P.S. 101 School in the Gardens

This is a great school. It has both the feel of the community and that of a private school right in the middle of Queens. I bought a home in this area just so my child could attend. The principal is outstanding and the faculty is very good. Kudos! I am very pleased
--Submitted by a parent

I have somewhat mixed feelings about 101. On one hand, the parent community is superb, there are many excellent teachers, and it has a really good environment overall. On the other hand, my son (who has some behavior difficulties) has not been handled very well. I feel that his initial problems were exacerbated by the way the school handled them, and I feel like they often make decisions based more on their image than my son's betterment. The school is more intolerant of behavior issues than most other schools, which has its good and bad sides. Unfortunately, my son has mostly gotten the bad side. That said, if I had a kid with no behavior issues who could sit with hands folded listening to the teacher, I think this would be an awesome school for him. But deviation does not go over well, and I feel like they don't know quite how to handle it.
--Submitted by a parent

5 stars and excellent combination of parents,teachers and students working together it feels like a great team
--Submitted by a parent

No complaints. Just excellent. I simply love the way they treat kids when they do great.
--Submitted by a parent

If you think community is important for your child's education, if you believe intelligent, committed, creative teaching is a good way to run a school, this is THE place to be. I have 2 children her, been here for 7 years now -- so much has changed and all for the better. Terrific new Principal, the whole mood and energy in the building has changed. I LOVE THIS SCHOOL
--Submitted by a parent

My son is in second grade here now, and I am very impressed with the school on several levels. For one, the parent involvement level is unbelievable. Parents are very involved with all areas of the school and it feels like a community. For another, the teachers have been very good, attentive, and able to zero in on my son's needs. The kids learn and they like it there. Beyond that, the school is always in very good condition. Floors are clean, papers hang in orderly fashion on the billboards, etc. While this may seem unimportant, it says a lot that they pay attention to detail.
--Submitted by a parent

The first day of school for kindergarteners this year was like a cattle call. Children as young as 4 years old go to the bathroom or the office with a buddy -- the buddy often returns to the classroom alone -- not escorted by an adult as parents had been told in orientation. The school considers walking from circle time to desks, or stretching between worksheet sessions, to be enough movement for children. It ignores all research that play-based K is best, instead deeming play something for pre-K or after school (in between homework sessions).
--Submitted by a parent

My son is starting second grade after coming into the school two months into the first grade (we had recently moved into the neighborhood). The school went all out in making him feel as comfortable as possible. He has ADHD, and the school worked a lot with me to find solutions for his classroom problems. By the end of the year, he was in a much better place. In general, I'm impressed by the school's leadership and the parent involvement is great. As a working single parent, it can be hard for me to be as involved as I'd like, but the parent coordinator and the administrative staff have been extremely helpful. One negative: I think they load the kids with too much homework, at least in first grade they did. We spent a couple of hours a night on homework.
--Submitted by a parent

I'm not impressed. There are too many children in each class, and the classrooms are extremely small since this is an old school. There are 26 kids in kinder class, one teacher, no aide, so no individual attention. The school does nothing to deter or do they investigate people bringing their children from other communities. There is alot of bullying that goes on in this school, they are supposed to have a zero tolerance policy. They turn their cheek to it and do not inforce it. I agree with other parents, the constant letters home asking for donations is harrasment. The school supply list at the beginning of the year will cost you $200.00. They even ask you to send 3 packs of copy paper ! This should be asked as donation only. They can save on copy paper if they stop asking for monetary donations.
--Submitted by a parent

I am definitely agree, the website is a treasure, full of update information. And if we still cannot find what we want, we can email to our parent coordinator, she will guide us!!! The principal is sending regurlaly some information about school too. Just ask to put on her mailing list!
--Submitted by a parent