SPRUCE STREET SCHOOL

www.sprucestreetnyc.org

441 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 8th

School Overview

The Spruce Street School (P.S. 397) is a highly regarded public elementary school located in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan. Serving students from Pre-K through 5th grade, the school is well-known for its inquiry-based curriculum, which emphasizes project-based learning, critical thinking, and social-emotional development. It occupies a modern, purpose-built facility that includes amenities such as an expansive library, dedicated art and science rooms, and a rooftop playground, providing a bright and resource-rich environment for its diverse student body.

As part of District 2, the school maintains a strong reputation for academic rigor and active community engagement. It is often noted for its collaborative atmosphere, where teachers, parents, and administrators work closely together to foster a supportive learning environment. Because of its location in a dense urban neighborhood, the school frequently integrates the city’s surrounding resources—such as local parks, museums, and historical sites—into its educational programs, aiming to connect classroom lessons to the real-world experiences of their students.

441

Total Students

38.1

Full-Time Teachers

11.6

Student/Teacher Ratio

23.8%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for SPRUCE STREET SCHOOL
Demographic	Student Count
White	189
Hispanic	71
Black	26
Asian	102
Two or More	51
American Indian	2

White
189 (42.9%)
Asian
102 (23.1%)
Hispanic
71 (16.1%)
Two or More
51 (11.6%)
Black
26 (5.9%)
American Indian
2 (0.5%)

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 # 2
Phone:	(212)266-4800
Website:	http://www.sprucestreetnyc.org
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 8th
Total Students:	441
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	38.1
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	11.6
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	97
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	8

* 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 18

Kindergarten 46

Grade 1 47

Grade 2 51

Grade 3 39

Grade 4 39

Grade 5 35

Grade 6 55

Grade 7 54

Grade 8 56

Ungraded 1