PS 56 LOUIS DESARIO SCHOOL (THE)

640 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 5th

School Overview

PS 56, officially known as The Louis Desario School, is a public elementary school located in the Huguenot neighborhood of Staten Island, New York. Serving students from Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade, the school is part of the New York City Department of Education’s District 31. The school is widely recognized for its strong focus on community and its long-standing reputation for maintaining a nurturing, student-centered environment that prioritizes both academic growth and social-emotional development.

Academically, PS 56 is known for its rigorous curriculum and dedicated staff who emphasize foundational skills in literacy and mathematics. The school actively promotes a culture of inclusion, offering various support services and enrichment programs to meet the diverse needs of its student population. Beyond the classroom, the school encourages parent involvement and community engagement, fostering a collaborative atmosphere where families and educators work together to support student success. Through its commitment to a well-rounded education, PS 56 remains a cornerstone of the Huguenot community.

640

Total Students

45.6

Full-Time Teachers

14.0

Student/Teacher Ratio

39.7%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for PS 56 LOUIS DESARIO SCHOOL (THE)
Demographic	Student Count
White	437
Hispanic	90
Black	11
Asian	90
Two or More	9
American Indian	1
Pacific Islander	2

White
437 (68.3 %)
Hispanic
90 (14.1 %)
Asian
90 (14.1 %)
Black
11 (1.7 %)
Two or More
9 (1.4 %)
Pacific Islander
2 (0.3 %)
American Indian
1 (0.2 %)

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 #31
Phone:	(718)605-1189
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 5th
Total Students:	640
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	45.6
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	14.0
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	244
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	10

* 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 65

Kindergarten 98

Grade 1 93

Grade 2 86

Grade 3 104

Grade 4 96

Grade 5 98