- Enrollment
- 4,044
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Brooklyn, NY
Ps 503 School of Discovery (the)
Federal NCES profile for Ps 503 School of Discovery (the), including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 360015105908
👥 S:T ratio 71
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Ps 503 School of Discovery (the) earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 94% of New York schools.
- #44 of 95
- elementary schools in Brooklyn · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 7.2:1
- small classes for New York
- 92.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Ps 503 School of Discovery (the) has class sizes smaller than 94% of New York schools. Computed live against every New York school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Ps 503 School of Discovery (the) ranks #44 of 95 elementary schools in Brooklyn, NY.
School address
District: New York City Geographic District #20 · New York
NCES ID 360015105908 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-44 students YoY
Ps 503 School of Discovery (the) shrank from 630 students in 2022-23 to 586 in 2023-24 (-7.0%).
Teacher FTE lost 76.3 → 65.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-44 students YoY 360015105908 · Brooklyn, NY Elementary · MID · TRAD
550 enr · 7.2:1 · 92.1% lunch · RII 36
Nearest enrollment peer: Fort Hamilton High School (4,044 students)
Ps 503 School of Discovery (the) shrank from 630 students in 2022-23 to 586 in 2023-24 (-7.0%). Teacher FTE lost 76.3 → 65.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · New York schools → · Find another →
Ps 503 School of Discovery (the) in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Fort Hamilton
Fort Hamilton High School
4,044 students
- Franklin Delan
Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School
3,403 students
- New Utrecht Hi
New Utrecht High School
3,236 students
- Jhs 259 Willia
Jhs 259 William Mckinley
1,780 students
- Madeleine Bren 1,518
Madeleine Brennan School (the)
1,518 students
- This school 550
Ps 503 School of Discovery (the)
550 students
What this shows Ps 503 School of Discovery (the) reports 550 students on the CCD universe file.
How Ps 503 School of Discovery (the) compares
Ps 503 School of Discovery (the) is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs New York and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs New York | New York avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 7.2:1 | ▼ 39% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 92.1% | ▲ 64% | 56.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 550 | top 32% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
7.2:1
Leaner classes than 96% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
550
Bigger than 68% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
92.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 64% above the New York average of 56.2%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
7.2:1
students per teacher
- 39% below state mean
Top 6% in New York - lower ratio than 94% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
53.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 76.2%
Asian 14.4%
White 8.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Two or More 0.5%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 76.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 39.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 39.2, Ps 503 School of Discovery (the) is less mixed than the New York school average of 45.5.
How Ps 503 School of Discovery (the) Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Hamilton High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| New Utrecht High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Jhs 259 William Mckinley | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Madeleine Brennan School (the) | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Ps 503 School of Discovery (the)'s own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,403
- Students per teacher
- 14.5:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 3,236
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 1,780
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 1,518
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~550 students)
Frequently asked questions about Ps 503 School of Discovery (the)
How many students attend Ps 503 School of Discovery (the)?
Ps 503 School of Discovery (the) has 550 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Brooklyn, NY. CCD year-over-year: 630 (2022-23) → 586 (2023-24), down 44.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ps 503 School of Discovery (the)?
The student-teacher ratio at Ps 503 School of Discovery (the) is 7.2:1, which is 39% lower than the New York average of 11.8:1 and 54% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Ps 503 School of Discovery (the)?
92.1% of students at Ps 503 School of Discovery (the) are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New York average of 56.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Ps 503 School of Discovery (the)?
The largest demographic group at Ps 503 School of Discovery (the) is Hispanic or Latino at 76.2% of enrollment, in Brooklyn, NY.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Ps 503 School of Discovery (the)?
Ps 503 School of Discovery (the) has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 2 factors: student-teacher ratio, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology). Limited indicators were available, so the index reflects partial data.
How does Ps 503 School of Discovery (the) rank among elementary schools in Brooklyn?
By Resource Investment Index, Ps 503 School of Discovery (the) ranks #44 of 95 elementary schools in Brooklyn, NY. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Brooklyn on the city page.
What other schools are in New York City Geographic District #20?
Besides Ps 503 School of Discovery (the), New York City Geographic District #20 also operates Fort Hamilton High School (4,044 students), Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School (3,403 students), and New Utrecht High School (3,236 students). See the New York City Geographic District #20 district page for the complete list.