MS 243 CENTER SCHOOL

www.thecenterschool.org

252 Students

Middle School 5th - 8th

School Overview

MS 243, commonly known as **The Center School**, is a highly regarded public middle school located in Manhattan’s Upper West Side. It is a progressive, community-driven institution that prides itself on fostering a supportive environment where students are encouraged to think critically and express their individuality. The school is well-known for its small class sizes and its commitment to social-emotional learning, aiming to develop the "whole child" rather than focusing solely on standardized testing.

Academically, The Center School offers a rigorous and interdisciplinary curriculum that emphasizes hands-on projects, collaborative learning, and student inquiry. Its location on 84th Street allows the school to leverage the city's rich resources, frequently integrating New York’s museums, parks, and cultural institutions into its educational programming. With a strong emphasis on inclusivity and community engagement, MS 243 is widely considered a popular choice for families seeking a personalized, intellectually stimulating middle school experience in the heart of the city.

252

Total Students

16.2

Full-Time Teachers

15.6

Student/Teacher Ratio

21.0%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for MS 243 CENTER SCHOOL
Demographic	Student Count
White	141
Hispanic	37
Black	33
Asian	13
Two or More	26
Pacific Islander	2

White
141 (56.0 %)
Hispanic
37 (14.7 %)
Black
33 (13.1 %)
Two or More
26 (10.3 %)
Asian
13 (5.2 %)
Pacific Islander
2 (0.8 %)

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 # 3
Phone:	(212)799-1477
Website:	http://www.thecenterschool.org
Grade Range:	5th - 8th
Total Students:	252
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	16.2
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	15.6
NSLP Participation:¹	N/A
Qualified Free Lunch:	47
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	6

* 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 5 57

Grade 6 65

Grade 7 66

Grade 8 64