New YorkSchoolsPS 186 WALTER J DAMROSCH SCHOOL

PS 186 WALTER J DAMROSCH SCHOOL

PublicSpecial education
BRONX, New York · NYC SPECIAL SCHOOLS - DISTRICT 75
Teachers117.0FTE
Ratio6.0:1students per teacher
Students706enrolled
SCHOOL SNAPSHOT
Students706
Grade Span0–8
Student:Teacher6.0:1
Free/Reduced Lunch97%
Title INo
SectorPublic
Student : Teacher
5.6:1
6.7%vs prior yrUS avg 15.4:1
Teacher FTE
121
3.4%vs prior yr
Enrollment
681
3.5%vs prior yr
Years of Data
5
2020–2024
Counselors
1:208
40.2%vs prior yrASCA max 1:250
Nurses
NASN max 1:750
Psychologists
1:64
6.2%vs prior yrNASP max 1:500
Social Workers
1:703
8.6%vs prior yrSSWAA max 1:250
Trends & 5-year history below

Pupil : Teacher Ratio — 5-Year Trend

4.7:17.0:19.3:111.6:113.9:116.2:1202020212022202320246.0:15.5:15.9:16.0:15.6:1This schoolUS public-school avg

Enrollment & Teacher FTE

65066267468669871011111311511812012220202021202220232024703654661706681117118112117121EnrollmentTeacher FTE

Year-by-year workforce

Metric20202021202220232024Nat Avg
Enrollment703654661706681
Teacher FTE117118112117121
Pupil : Teacher ratio6.0:15.5:15.9:16.0:15.6:115.4:1

What These Numbers Mean

Teacher FTE

Full-Time Equivalent counts part-time teachers proportionally. One full-time teacher = 1.0 FTE; two half-time teachers also = 1.0 FTE. This is the standard federal reporting unit.

Pupil : Teacher ratio

NCES-reported ratio divides total enrollment by teacher FTE. It is NOT the same as average class size — schools with specialists, coaches, and resource teachers will show lower ratios than typical class sizes.

How to read the trend

A falling pupil:teacher ratio (line going down) means more staffing per student — generally a positive signal. A rising line can indicate budget pressure or fast enrollment growth outpacing hiring. Always compare to the US average (dashed grey).

Historical data spans 20202024 from NCES CCD.

Student Support & Wellbeing

Non-teaching staff who support student mental health, physical health, and behavioural needs. Lower pupil-to-staff ratios mean more one-on-one access.

Counselors & Social Workers — staff to pupils (recommended 1:250)

1:01:1661:3321:4981:6641:8312015201720201:3851:3481:2081:3851:7691:703Counselor : PupilsSocial Worker : PupilsRecommended 1:250

Nurses & Psychologists — staff to pupils

1:01:1621:3241:4861:6481:8102015201720201:1541:1151:771:691:64Nurse : PupilsNASN 1:750Psychologist : PupilsNASP 1:500

Support staffing & ratios — year by year

Metric201520172020Nat Avg
Counselors (FTE)22.23.4
Nurses (FTE)56.70
Psychologists (FTE)1011.210.9
Social Workers (FTE)211
Counselor : Pupils1:3851:3481:2081:250
Nurse : Pupils1:1541:1151:750
Psychologist : Pupils1:771:691:641:500
Social Worker : Pupils1:3851:7691:7031:250

Why these ratios matter

Counselors (ASCA 250:1)

School counselors support academic planning, college & career readiness, and social-emotional wellbeing. The American School Counselor Association recommends no more than 250 students per counselor.

Nurses (NASN 750:1)

School nurses manage chronic conditions, medications, immunisations, and emergencies. The National Association of School Nurses recommends at least 1 full-time nurse per 750 students (more for high-need populations).

Psychologists (NASP 500:1)

School psychologists assess learning & behavioural needs, run mental-health interventions, and coordinate special-education services. NASP recommends 500:1 or lower.

Social workers (SSWAA 250:1)

School social workers bridge home-school relationships, address attendance & trauma, and connect families to community resources. SSWAA recommends 250:1.

Source: US Dept of Education CRDC (20152020) — Civil Rights Data Collection.