Overview
P.S. 321 William Penn Elementary School is a public elementary school in Brooklyn, New York, serving students from 3-K through Grade 5. It operates within New York City Public Schools (the New York City Department of Education) as a District 15 school and is housed in two buildings: a Lower School at 763 President Street and an Upper School at 180 7th Avenue [1][2]. The school’s own site identifies it as “PS 321 William Penn Elementary School” and lists its school number as 15K321 [1][2].
Because school names and “P.S.” numbers can repeat across New York City districts, readers should confirm they are looking at the correct school by checking the school number 15K321, the District 15 affiliation, and the official site at ps321.org [1][2].
Location and School Identity
The school is split between two campuses in Brooklyn’s District 15:
- Lower School — 763 President St., Brooklyn, NY 11215, between 6th and 7th Avenues. Houses 3-K, 4-K, Kindergarten, and Grade 1. Telephone: (929) 992-8578 [1][2].
- Upper School — 180 7th Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11215, between 1st and 2nd Streets. Houses Grades 2 through 5. Telephone: (718) 499-2412; fax: (718) 965-9605 [1][2].
A school’s physical address does not by itself establish attendance eligibility. The school states that its 3-K and Pre-K seats fill “in accordance with the DOE’s admissions priorities for zoned schools,” and it directs families to the Department of Education for information on how children receive offers [1]. Families should treat zoning and eligibility as matters to confirm with the Department of Education rather than infer from proximity to either building.
Grades and Academic Programs
The confirmed grade span is 3-K through Grade 5, divided across the two buildings described above [1][2].
The school describes itself as a “vibrant and diverse neighborhood school” with heterogeneously grouped classrooms, in which children of many different ethnic groups learn to become part of a classroom and school community that fosters tolerance and respect for all people [2]. Its published description states that it helps children learn to think creatively and analytically, that its standards-based curriculum recognizes that all children can learn when they have clear expectations within rigorous classrooms, and that it is sensitive to differences in learning styles and provides additional support to children who need it [2]. The school frames children, teachers, administrators, parents, and support staff as part of a community of learners [2].
The retrieved sources do not describe specific curricula, magnet themes, dual-language programs, or enrichment offerings beyond these general statements. Readers should not assume that any particular program is offered without confirming it with the school.
A note on 3-K and Pre-K availability
The school’s homepage includes enrollment links for 3-K, Pre-K (4-K), and Kindergarten, and states that the 3-K and Pre-K programs have a limited number of seats — 15 for 3-K and 54 for Pre-K [1]. A separate page on the same site, however, states that PS 321 “does not currently offer Pre-K” and points families to the Department of Education for full-day public Pre-K options [3]. That page also links a handout from a December 1, 2015 parent session, which suggests it may predate the school’s current early-childhood offerings [3]. The two pages conflict; the homepage information indicates that 3-K and Pre-K seats are part of the school’s current admissions cycle [1]. Families should confirm availability directly with the school or the Department of Education.
Enrollment and School Data
The retrieved sources do not include enrollment totals, student-teacher ratios, attendance rates, or assessment results for P.S. 321. The only school-specific figures available are the program seat counts described above — 15 seats for 3-K and 54 seats for Pre-K — which the school presents as limited capacities for its early-childhood programs [1]. These are program capacities rather than enrollment totals, and they can change from one admissions cycle to the next.
No state or federal identifier beyond the New York City school number 15K321 appears in the retrieved sources [1][2]. Readers who need enrollment, demographic, or performance figures should consult official New York City Public Schools and New York State Education Department data sources rather than relying on this profile.
Admissions and Enrollment
The school directs prospective families to its Registration page for detailed information, and it maintains separate enrollment entry points for 3-K, Pre-K, and Kindergarten [1]. According to the school, its 3-K and Pre-K seats fill in accordance with the Department of Education’s admissions priorities for zoned schools, and families are referred to the Department of Education website and its “Learn How Children Get Offers” section for the applicable rules [1].
For families exploring the school, the site lists Fall 2026 tour dates in late November and early December, held at the Lower School. The school describes these tours as come-one, come-all, with no need to sign up beforehand, and notes that an additional virtual information session is planned for early January with the date to be announced [1]. The school also states that it cannot accommodate individual tour requests [1]. Its 2026–27 school year is listed as beginning Thursday, September 10 [1].
For families already enrolled, the school directs questions about registration, remote learning, and middle school applications to the parent coordinator [2]. No admissions deadlines, waitlist rules, or sibling-priority policies are described in the available sources.
Student Services and Family Information
- Parent coordinator: Deb Orr, reachable at (929) 992-8578 and by email at parentcoordinator@ps321.info. The school asks families to contact her with questions related to registration, remote learning, middle school applications, and more [2].
- Principal: Elizabeth Phillips [2].
- Afterschool: the school site links to an Afterschool page and notes that many initial questions can be answered there [1].
- Communications: families can subscribe to the Tuesday Bulletin and PTA emails, and the PTA calendar lists upcoming events [1][2].
- Volunteering: the school maintains a page for families who want to volunteer [1].
- External resources: the school’s parent resources page links to outside organizations, including Common Sense Media, Connect with Kids, INCLUDEnyc (resources for families of children with special needs), InsideSchools.org, the NYC DOE parent rights and responsibilities page, NYU child study resources, and Parents Helping Parents [3]. These are links to outside organizations; the page does not confirm which services the school itself provides.
The retrieved sources do not describe transportation eligibility, accessibility features, or language-support programs at this school. Families should ask the school or the Department of Education about those services directly.
History and Community Context
The school describes itself as a diverse neighborhood school with heterogeneously grouped classrooms and a community-of-learners model involving children, teachers, administrators, parents, and support staff [2]. It has published an antiracist statement affirming its identity as an educational institution practicing antiracism and condemning racism, discrimination, and bigotry in all forms [2]. The retrieved sources do not include a founding date, enrollment history, or other milestones, so no timeline is presented here.
How to Verify Current Information
- School website: ps321.org — the homepage and Registration page carry current enrollment links and tour information [1].
- School contacts: Lower School (929) 992-8578; Upper School (718) 499-2412; Parent Coordinator Deb Orr at parentcoordinator@ps321.info [1][2].
- Admissions rules: the school refers families to the New York City Department of Education website and its “Learn How Children Get Offers” section for admissions priorities [1].
- Data: for enrollment, demographic, and performance figures, consult official New York City Public Schools and New York State Education Department sources. The retrieved pages do not report these figures.