Mark Twain is 239 for the Gifted and Talented

IS 239's teachers are wonderful, and they make school very fun for students like me. They have fun days like Mark Twain Spirit Day, or Crazy Hat Day. Almost every day there is free tutoring during lunch. They have dances and trips. Students are split into talents, (i.e. creative writing, drama,computer/math, winds, strings, vocal, media, science, athletics, dance, etc.) Two of the only bad things is that it is really far from a lot of houses, which makes transportation hard, and there is a load of homework. Mark Twain is a truly great school.

This school is a safe & organized place for your middle schooler to learn. I think many of the parents are full of themselves, thinking their kids are better than kids in other schools. I have 2 sons in middle school. One goes to Twain, and one is in a CIG program at another middle school. I think the work being done in the CIG program is more advanced than the work being done by my son in MT. Don't get me wrong ... the work is absolutely rigorous. I just do not think that you can't get the same quality education in other schools. With that said ... I can't say that Mark Twain is not a great school. My son loves his talent, and that helps keep him passionate about his work in all subjects. Most of the teachers are responsive and encourage the kids to do their best. Honors classes are not offered in the 6th grade. Your placement in Honors is determined by your grades in 6th grade. Parent Teacher Night is a crazy free for all, but the teachers do make time to see you by appointment if you need to see them. Overall ... I'm happy with the school.
—Submitted by a parent

Mark Twain is an excellent school and it is a great feeder to the specialized High Schools e.g. Stuyvesant, Bronx Science, Brooklyn Tech etc. The teachers seem very caring and involved in teaching the students. Every time I have tried to communicate with the teachers they have been receptive to my comments and welcome my involvement. My son is finishing 6th grade and got accepted to Hunter College High School and Mark Twain was a great MS to help him get accepted. I highly recommend this school and plan to send my daughter here.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is unique and awesome! I'm in the 6th grade and I just saw my reading skills teacher review this website. Yes, there is no recess, but that includes an education class replacing it. That means this school focuses more on education then "fun". That's why I liked this school in the first place. If you want your kid above everyone else, send him to Mark Twain! The school for gifted and talented awaits. Don't trust the dislikes. They're probably just trying to make you not let your kid be smart. I think they're a bit jealous for new kids too cause they worry if the new kids get smarter then them. That's my opinion and I will rock this school!

Im now in 8th grade and I HATE Mark Twain and can' wait to get out. The school is not very diverse and teachers treat the kids like their 3 year old's. Children need to learn how to be a complete person outside of school. There are alot of immature kids in this school that don't act up to their age. Also we never have gym! We never play because "we keep talking". The gym teachers don't understand that the kids are talking on purpose to prevent their-selves from playing because they are not physically active and don't want to play. The point of gym is to teach the kids how to be physically active and work hard. The kids and teachers in this school are completely spoilt ! Do not go to Mark Twain Jhs it's a waist of your time

I'm in 5th grade ready to GO to this school. Some reviews are not the best, but I do not understand the matter. Mark Twain is for the Gifted and Talented. My friend Jocelyn goes and says it is awesome. I'm not concerned about coming. I hope I have lots of welcomes, though. Jocelyn says she meets thousands of friends every day. I m graduating from a not-bad school--P.S. 38 George Cromwell in Staten Island. I hope to be welcomed and accepted in this school. I think I really have nothing to worry about, but still a bit nervous here! I'm testing for Art and Creative Writing/Journalism, but I still have tons and billions of questions. Mark Twain is my first choice, and sometimes it's teetering. But let myself say....HERE I COME, MARK TWAIN!!! Mark Twain is an excellent school. If you chose it, you have made no mistake--just an excellent school(though I hope theirs girls basketball team, good cafeteria food, good P.E. classes, and good artists+writers!!! I'm really looking forward to this school!!!!!!

I have read over all of these reviews, and on the first couple of pages tons of them were negative... I can't even think what was running through these peoples minds because it's a great school. Sure i'm just a freshman here but you get enrichment classes involving Science, Dance, Tech, Math, and Social Studies. Sure maybe bullying is a problem but that's why there's a guidance counselor people! Sure talent is a big part, don't go saying Talent is the only thing you do because that is not true. Personally I love this school, sure I wish we could go outside but we don't have a yard, or really maybe in the spring we could go to the park. But right now I have no complaints since you have a great school here.

This school defiantly isn't as social as it gets or even as social as is healthy for a kid. Nor is getting physical. There isn't any recess, and you've got no time between classes to talk because you've only got 3 minutes to run through the whole school. We only have 2 periods of gym every week, and it's gym that tends to get cancelled, not social studies, or ELA. And the school is over-protective. You may think about that as a good thing, but how will they prepare for life when they're older?

Many people say that the students make the school great. In some way this is true. The teachers are average. Few could be considered excellent. In my point of view, a school for the "gifted and talented" should help the children reach their full potential, which the school does not always do. It often values organization skills and ambitiousness vs talent and creativity. Competitiveness can also be a problem. But in spite of that , I would choose the same school again,because compared with other schools, it was more suitable for my child. Although it may not be the best choice for others.
—Submitted by a parent

ILOVE THIS SCHOOL. I am in 6th grade and I wish I could stay in this school all my life.All the teachers and all the extra curiculim classes are awsome. I have 4 classes, lunch, and 2 enrichments. Math talent is awsome, we play on iPads. The sixth grade trip was so much fun. I had so many fun trips.we don't get a lot of homework, we have tutoring, we have a snack,salad, and like a buffet at lunch. I LOVE MARK TWAIN is239

Seven years after graduating from Mark Twain, I look back and shudder at how traumatizing my experience was. The level of intelligence comes from the kids. Most of the teachers don't know how to teach. I left this school, (more like ran out of this school), with absolutely no self-esteem, depressed and lost. They don't teach you how to be a person in there which is something schools need. Spare your kids. If you want them to be in a socially appropriate environment, send them somewhere else. It's one thing to send your kids to the "best" schools, but it's another to keep them mentally intact. The bullying is out of this world. It's based not only on looks, but on the level of talent and one's intelligence. These were the worst 3 years of my life and these are somewhat critical years in a child's development. Do not send your children to Mark Twain.

This is a great school. I am really happy to be in Mark Twian. It has so much to offer. Each talent does something special. Also, to let you try new things we have enrichment classes! Although it may sometimes be challenging we also have tutoring during lunch. It's very comfortable in general and the teachers make sure everyone understands everything.

My sixth grader knew there would be serious concentration on her talent area, and that if she didn't get in as a drama "talent" she couldn't do drama, so she worked her audition piece and went to the tryout and got in. She is thrilled with everything about the school, and I have been impressed by the academic rigor, though I don't think they are overloaded with homework. It seems the student population is generally bright and driven. If it weren't so far away (in the heart of Coney Island), it would be awesome. It's still a great school.
—Submitted by a parent

I hate this school. You are classified by your talent and don't get to do any other extra curricular activities other than your talent. You can't be apart of the school newspaper unless you are in creative writing talent is one example. I came into that school thinking you would have many opportunities but you don't. You are dividing by clusters within your grade and can't hang around with other people in other clusters. You really don't hang around much with the people that are in your cluster expect for mainly your homeroom. Every cluster has different teachers that teach different things and at different rates so not all kids are getting the same education. The new principal isn't as fun as the old one. Unless your kid is willing to devote only to their talent and not meet many new people so be it and let them go to mark twain. They put on a act like they are the best school but behind closed doors the kids are bad and get put on lock down. You don't get much physical activity unless you are in athletics talent. You only have gym one a week for only two periods unlike the mandatory three and don't get to go outside for lunch. I wish I could rate them a ZERO.

This is a great school. The only complain I have is that there is no locker in school. My kid has to carry a 18+ lbs school bag all day long. It would be a big plus if they can install lockers for the kids.
—Submitted by a parent

As having recently graduated from the school, I can say that it is an amazing place with so much to offer. Our academics are top notch. We also have variety, having not only academic talents but also a strong performing arts area. Here the teachers are always welcoming and our principal cares so much about the school. It really is a great school.

Almost every day my son comes home from school and tells me what he did in science talent class. He never used to tell me things about elementary school! He's learning a lot at Twain and he's being engaged and challenged by the material. One of his teachers said to me "call me any time, that's what I'm here for." My son says the principal regularly walks the halls and pops in on classes. The only thing I don't like is that they never go outside. Overall, I'm very impressed with this school.
—Submitted by a parent

THIS IS A WONDERFUL SCHOOL. AWSOME ACADEMICS, THE STAFF IS OUTSTANDING!!! VERY APPROACHABLE. ALWAYS KIND WORDS AND VERY HELPFUL. SO MUCH TO OFFER CHILDREN IN EVERY TALENT. I LOVE IT! MS. MOORE IS OUTSTANDING
—Submitted by a parent

My child goes there and she loves it! She had to choose between IS 187, another good school (but not as good as this school) and Mark Twain and she chose this school. She doesn't regret this decision at all and I agree with her.
—Submitted by a parent

I love mark twain because the teachers really care about their students and the principal mrs moore makes sure all children are happy and safe...
—Submitted by a parent