Police are investigating a shooting near a high school on Staten Island that sent students running and hospitalized one child.

The NYPD says a 14-year-old boy was shot in the ankle just before 2 p.m. Tuesday outside Tottenville High School on Luten Avenue.

The victim was taken to Staten Island University North Hospital and is expected to survive.

The school was initially placed on lockdown, but then proceeded with a controlled dismissal.

Students NY1 spoke with said the victim is a freshman at the school and an athlete on the junior varsity football team.

“Nice guy, good grades, very sweet — wouldn’t harm a fly,” said Sofia, a student at Tottenville High School. “I don’t see why anyone would want to do this to him.”

According to police, five suspects fled the scene on foot, all wearing ski masks.

Police units were on the scene, searching the street, garbage and neighboring woods for evidence. Authorities say five shell casings were recovered.

“What we call for and I think we will get it — increase police presence, not just at arrival but at dismissal and a recognition that there’s so many actions without consequences that we can’t be surprised when these things happen,” said Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella.

The police department said, so far this year, five firearms have been recovered at city schools, an issue that concerns school safety advocates like Mona Davids, who is urging Mayor Eric Adams to hire more school agents and increase training sessions.

“The jobs that our school agents do — majority women, unarmed recovering weapons — should be applauded and we need more of them,” Davids said.

Police later confirmed an MTA bus stopped in front of the high school was also struck by bullets. No individuals on the bus were injured.