Original Research by School Decision on Ps 373
PS 373 is a school serving prekindergarten through eighth grade in the NYC Special Schools District 75, which is the city's system for students with significant disabilities. The school sits on Henderson Avenue in the Tompkinville section of Staten Island's North Shore, in a neighborhood of mixed maritime industry, public housing, and commercial retail.
The school enrolls a substantial student population. A large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting economic need in the families served. The racial and ethnic composition is diverse: roughly equal shares of Hispanic, White, Asian, and Black students, with smaller numbers of multiracial and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander students. A considerable portion of the enrollment—labeled in the data as "ungraded"—reflects the school's role in serving students with complex disabilities across an age range where traditional grade assignment may not apply. Smaller numbers of students appear in the upper elementary and middle grades, typical of a special education school where transition planning and age-appropriate placements mean students may move to other settings as they progress.
State testing data was not available for this school, which is consistent with District 75's mission: many students in the system are working toward functional and life-skills curricula rather than grade-level standards. A graduation rate is not applicable, as the school serves only through eighth grade. The comparison metrics used for general public schools—proficiency, graduation, chronic absenteeism—do not apply to this school's population and purpose.
What the school does offer reflects its special education design. District 75 schools provide individualized special education services, classroom supports, and related services (speech, occupational therapy, counseling) tailored to each student's IEP. PS 373 is part of a district that has recently adopted the NYC Reads literacy curriculum, a science-of-reading approach emphasizing phonics, though implementation across District 75 remains flexible to account for students working on life-skills versus grade-level content.
A parent considering PS 373 should know that District 75 operates under distinct budgeting and staffing realities. The district recently weathered a significant budget crisis: in late 2023 the city proposed deep cuts to District 75 that would have eliminated extracurricular programming and reduced paraprofessional staffing, directly affecting classroom support for students with high needs. After parent and staff advocacy, those cuts were reversed, but the episode underscores the funding pressures these schools face. Paraprofessional shortages remain a known challenge across the district.
On a broader note, Staten Island itself is a residential, car-dependent borough where many families live in single-family homes reached by private transportation. The North Shore, where PS 373 is located, is less walkable than some commercial corridors; families typically drive to school. Housing values in the area are substantial, and much of the borough's civic and community life centers around neighborhood-based schools, libraries, and parks rather than a single downtown. The Greenbelt and waterfront parks offer outdoor space, and the free Staten Island Ferry connects the North Shore to Lower Manhattan.
District 75 has been expanding seat capacity across the city to reduce wait lists and allow students to attend school closer to home. Some new programs have opened in Brooklyn, but significant seat shortages remain in the Bronx, Queens, and parts of Staten Island, so placement at a local school is not guaranteed for every family.
If your child has an IEP and needs a specialized, small setting with individualized services and classroom support, PS 373 is part of the dedicated system designed for that. If you are exploring placement, you would want to visit, observe the classroom environment, understand the specific curriculum and related services offered, and confirm how the school's approach aligns with your child's strengths and needs.
See more original research from School Decision →