade school as of September 2015.

Mammolito taught for 18 years before becoming principal. Her personal passion for the arts shows from her extensive collection of Pez dispensers to the gallery of student art lining her office walls. Arts are integrated into the curriculum. Students work with instructors from the Guggenheim Museum to build kinetic models of simple machines. In one 5th-grade science classroom, students created winter scenes with shaving cream; in another, students used a grid to create a three-dimensional model of the schoolyard while studying geographic land formations.

Students have access to recorders and instruction in drumming and violin. Arts partners include Marquis Studios for circus arts, taiko drumming and dance. Through a partnership with Cultural After School Adventures (CASA), students visit the Staten Island Zoo and work on different science related projects that support units in the NYC Science Scope and Sequence for prospective grade levels. For example, the younger grades explore animal shapes and colors and the older grades study animal adaptations and animal skulls. PS 48 also has a basketball league for 5th-graders and fee-based after-school clubs such as fencing, robotics, dance, art and martial arts.

The school promotes close ties between parents and staff. Were more than a school, were a family, said Mammolito. The parent coordinator plans birthday celebrations and monthly fun nights, and surveys families in the spring to plan the next years workshops, including units of study on Common Core Learning Standards.

Popular high school choices for PS 48 graduates include New Dorp High School, Staten Island Tech, Wagner, Scholars Academy and La Guardia.

SPECIAL EDUCATION: The school has ICT (integrated co-teaching) classes, and 3rd-, 4th- and 5th-grade bridge classes that mix several grades in one small class. PS 48 also provides speech, occupational and physical therapy services.

ADMISSIONS: Neighborhood school. Call the school to arrange a tour. (Giselle Aquino, February 2015)

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School Stats

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

Is this school safe and well-run?

From the 2020-21 NYC School Survey

How many students say they feel safe in the hallways, bathrooms and locker rooms?
81%
80% Citywide Average
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
61%
56% Citywide Average
How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
96%
78% 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 the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
91%
82% Citywide Average
Years of principal experience at this school
6.2

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?
72%
53% Citywide Average
How many elementary school students scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
70%
50% Citywide Average
How many middle school students scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
70%
52% Citywide Average
How many middle school students scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
70%
57% Citywide Average

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

How many 8th-graders earn high school credit?
100%
39% 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
985
Asian
28%
Black
5%
Hispanic
18%
White
47%
Other
2%
Free or reduced priced lunch
52%
Students with disabilities
19%
English language learners
12%
Pre-K seats
18

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

Average daily attendance
92%
90% Citywide Average
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
24%
38% Citywide Average

From the 2020 School Directories

Uniforms required?
No

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?
39%
27% Citywide Average
How many students with disabilities scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
38%
21% Citywide Average
How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
40%
17% Citywide Average
How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
20%
12% Citywide Average


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

Contact & Location

Location

Mid-Island (District 31)
Trains: SIR to Grasmere
Buses: S53, S74, S76, S78, S84, S86, S93, X10, X14, X15

Contact

Principal
Allison Odonnell
Parent Coordinator
Maria Hionas

Other Details

Shared campus?
No
This school is in its own building.
Uniforms required?
No
Metal detectors?
No

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

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