PS 197 JOHN B RUSSWURM

224 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 5th

School Overview

P.S. 197, also known as the John B. Russwurm School, is located in the Central Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan. Named after John Brown Russwurm, a prominent 19th-century abolitionist and the first African American to graduate from an American college, the school carries a historical legacy rooted in empowerment and academic achievement. Serving students in the local community, the school focuses on providing a comprehensive elementary education that encourages both personal growth and foundational academic skills within a supportive urban environment.

The school is part of the New York City Department of Education’s District 5. As with many schools in the area, P.S. 197 emphasizes community engagement and strives to create an inclusive atmosphere that reflects the rich cultural heritage of Harlem. By fostering a collaborative relationship between educators, families, and students, the school aims to prepare its young learners for the rigors of middle school and beyond, maintaining a commitment to the spirit of its namesake, who spent his life championing education and equality.

224

Total Students

23.5

Full-Time Teachers

9.5

Student/Teacher Ratio

94.2%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for PS 197 JOHN B RUSSWURM
Demographic	Student Count
White	12
Hispanic	84
Black	124
Two or More	4

Black
124 (55.4%)
Hispanic
84 (37.5%)
White
12 (5.4%)
Two or More
4 (1.8%)

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 # 5
Phone:	(212)690-5960
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 5th
Total Students:	224
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	23.5
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	9.5
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	207
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	4

* 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 35

Kindergarten 35

Grade 1 22

Grade 2 37

Grade 3 34

Grade 4 26

Grade 5 35