Ampark Neighborhood

The classroom teachers at this school are exceptional. It would be hard to find a more caring and dedicated group of teachers. Your children are safe in their hands. The fine arts program is amazing. My child raves about her work with the art teacher. That being said, my son is bored by the music program and is disappointed that art is not offered as an option over music. It seems they have been singing the same songs over and over for years. The principal really struggles with interpersonal relationships. She has a hard time seeing past her own needs. I'm confident that she does not know my child in this very small school. It is hard to hold a conversation with her as most of what she says makes little sense. Her understanding of the education of children seems to be lacking. There are very mixed reviews from other parents. We are shocked by what we have heard from many well respected parents. We have also noticed a lack of follow through with the special education program. There seems to be very little outside support for students with academic needs. Is there a special education teacher in this school?? If the answer is yes, they are not doing a good job.
--Submitted by a parent

We love Ampark for our son who is in K. He loves to go to school, his teacher knows him well and is able to encourage his learning because she has been able to get to know him and his classmates individually. We like that projects are broken down into smaller steps with deadlines and that the kids are meant to do the work themselves, not with their parents putting projects together. We're impressed by the gains our son has made in reading and his spelling is continuing to improve as he is able to distinguish between more consanants and vowels. The newly elected PA is terrific as well. We have also seen an improvement in communication and feel that the parent coordinator is a great asset to the school.
--Submitted by a parent

This school does not give children an education, progressive or otherwise. While I am not for teaching to the test, the children must take tests and a progressive education should be about meeting academic benchmarks in a different way -- not ignoring them completely. Those who rave about the principal are, quite simply, the kind of parents who feel potato chips are fine for dinner so long as they are organic.
--Submitted by a parent

My kids are enrolled at Ampark and I am a true supporter of our principal and feel that my kids are getting a balanced education. We came from a traditional school - it is refreshing to hear music and art alive in the corridors. It's elementary school and when they are so young, I personally feel it is important to foster creativity over teaching to the test. Their whole lives after elementary will be packed with tracking and test taking. I guess it is just not for everyone.
--Submitted by a parent

If it is true that the principal will not be back in the fall, then it's a real shame. While AmPark is certainly not perfect (but then again, what school is?) its mission and progressive philosophy, which are defended tooth and nail by the principal, are what have attracted so many families to the school community and makes it a wonderful place. If your expectation of a school is one that prioritizes testing and drilling information into children, over nurturing their creative spirit and curiosity, then you may find more traditional schools in the area to be a better fit. It is really important to understand what Progressive Education really is before you decide to come to AmPark. We have a child who is an above average student and has blossomed even more at this school. To the person who wrote the comment about the kindergarten bulletin board, really? It is perfectly fine for 5 year olds to make spelling mistakes. What's not ok, is for adults with little to no understanding of what is age appropriate in educational concepts to criticize the hard working teachers who work tirelessly and go above and beyond the call of duty for the sake of the children they teach.
--Submitted by a parent

The teachers and parents are outstanding. However, teachers are not properly supported or observed. Parents who have honest questions and reasonable expectations are alienated. It appears that the principal, hired by the community that created the school, has been in over her head since the school's inception. There seems to be no evidence of preparation during the summers. Her summer long employment as a labyrinth instructor at Silver Bay YMCA in the Adirondacks (principals are 12 month NYC DOE employees) has to be questioned and is probably the reason why the school has not realized its vision. So much potential wasted.
--Submitted by a parent

Luckily, the principal will not be back in the fall of 2012. She is under investigation and will be removed.
--Submitted by a teacher

It's not perfect, but this school has a lot of potential. We came from another PS in the area, and are much happier here! Ampark is a great little school with a friendly atmosphere, dedicated teachers, and amazing emphasis on arts and music. They don't teach to the test. They don't overload the little kids with homework. Project-oriented learning and lots of field trips. We really like it and our child has really blossomed here. There is room for improvement, of course. Organization and communication were poor but are improving. There is no PE. And, of course, not teaching to the test may lead to lower test scores. Parents who prefer more homework and structure could easily find a better fit in nearby schools. Some families are very dissatisfied and are trying to get the principal kicked out. As for the principal, her strong points are that she is very open to innovation and committed to progressive education. Her weak points are poor organization and communication, and tendency to promise too much. But, she's trying to run a very unusual school in a test-crazy world. The school is new, just added 100 students, and moved to a new building in 2012. Give it a break!
--Submitted by a parent

This is my daughter's first year at this school; she's in the first grade. I like the school environment and the fact that they don't put too much pressure on the children, but I feel like they don't put enough pressure. The school's atmosphere is nice but the curriculum sucks. It is too easy and the teachers do not correct students when they make mistakes. They have bulletin boards of work that the kids in kindergarten did and there are children who cannot write properly and the teachers think this is ok. The school is failing and it is on the watch list from the board of ed. This will be my daughter's last year in this school.
--Submitted by a parent

An excellent learning environment that addresses the needs of the whole child, with a caring, devoted staff and a visionary administration.
--Submitted by a parent