PS 79 FRANCIS LEWIS

www.ps79q.org

1,057 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 5th

School Overview

PS 79, also known as the Francis Lewis School, is a public elementary school located in the quiet, residential neighborhood of Whitestone in Queens, New York. Serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, the school is well-regarded for its focus on providing a nurturing and structured academic environment. As part of the New York City Department of Education, PS 79 emphasizes foundational literacy and mathematics while encouraging students to develop critical thinking skills and personal responsibility within a diverse community setting.

The school is deeply integrated into the local Whitestone community, often serving as a focal point for neighborhood families. Beyond its core curriculum, PS 79 is known for promoting a sense of school spirit and community involvement, often fostering collaborative relationships between educators, students, and parents. By focusing on both academic achievement and social-emotional growth, the school aims to prepare its students for the transition to middle school and beyond, maintaining a reputation as a stable and supportive institution in the District 25 school system.

1,057

Total Students

64.8

Full-Time Teachers

16.3

Student/Teacher Ratio

68.9%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for PS 79 FRANCIS LEWIS
Demographic	Student Count
White	154
Hispanic	217
Black	14
Asian	651
Two or More	14
American Indian	4
Pacific Islander	3

Asian
651 (61.6 %)
Hispanic
217 (20.5 %)
White
154 (14.6 %)
Black
14 (1.3 %)
Two or More
14 (1.3 %)
American Indian
4 (0.4 %)
Pacific Islander
3 (0.3 %)

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 #25
Phone:	(718)746-0396
Website:	http://www.ps79q.org
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 5th
Total Students:	1,057
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	64.8
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	16.3
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	658
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	70

* 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 51

Kindergarten 137

Grade 1 169

Grade 2 170

Grade 3 176

Grade 4 173

Grade 5 180

Ungraded 1

Grades Taught Data Table

Grades Taught and Student Counts for PS 79 FRANCIS LEWIS
Grade	Student Count
Pre-Kindergarten	51
Kindergarten	137
Grade 1	169
Grade 2	170
Grade 3	176
Grade 4	173
Grade 5	180
Ungraded	1

Gender Ratio

Student Gender Ratio Data Table

Student Gender Ratio for PS 79 FRANCIS LEWIS
Gender	Student Count	Percentage
Female	514	48.6%
Male	543	51.4%

Nearby Elementary Schools (Within 10 Miles)