PS 81 ROBERT J CHRISTEN

715 Students

Elementary School K - 5th

School Overview

P.S. 81 Robert J. Christen, located in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, is a well-regarded public elementary school serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. Known for its strong sense of community and academic rigor, the school consistently earns high marks from the New York City Department of Education. It places a significant emphasis on creating a nurturing environment that balances core academic subjects—such as mathematics, literacy, and science—with enrichment programs that encourage critical thinking and intellectual curiosity.

Beyond the classroom, P.S. 81 is highly regarded for its active parent involvement and a supportive school culture that prioritizes student well-being. The school typically offers a variety of extracurricular activities and arts integration to foster a well-rounded educational experience. By maintaining a focus on personalized instruction and professional development for its staff, P.S. 81 has established itself as a staple of the Riverdale neighborhood, consistently striving to prepare its students for success in middle school and beyond.

715

Total Students

49.2

Full-Time Teachers

14.5

Student/Teacher Ratio

42.9%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for PS 81 ROBERT J CHRISTEN
Demographic	Student Count
White	238
Hispanic	341
Black	53
Asian	39
Two or More	39
American Indian	3
Pacific Islander	2

Hispanic
341 (47.7%)
White
238 (33.3%)
Black
53 (7.4%)
Asian
39 (5.5%)
Two or More
39 (5.5%)
American Indian
3 (0.4%)
Pacific Islander
2 (0.3%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #10
Phone:	(718)796-8965
Grade Range:	K - 5th
Total Students:	715
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	49.2
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	14.5
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	296
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	11

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 130

Grade 1 123

Grade 2 128

Grade 3 100

Grade 4 116

Grade 5 116

Ungraded 2