New YorkSchoolsPS 234 INDEPENDENCE SCHOOL

PS 234 INDEPENDENCE SCHOOL

PublicRegular
NEW YORK, New York · NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2
Teachers38.0FTE
Ratio12.9:1students per teacher
Students489enrolled
SCHOOL SNAPSHOT
Students489
Grade Span0–5
Student:Teacher12.9:1
Free/Reduced Lunch8%
Title INo
SectorPublic
Student : Teacher
11.8:1
8.5%vs prior yrUS avg 15.4:1
Teacher FTE
39
2.6%vs prior yr
Enrollment
460
5.9%vs prior yr
Years of Data
5
2020–2024
Counselors
ASCA max 1:250
Nurses
1:468
NASN max 1:750
Psychologists
1:468
40.7%vs prior yrNASP max 1:500
Social Workers
1:234
31.5%vs prior yrSSWAA max 1:250
Trends & 5-year history below

Pupil : Teacher Ratio — 5-Year Trend

10.2:111.3:112.4:113.6:114.7:115.8:12020202120222023202410.6:111.4:112.9:112.9:111.8:1This schoolUS public-school avg

Enrollment & Teacher FTE

453461469476484492363840414345202020212022202320244684564764894604440373839EnrollmentTeacher FTE

Year-by-year workforce

Metric20202021202220232024Nat Avg
Enrollment468456476489460
Teacher FTE4440373839
Pupil : Teacher ratio10.6:111.4:112.9:112.9:111.8:115.4:1

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)

1:01:741:1481:2211:2951:3692015201720201:3201:3421:234Counselor : PupilsSocial Worker : PupilsRecommended 1:250

Nurses & Psychologists — staff to pupils

1:01:1701:3411:5111:6821:8522015201720201:6391:4681:6391:7891:468Nurse : PupilsNASN 1:750Psychologist : PupilsNASP 1:500

Support staffing & ratios — year by year

Metric201520172020Nat Avg
Counselors (FTE)000
Nurses (FTE)101
Psychologists (FTE)10.81
Social Workers (FTE)21.92
Counselor : Pupils1:250
Nurse : Pupils1:6391:4681:750
Psychologist : Pupils1:6391:7891:4681:500
Social Worker : Pupils1:3201:3421:2341:250

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.