Home to millions of families, New York City has schools in nearly every neighborhood. Across the five boroughs, there are over 1,500 traditional public schools, along with hundreds of charter and private schools. In a city where space can be sparse, multiple schools can sometimes occupy the same building, sharing not just a block, but a roof.
On weekday mornings and afternoons, one can see groups of students walking to and from school, with public transportation serving as another popular option. Other students may take the bus, carpool, or be driven by a parent or guardian. Amid the heavy pedestrian and vehicle traffic that accompanies school arrivals and dismissals, safety risks can arise. In partnership with data visualization firm 1Point21 Interactive, Abaev Law Firm analyzed vehicle-crash data around NYC schools to understand whether certain school zones pose more of a risk than others.
In order to focus the study on crashes that may be associated with school-related traffic, filtering was applied to the dataset. The data includes all crash incidents between January 1, 2021 and May 29, 2026, within the calendar school year, and within broad school hours. This excludes summer months when school is not in session, weekends, and any hours between 6:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m.
A 0.15-mile radius around the school was set to reflect school-related activity, which equates to approximately three blocks in the city. Crashes on nearby highways or interstates, even when appearing within the radius, were excluded, as they cannot fairly be associated with school-related traffic. For readability, the study uses the term “school zone” to refer to the studied area.
Read on to uncover our findings.
Quick Stats
- There were 27,518 injuries and 76 fatalities reported due to crashes in school zones (areas within 0.15 miles of a school) during the study period.
- Among these cases, 7,766 injuries and 53 fatalities occurred to pedestrians.
- Of the top 10 schools recording the most school zone crashes, six were in Brooklyn and four were in the Bronx.
- By borough, Brooklyn recorded the most school zone crashes, with 418 over the study period. Queens (344 crashes), the Bronx (300 crashes), Manhattan (239 crashes), and Staten Island (80 crashes) followed behind.
- Manhattan recorded the most average crashes per school, with an average of 62 over the study period.
- Fifty schools recorded at least one fatal pedestrian crash within the 0.15-mile buffer zone; among all fatalities accounted for in the study, 70% were pedestrians.
The NYC School Zones with the Most Crashes
Over the study period, 58,312 unique crashes, 27,518 injuries, and 76 fatalities occurred within NYC school zones (areas within 0.15 miles of a school). The table below shows the top 10 schools with the most school zone crashes over the nearly five-year study period. Of them, six are located in Brooklyn and four are located in the Bronx.
George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education recorded the most school zone crashes among the nearly 1,400 schools analyzed in this study, with 197 crashes, resulting in 61 injuries. It should be noted that this school shares a building with additional schools: City Polytechnic High School of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology and MS915 Middle School. The building, at 105 Tech Place, is located in the busy Downtown Brooklyn area near the Jay Street–MetroTech subway station complex and Brooklyn Commons (formerly MetroTech Center). Due to the combination of office, institutional, retail, and transit activity, the area sees significant pedestrian, bus, delivery, and vehicle traffic throughout the day that may have contributed to the crashes reported in the school’s vicinity.
Rose Hill Pre-K Center at 2512 Marion Avenue in the Bronx ranked second by crash volume with 186 school zone crashes and 114 injuries, the highest injury total across the study. That equates to about 0.61 injuries per crash, indicating that a substantial share of crashes resulted in at least one reported injury. The school sits near East Fordham Road, a major commercial and transit corridor in the Bronx’s largest shopping district, and Fordham University’s Rose Hill campus. Several bus routes serve the area, which may add to pedestrian activity. Moreover, heavy traffic and frequent bus stops may increase the number of interactions among vehicles, buses, and pedestrians, potentially contributing to greater crash exposure.
In third, Khalil Gibran International Academy at 382 Schermerhorn Street, part of the Boerum Hill neighborhood in Brooklyn, recorded 177 crashes and 64 injuries. The school sits near three major Brooklyn avenues: Atlantic Avenue, Flatbush Avenue, and Fourth Avenue. These corridors converge near the Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center transit hub. Given the school’s proximity to a dense transportation and commercial environment, the surrounding streets experience significant activity which may be heightened during school arrivals and dismissals.
| Rank | school name | location | crashes | injuries | fatalities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education | 105 Tech Pl, Brooklyn, NY 11201 | 197 | 61 | 0 |
| 2 | Rose Hill Pre-K Center | 2512 Marion Ave, Bronx, NY 10458 | 186 | 114 | 0 |
| 3 | Khalil Gibran International Academy | 382 Schermerhorn St, Brooklyn, NY 11217 | 177 | 64 | 0 |
| 4 | Brooklyn Frontiers High School | 112 Schermerhorn St, Brooklyn, NY 11201 | 169 | 67 | 0 |
| 5 | Creo College Preparatory Charter School | 524 Courtlandt Ave, Bronx, NY 10451 | 165 | 93 | 1 |
| 6 | P.S. 170 Elementary School | 1598 Townsend Ave, Bronx, NY 10452 | 164 | 71 | 0 |
| 7 | Brooklyn International High School | 49 Flatbush Ave Ext, Brooklyn, NY 11201 | 153 | 44 | 0 |
| 8 | Brooklyn RISE Charter School | 489 State St, Brooklyn, NY 11217 | 150 | 81 | 0 |
| 9 | The Elizabeth Jennings School for Bold Explorers | 9 Hanover Pl, Brooklyn, NY 11217 | 150 | 58 | 0 |
| 10 | Jonas Bronck Academy | 400 E Fordham Rd, Bronx, NY 10458 | 148 | 88 | 0 |
Interactive Map: Explore the Data
To explore the data further, use the interactive map to search for a school by name, hover over each point to view its total crashes and injuries during the study period, or use the filter at the top to see where NYC’s 50 schools with the highest crash totals are located.
Which NYC Borough Has the Most Dangerous School Zones?
While individual hotspots were primarily located in Brooklyn and the Bronx, Manhattan had the highest average number of crashes per school. Within a 0.15-mile radius, a typical Manhattan school recorded 57 crashes over the study period.
By sheer volume, Brooklyn recorded the most crashes (19,842), pedestrian injuries (2,371), and pedestrian fatalities (23) out of the five boroughs. In contrast, Staten Island recorded the least school zone crashes, with 1,084 incidents over the study period at a rate of 14 crashes per school.
This may be partly explained by the fact that Staten Island has the fewest residents of the five boroughs despite being the third-largest by land area and having a more suburban development pattern. This may reduce the concentration of traffic generated by multiple activities across the borough and, in turn, contribute to lower crash exposure near schools.
| Borough | Schools | Total Crashes | Crashes per School | Pedestrian Injuries | Pedestrian Fatalities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manhattan | 239 | 14,903 | 62 | 1,923 | 15 |
| Bronx | 300 | 13,819 | 46 | 1,956 | 12 |
| Brooklyn | 418 | 19,842 | 47 | 2,371 | 23 |
| Queens | 344 | 8,664 | 25 | 1,350 | 3 |
| Staten Island | 80 | 1,084 | 14 | 166 | 0 |
The sections below present the top 10 schools by crash volume in each borough.
Manhattan
Despite its global prominence, Manhattan is NYC’s smallest borough by land area. The map below shows the 10 school zones in Manhattan with the highest number of crashes.
| Rank | School Name | Crashes | Pedestrian Injuries | Pedestrian Fatalities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Park East High School | 142 | 21 | 1 |
| 2 | P.S. 130 Hernando De Soto | 142 | 20 | 0 |
| 3 | The Judith S. Kaye School | 141 | 10 | 0 |
| 4 | Renaissance School of the Arts | 140 | 13 | 0 |
| 5 | New Design High School | 136 | 29 | 0 |
| 6 | The High School for Climate Justice | 136 | 7 | 0 |
| 7 | Dos Puentes Elementary School | 127 | 16 | 0 |
| 8 | I.S. 528 Bea Fuller Rodgers School | 124 | 15 | 0 |
| 9 | The Bilingual Bicultural School | 123 | 14 | 0 |
| 10 | Amber Charter School East Harlem | 120 | 15 | 1 |
Brooklyn
The map below shows the 10 most crash-prone school zones in Brooklyn.
| Rank | School name | Crashes | Pedestrian Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education | 197 | 12 |
| 2 | Khalil Gibran International Academy | 177 | 8 |
| 3 | Brooklyn Frontiers High School | 169 | 20 |
| 4 | Brooklyn International High School | 153 | 44 |
| 5 | Brooklyn RISE Charter School | 150 | 30 |
| 6 | The Elizabeth Jennings School for Bold Explorers | 150 | 9 |
| 7 | P.S. 213 New Lots | 135 | 12 |
| 8 | Nelson Mandela High School | 133 | 9 |
| 9 | Collegiate Academy for Mathematics and Personal Aw | 130 | 10 |
| 10 | P.S. K753 – School for Career Development | 129 | 15 |
Bronx
The map below shows the Bronx’s 10 most dangerous school zones by crash volume.
| Rank | School name | crashes | pedestrian injuries | pedestrian fatalities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rose Hill Pre-K Center | 186 | 40 | 0 |
| 2 | Creo College Preparatory Charter School | 165 | 26 | 1 |
| 3 | P.S. 170 | 164 | 15 | 0 |
| 4 | Jonas Bronck Academy | 148 | 32 | 0 |
| 5 | Bronx Studio School for Writers and Artists | 140 | 19 | 0 |
| 6 | Zeta Charter Schools – South Bronx | 127 | 33 | 1 |
| 7 | P.S. 207 | 121 | 20 | 0 |
| 8 | Family Life Academy Charter Schools High School | 117 | 17 | 0 |
| 9 | Eagle Academy for Young Men | 115 | 9 | 0 |
| 10 | P.S. 033 Timothy Dwight | 110 | 22 | 0 |
Queens
The 10 most crash-prone school zones in Queens are on the map below.
| Rank | school name | crashes | pedestrian injuries |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | P.S. 182 Samantha Smith | 109 | 33 |
| 2 | Young Women’s Leadership School, Queens | 97 | 26 |
| 3 | District 29 Pre-K Center | 82 | 12 |
| 4 | P.S./I.S. 268 | 76 | 17 |
| 5 | Renaissance Charter School 2 | 75 | 20 |
| 6 | Bard High School Early College Queens | 74 | 11 |
| 7 | Flushing Evening High Schl M/W | 73 | 18 |
| 8 | P.S. 017 Henry David Thoreau | 70 | 14 |
| 9 | Middle College High School at LaGuardia Community | 70 | 3 |
| 10 | P.S. 220 Edward Mandel | 67 | 15 |
Staten Island
The map below shows the nine most crash-prone school zones in Staten Island. There were three schools tied for 10th place that were not included.
| rank | school name | crashes | pedestrians injured |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | P.S. 022 Graniteville | 75 | 10 |
| 2 | The Richmond Pre-K Center | 62 | 5 |
| 3 | ALC – ST. Marks Place | 55 | 19 |
| 4 | Hellenic Classical Charter School – Staten Island | 54 | 4 |
| 5 | Port Richmond School for Visionary Learning | 52 | 10 |
| 6 | P.S. 74 Future Leaders Elementary School | 38 | 10 |
| 7 | The Stephanie A. Vierno School | 36 | 6 |
| 8 | The Waverly Academy of Empowered Learners | 30 | 2 |
| 9 | I.S. 027 Anning S. Prall | 29 | 8 |
School Zone Pedestrian Fatalities
In our study, 50 schools recorded at least one fatal pedestrian crash within the 0.15-mile buffer zone. Among all fatalities accounted for in the study, 70% were pedestrians. Pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users have little physical protection in a collision, which results in a fatality rate much higher than that of vehicle occupants.
Walking or biking to school offers health, environmental, and community benefits. These findings are not intended to discourage students, parents, guardians, or staff from choosing those modes of travel. Rather, the goal is to promote awareness of conditions that can make school-area travel more dangerous.
Pedestrians can reduce risk by remaining alert, limiting distractions, following traffic signals, and when possible, confirming that stopped or turning drivers have seen them. However, because of NYC’s dense and complex traffic patterns, pedestrian safety does not depend on individual behavior alone. Safe street design, clear crossings, and motorists who slow down, yield, and check for people in crosswalks are essential.
The death of Amira Aminova illustrates those risks. Amira, an 11-year-old student at I.S. 281, was walking home from school on a Thursday afternoon when a turning school bus struck and killed her as she crossed with the right of way. The tragic incident occurred on 24th Avenue between Cropsey and Bath Avenues, and is one of many incidents that have occurred along Bath Avenue. The street is the site of several schools, childcare facilities, religious institutions, and more. Alarmingly, injury-causing crashes have occurred at nearly every intersection along the street since 2021. Officials have called for more research to better understand the risks and improve traffic safety.
The incident illustrates how turning vehicles, blind spots and competing movements involving buses, bicycles and pedestrians can make school-area intersections especially hazardous for vulnerable road users. Motorists should slow down near schools and intersections, scan every crosswalk before turning, and yield to pedestrians and cyclists who are lawfully crossing. A green light does not give a driver permission to turn through a crosswalk without first ensuring that it is clear. With greater awareness, patience, and shared responsibility, communities can move toward safer streets.
Methodology
We mapped NYC police-reported crash data from January 1, 2021, through May 29, 2026, against the addresses of NYC public schools. Since some schools share the same address, they were treated as single geometries, resulting in 1,369 unique buildings. For each school, we counted crashes that occurred within a 0.15-mile radius of the school address, on weekdays between 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and from January through May. Crashes on nearby highways or interstates were excluded, even when they fell within the radius, because they could not reasonably be associated with school-related traffic. For readability, this report uses “school zone” to refer to the study-defined 0.15-mile area around each school address; the term does not refer to an official school-zone designation.
Fair Use Statement
If you’d like to help us promote student and community safety, you are welcome to share the findings of this study. We just ask that any publication or distribution of our findings include a link back to this page so readers can access the full research and methodology.