PS 249 CATON (THE)

Set in BROOKLYN, New York, PS 249 CATON (THE) is a moderately sized primary school, operated by NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #17. It serves 663 students across grades pre-K through 5. By comparison, New York's public schools average about 443 students each, so PS 249 CATON (THE) sits 50% larger than that benchmark.

Across the 49 schools in NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #17 (16,990 students total), PS 249 CATON (THE) accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

In terms of who attends, PS 249 CATON (THE) reports that 45% of students identify as Hispanic, with the remaining enrollment distributed across several groups. Beyond that, the school lists 39% Black, 7% White, 6% Asian. The wider county runs roughly 19% Hispanic, putting the school's mix considerably more Hispanic than the area baseline.

On the income-and-resources front, On paper, PS 249 CATON (THE) has 56 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 11.8:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 12.8:1, putting PS 249 CATON (THE) tighter than the state norm the norm. About 84% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment.

On a demographically-adjusted basis, PS 249 CATON (THE) sits in the top 10% of New York schools after the BeatsExpectations adjustment. Predicted proficiency for the school's FRL share is roughly 44.1%; actual is 76.6%, +32.4 points clear of the demographic baseline.

In the surrounding community, Kings County reports that median household earnings sit near $80,263, roughly 42% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 15%. PS 249 CATON (THE) is one of 583 public schools in Kings County (combined enrollment of about 291,697 students).

Nearest neighbor: BROOKLYN COLLEGE ACADEMY, around 0.3 miles off. Counting just inside five miles, 8 other public schools cluster around PS 249 CATON (THE). Among the 9 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), PS 249 CATON (THE) ranks 2nd on composite proficiency, ahead of the local average of 56.3%.

Geographically, the school is in a high-density area.

Over the past 7-year window. Over the past 7-year window, the student count ticked down 24%: 873 students in 2018 compared to 663 in 2025. Class-load math has tightened: from 14.8:1 in 2018 to 11.8:1 in 2025.

In the discussion threads here, posts here usually surface around enrollment questions, classroom assignments, and PTA news. The community welcomes input from current and former families.