PS 397 FOSTER-LAURIE

165 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 5th

School Overview

PS 397, also known as the Foster-Laurie School, is a public elementary school located in the Prospect Lefferts Gardens neighborhood of Brooklyn. Serving students in grades PK through 5, the school is part of the New York City Department of Education’s District 17. The school is situated in a vibrant, historic area of Brooklyn and operates with a commitment to providing a foundational academic experience for its diverse local student body.

As a neighborhood school, PS 397 focuses on the core developmental needs of primary-age children, emphasizing literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional growth. Like many schools in the NYC system, it aims to foster an inclusive learning environment while working to meet the specific benchmarks set by the state. Families interested in the school’s specific current performance data, extracurricular offerings, or instructional approach are encouraged to consult the NYC Department of Education’s "School Finder" portal or reach out to the school’s main office directly for the most up-to-date information regarding enrollment and programs.

165

Total Students

13.7

Full-Time Teachers

12.0

Student/Teacher Ratio

91.5%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for PS 397 FOSTER-LAURIE
Demographic	Student Count
White	9
Hispanic	13
Black	125
Asian	8
Two or More	4
American Indian	6

Black
125 (75.8 %)
Hispanic
13 (7.9 %)
White
9 (5.5 %)
Asian
8 (4.8 %)
American Indian
6 (3.6 %)
Two or More
4 (2.4 %)

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 #17
Phone:	(718)774-5200
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 5th
Total Students:	165
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	13.7
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	12.0
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	150
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	1

* 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 16

Kindergarten 29

Grade 1 32

Grade 2 23

Grade 3 15

Grade 4 18

Grade 5 32