CHILDREN'S LAB SCHOOL (THE)

45-46 42ND ST
LONG ISLAND CITY, NY 11104

www.ps343.org

456 Students

Elementary School K - 5th

School Overview

The Children’s Lab School, located in Long Island City, Queens, is a small, nurturing public elementary school (serving grades PK–5) that emphasizes a holistic approach to early childhood and primary education. As the name implies, the school is designed as a "laboratory" for learning, prioritizing inquiry-based instruction, hands-on experimentation, and project-based work. The curriculum is crafted to foster critical thinking and creativity, encouraging students to actively engage with their environment rather than relying solely on traditional rote memorization.

The school is widely recognized for its strong sense of community and its commitment to social-emotional development. Because of its smaller size, The Children’s Lab School is able to maintain a close-knit atmosphere where teachers often have a deep understanding of each student’s individual learning style and needs. By focusing on collaborative problem-solving and inclusive classroom practices, the school aims to create a supportive foundation that prepares students for the academic rigors of middle school while cultivating a lifelong curiosity and love for learning.

456

Total Students

40.0

Full-Time Teachers

11.4

Student/Teacher Ratio

70.2%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for CHILDREN'S LAB SCHOOL (THE)
Demographic	Student Count
White	86
Hispanic	247
Black	6
Asian	93
Two or More	19
American Indian	3
Pacific Islander	1

Hispanic
247 (54.3%)
Asian
93 (20.4%)
White
86 (18.9%)
Two or More
19 (4.2%)
Black
6 (1.3%)
American Indian
3 (0.7%)
Pacific Islander
1 (0.2%)

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 #24
Phone:	(718)361-3300
Website:	http://www.ps343.org
Grade Range:	K - 5th
Total Students:	456
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	40.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	11.4
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	306
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	14

* 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 75

Grade 1 77

Grade 2 74

Grade 3 84

Grade 4 73

Grade 5 73