P.S. 251 Paerdegat

Excellent school with a caring staff and nurturing administration. The principal can be seen daily interacting with both parents and children before and during school. The teachers are good (mostly) and are willing to work with parents to improve the kids' education. In any school a parent MUST be involved if the child will be successful, and it is unfair to give the school fewer stars because the parents are not involved. The school does outreach and makes efforts, but a school can't FORCE parents to be involved. They have an wonderful environment that is receptive to parental involvement in several ways: SLT, PTA, Parents as Reading Partners and various volunteer programs, just to name a few. The only negative things about the school are that they no longer have an Eagle program for the Gifted and Talented students and there are no classes for foreign language. Other than that it is an excellent school with wonderful staff and faculty. From the crossing guards to the security to the secretaries to the teachers and administrators, I know that my sons are in good care when they walk through those doors.
—Submitted by a parent

When my children first started this school about 3 yrs ago the school was alot better.Now Some of the teachers seem to not want to be there or teach.there's a feeling one gets when you drop your child to school everyday knowing your child is recieving a good education by a teacher that really cares.some Of the security gaurds are extremely rude to children and parents..I'm really praying my daughter lucks out with a great teacher year I know they're are still some who care!
—Submitted by a parent

I am very Happy with P.S. 251. My son has attended since pre-k. There may be a very small set af teachers that may not know how to deal with children, but overall I am satisfied. I moved to another district 2 years ago and still kept my child in the school because it is great. Now he is graduating.
—Submitted by a parent

I am very unhappy with this school. At issue are safety, discipline methods (yelling) and not removing the children that have serious behavioral issues, and curriculum. Teachers seem more frustrated than caring. I am moving my child out of this school ASAP.
—Submitted by a parent

Good school. Great teachers. No parental involvement
—Submitted by a parent

Overall, PS 251 is not that bad, it can be better. I notice that many parents are not really involved as they need to. When they do have parents that are trying to be involved the staff does not know how to handle certain situations. I feel that the staff are so overwhelmed that they don't an available time to deal with the parents'concerns.
—Submitted by a parent