PS 222-FIRE FIGHTER CHRISTOPHER A SANTORA SCHOOL

86-15 37TH AVE
JACKSON HEIGHTS, NY 11372

207 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 2nd

School Overview

P.S. 222, officially known as the Firefighter Christopher A. Santora School, is a public elementary school located in the diverse neighborhood of Jackson Heights, Queens. Named in honor of a local hero who lost his life during the September 11th attacks, the school serves students from Pre-K through 5th grade. It is widely recognized for fostering a close-knit, supportive environment that reflects the vibrant, multi-ethnic community of the surrounding area.

The school is dedicated to providing a comprehensive academic foundation while prioritizing the social and emotional well-being of its students. Beyond its core curriculum, P.S. 222 often integrates arts, technology, and character-building initiatives to prepare students for middle school success. By upholding the legacy of Christopher Santora—a former teacher and firefighter—the school emphasizes values of service, community involvement, and resilience, aiming to create a nurturing space where every child can thrive academically and personally.

207

Total Students

16.6

Full-Time Teachers

12.4

Student/Teacher Ratio

59.4%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for PS 222-FIRE FIGHTER CHRISTOPHER A SANTORA SCHOOL
Demographic	Student Count
White	29
Hispanic	148
Black	1
Asian	18
Two or More	8
American Indian	1
Pacific Islander	2

Hispanic
148 (71.5 %)
White
29 (14.0 %)
Asian
18 (8.7 %)
Two or More
8 (3.9 %)
Pacific Islander
2 (1.0 %)
Black
1 (0.5 %)
American Indian
1 (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 #30
Phone:	(718)429-2563
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 2nd
Total Students:	207
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	16.6
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	12.4
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	119
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 18

Kindergarten 72

Grade 1 66

Grade 2 51