MS 255 SALK SCHOOL OF SCIENCE

364 Students

Middle School 6th - 8th

School Overview

MS 255, also known as the Salk School of Science, is a highly regarded public middle school located in the Gramercy Park neighborhood of Manhattan. Affiliated with the New York University School of Medicine, the school is well-known for its rigorous academic environment, which places a heavy emphasis on hands-on science and inquiry-based learning. The curriculum is designed to foster critical thinking and intellectual curiosity, often utilizing the school’s unique partnership with NYU to provide students with enrichment opportunities, guest speakers, and exposure to scientific research.

Beyond its focus on STEM, Salk is recognized for its strong, tight-knit community and commitment to the social and emotional development of its students. The school maintains a competitive admissions process and draws students from across the city, resulting in a diverse and high-achieving student body. With a culture that balances academic challenge with a supportive atmosphere, MS 255 is consistently ranked among the top middle schools in New York City, preparing its students for success in many of the city’s most prestigious high schools.

364

Total Students

25.3

Full-Time Teachers

14.4

Student/Teacher Ratio

20.3%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for MS 255 SALK SCHOOL OF SCIENCE
Demographic	Student Count
White	185
Hispanic	44
Black	8
Asian	101
Two or More	21
American Indian	3
Pacific Islander	2

White
185 (50.8 %)
Asian
101 (27.7 %)
Hispanic
44 (12.1 %)
Two or More
21 (5.8 %)
Black
8 (2.2 %)
American Indian
3 (0.8 %)
Pacific Islander
2 (0.5 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Middle 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 # 2
Phone:	(212)614-8785
Grade Range:	6th - 8th
Total Students:	364
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	25.3
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	14.4
NSLP Participation:¹	N/A
Qualified Free Lunch:	66
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	8

* 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

Grade 6 138

Grade 7 117

Grade 8 108

Ungraded 1