PS 261 ZIPPORIAH MILLS

www.ps261brooklyn.org

564 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 5th

School Overview

PS 261, also known as the Philip Livingston School, is a highly regarded public elementary school located in the Boerum Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn. Serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, the school is well-known for its strong sense of community and its commitment to a progressive, student-centered approach to learning. It prides itself on fostering an inclusive environment that values social-emotional development alongside academic rigor, often focusing on project-based learning and critical thinking skills to engage its diverse student body.

Located in a historic brownstone-rich area, PS 261 has long been a focal point for local families, characterized by an active parent-teacher association and a collaborative culture. The school emphasizes a well-rounded education, often integrating arts, science, and literacy initiatives into the core curriculum. By maintaining a focus on personalized instruction and building a supportive school climate, PS 261 continues to be a sought-after institution within the District 15 public school system.

564

Total Students

44.9

Full-Time Teachers

12.6

Student/Teacher Ratio

29.3%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for PS 261 ZIPPORIAH MILLS
Demographic	Student Count
White	283
Hispanic	102
Black	77
Asian	39
Two or More	60
American Indian	2

White
283 (50.3%)
Hispanic
102 (18.1%)
Black
77 (13.7%)
Two or More
60 (10.7%)
Asian
39 (6.9%)
American Indian
2 (0.4%)

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 #15
Phone:	(718)330-9275
Website:	http://www.ps261brooklyn.org
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 5th
Total Students:	564
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	44.9
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	12.6
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	159
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	6

* 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

Pre-Kindergarten 64

Kindergarten 73

Grade 1 79

Grade 2 76

Grade 3 75

Grade 4 100

Grade 5 96

Ungraded 1