Metro

What went wrong?

It’s among the most popular and over-crowded elementary schools in the city, but according to the Department of Education, it’s now below average.

PS 234 in TriBeCa saw its standing among schools plummet this past year based on the city’s grading system — from the 81st percentile in the city to just the 4th percentile.

The school went from an A grade in 2011 to a C grade in 2012 — and was one of 17 schools in its district to lose ground.

Principal Lisa Ripperger said with the way the city calculates school grades, a drop in test scores among just a handful of students was able to disproportionately decrease the school’s rating.

“We have a lot of work to do and we’re honest with ourselves about what that work is,” she told The Post.

“But I do not let this report card or anything that comes out of the DOE define who we are or the quality of our work,” she added. “I think we do incredibly hard and thoughtful work in my school.”

Parents who picked their kids up from the school yesterday tended to agree.

“It doesn’t worry us,” said Elizabeth Berridge, whose daughter is in the third grade. “We love this school.”