LOCKE SCHOOL OF ARTS AND ENGINEERING (THE)

273 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 5th

School Overview

PS 185, also known as the Early Childhood Discovery school, is a specialized elementary institution located in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan. As the name suggests, the school focuses primarily on early childhood education, serving students in the Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten grades. Its mission is centered on fostering a foundational love for learning through a developmentally appropriate curriculum that emphasizes exploration, social-emotional growth, and fundamental academic skills in a nurturing environment.

Situated on West 112th Street, the school is deeply integrated into the local community and is recognized for its commitment to preparing young learners for their future academic journeys. Because the school is dedicated exclusively to the early years of education, it provides a tailored experience where classrooms are specifically designed to support the unique needs of young children. Families who choose PS 185 generally value a community-focused setting that prioritizes a gentle and engaging transition into the New York City public school system.

273

Total Students

33.1

Full-Time Teachers

8.2

Student/Teacher Ratio

71.8%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for LOCKE SCHOOL OF ARTS AND ENGINEERING (THE)
Demographic	Student Count
White	51
Hispanic	97
Black	96
Asian	5
Two or More	20
American Indian	3
Pacific Islander	1

Hispanic
97 (35.5 %)
Black
96 (35.2 %)
White
51 (18.7 %)
Two or More
20 (7.3 %)
Asian
5 (1.8 %)
American Indian
3 (1.1 %)
Pacific Islander
1 (0.4 %)

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 # 3
Phone:	(212)534-7490
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 5th
Total Students:	273
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	33.1
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	8.2
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	189
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	7

* 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 70

Kindergarten 25

Grade 1 29

Grade 2 31

Grade 3 48

Grade 4 31

Grade 5 39