Public schools in Far Rockaway, NY
16 open public schools with an address in Far Rockaway, operated by 4 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
16
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
7,827
16 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
12.7:1
New York median 11.1:1
Charter schools
3
0 virtual
An overview of Far Rockaway public schools
The federal directory lists 16 public schools in Far Rockaway, NY: 9 elementary, 3 middle, 3 high, 1 combined or other. The 16 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 7,827 students, an average of 489 per school. The largest campus is Challenge Preparatory Charter School (1,218 students), and the largest elementary school is Success Academy Charter School-Far Rockaway (728).
New York City Geographic District #27 operates the most schools here (13), plus 3 charter, service, or other agencies. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 12.7:1, higher than the statewide school median of 11.1:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 3 charter schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
About 88% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Far Rockaway
New York City Geographic District #27
Public school district
13 schools in Far Rockaway · 63 total
Challenge Preparatory Charter School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Far Rockaway
Peninsula Preparatory Academy Charter School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Far Rockaway
Success Academy Charter School-Far Rockaway
Independent charter agency
1 school in Far Rockaway
Elementary schools in Far Rockaway
9| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lighthouse Elementary School New York City Geographic District #27 | PK–05 | 157 | 8.6:1 | |
| Peninsula Preparatory Academy Charter School Peninsula Preparatory Academy Charter School · Charter | PK–05 | 313 | — | |
| PS 104 Bays Water (The) New York City Geographic District #27 | PK–05 | 542 | 12.9:1 | |
| PS 105 Bay School (The) New York City Geographic District #27 | PK–08 | 600 | 10.7:1 | |
| PS 197 Ocean School (The) New York City Geographic District #27 | PK–05 | 425 | 14.2:1 | |
| PS 43 New York City Geographic District #27 | PK–08 | 574 | 13:1 | |
| Randolph Holder School of Social Justice (The) New York City Geographic District #27 | PK–05 | 542 | 12.4:1 | |
| Success Academy Charter School-Far Rockaway Success Academy Charter School-Far Rockaway · Charter | KG–08 | 728 | — | |
| Wave Preparatory Elementary School New York City Geographic District #27 | PK–05 | 484 | 17.3:1 |
Middle schools in Far Rockaway
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knowledge and Power Preparatory Academy VI New York City Geographic District #27 | 06–08 | 281 | 10.5:1 | |
| MS 53 Brian Piccolo New York City Geographic District #27 | 06–08 | 235 | 9.2:1 | |
| Village Academy New York City Geographic District #27 | 06–08 | 305 | 8.6:1 |
High schools in Far Rockaway
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academy of Medical Technology - a College Board School New York City Geographic District #27 | 06–12 | 605 | 13.4:1 | |
| Frederick Douglass Academy VI High School New York City Geographic District #27 | 09–12 | 311 | 10.9:1 | |
| Queens High School for Information Research and Technology New York City Geographic District #27 | 09–12 | 507 | 14.2:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Far Rockaway
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Challenge Preparatory Charter School Challenge Preparatory Charter School · Charter | KG–12 | 1,218 | 14.2:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White1.9%
- Hispanic45%
- Black48.5%
- Asian1.3%
- American Indian / Alaska Native1.5%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.4%
- Multiracial1.5%
Enrollment-weighted across 16 Far Rockaway schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (7,827 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Far Rockaway
How many public schools are in Far Rockaway, NY?
The current NCES directory lists 16 open public schools with a location address in Far Rockaway: 9 elementary, 3 middle, 3 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 7,827 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Far Rockaway?
Schools with an address in Far Rockaway belong to 4 education agencies, led by New York City Geographic District #27 (13 schools), Challenge Preparatory Charter School (1 school), Peninsula Preparatory Academy Charter School (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Far Rockaway?
Academy of Medical Technology - a College Board School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Far Rockaway, with 605 students in 2024–25 (grades 06–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Far Rockaway?
Yes. 3 of the 16 public schools in Far Rockaway are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Challenge Preparatory Charter School, Peninsula Preparatory Academy Charter School, Success Academy Charter School-Far Rockaway. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Far Rockaway schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Far Rockaway public schools is 12.7:1, higher than the New York school median of 11.1:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Far Rockaway guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby New York cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All New York cities