PS 97 HIGHLAWN (THE)

www.ps97.org

882 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 5th

School Overview

P.S. 97, known as The Highlawn School, is a public elementary school located in the Bensonhurst neighborhood of Brooklyn. Serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, the school is well-regarded for fostering a nurturing and inclusive environment that emphasizes both academic growth and social-emotional development. The school prides itself on a diverse student body and a curriculum designed to build strong foundational skills in literacy, mathematics, and science, often incorporating hands-on learning experiences to engage young learners.

Beyond the core classroom curriculum, P.S. 97 is known for its active school community and commitment to family engagement. The school offers various extracurricular programs and events that encourage parental involvement and collaboration between home and school. With a focus on preparing students for middle school success, the staff at The Highlawn School prioritizes a supportive culture that aims to meet the individual needs of every child, helping them develop the confidence and critical thinking skills necessary for their future education.

882

Total Students

56.9

Full-Time Teachers

15.5

Student/Teacher Ratio

77.6%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for PS 97 HIGHLAWN (THE)
Demographic	Student Count
White	221
Hispanic	199
Black	11
Asian	427
Two or More	15
American Indian	8
Pacific Islander	1

Asian
427 (48.4%)
White
221 (25.1%)
Hispanic
199 (22.6%)
Two or More
15 (1.7%)
Black
11 (1.2%)
American Indian
8 (0.9%)
Pacific Islander
1 (0.1%)

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 #21
Phone:	(718)672-7550
Website:	http://www.ps97.org
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 5th
Total Students:	882
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	56.9
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	15.5
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	655
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	29

* 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 91

Kindergarten 133

Grade 1 142

Grade 2 135

Grade 3 141

Grade 4 130

Grade 5 110