Battery Park City School

It's a great school with a great student and teacher population. The parents are active and friendly. Terri is a very effective Principal. She gets things done and those things are what's important for the students. The PTA is very active and involved in what's going on in the curriculum. Overall, it's been a great experience for me as a parent and my children are very happy here.
—Submitted by a parent

It is a great school, my child has been there since the beginning as a Middle School Student. Lots of homework, very advanced subjects for the student age. The teachers are very committed. Yet I find the principal is completely insufferable. Parents are a nuisance to her. Always her way, no discussion with a parent will get anywhere, regardless of the issue or the logic. She and the Assistant principal, a sycophant, seem to have to re-invent the wheel every year. Make sure your child raises his hand for questions so that are penalized 5 points off of the grade they actually earned. The only other issue which concerns me is the unreal world of penalizing the brightest for the sake of making the not so bright ones feel good and fair. Try that in the private sector.
—Submitted by a parent

Battery Park City School is by far one of the elite schools in Manhattan, either private or public. I transferred my child out of an underperforming "top tier" Manhattan private school to enroll here. I was under the misperception that you could only get a great education in private school and after spending nearly $250K and seeing my child test under the level of peers in public school, I had to make a change and broaden my perspective. Dont believe the myth that private is necessarily better like I did for over 6 years, they just keep a tight control over negative press. After an exhaustive search, Battery Park City School was our top choice and we were one of the lucky families to gain admission. Terri Ruyter is a tough but fair Principal that demands nothing but excellence from her students, teachers and administrators and we respect her very much. Every teacher my child has had over the years is amazing very responsive to providing feedback when requested, or quick to alert you when there are issues that need to be addressed. As an Ivy League Grad, I know now my child is well on her way to a stellar educational career, thanks to Battery Park City School.
—Submitted by a parent

Truly brilliant.. Our son has been here since it opened - starting in Kindgarden. He's now in 2nd grade. He had an amazinging enjoyable start, in K which has not (yet?) waned. I read the other comments posted.. I am sympathetic to the not so positive comments, as the philosophy and leadership of the school wont suit everyone, but for us (my son, wfie and I), we totally love it. I have faith in the teachers and love the principals approach - yes, her style is almost zero tolerance for teacher, student or even parental nonsense - which is very important in a new school. We know many parents, and are good friends with most, and they seem to love it too. The kids are enjoying life as kids, and I believe are in a friendly nurturing environment where they are growing well.. A true neighborhood school, in Manhattan! DW
—Submitted by a parent

This middle school is fantastic! The outstanding teachers, the friends, and the after school activities. Could not imagine my daughter being anywhere else. She is excited about learning. Homework is challenging and engaging. The school is academically competitive, and it really focuses on preparing to be accepted to the best high schools. Great environment, energetic teaching, and energetic student body. Love it!
—Submitted by a parent

My child loves this school. Its philosophy is that there are lots of different learners and kids learn more when they're put with lots of different types of learners. So this is not like we-only-take-smart-kids Salk or ESM or Delta the kids range in ability and learning styles. But they're mostly Battery Park City kids, with knowledge-economy type parents, so learning is important to them. It's almost like a suburban school. I have nothing to compare it to, but the teachers seem smart and energetic, the principal seems committed (not distant, in my opinion, but super busy). Most of all, the school body seems really kind. There are a few kids with some learning issues and everybody seems to rally around them. There's a lot of school spirit. The building is fantastic, too, of course.
—Submitted by a parent

Agreed on the Principle seeming very distant. Coming from a lower school in which parent involvement as always welcomed, I will say that it is a bit disappointing in this sense. Very uptight leadership and when you are dealing with children, this can not be a good thing. The JOY of learning is so crucial. Not a fan of the administration at IS 276.
—Submitted by a parent

The physical plant at this school is amazing and beautiful. However, the teachers my son had seemed overwhelmed, disorganized and there was an overall lack of cohesion to the units being taught. In fact, when I asked about the curriculum for the year, they couldn't articulate one. The principal is not my type of person; her style is very cold and reserved and she seems suspicious of parents, instead of welcoming. I think it's difficult to start a new school, and the staff at 276 are still learning and acclimating. I thought I would want to be involved in the start of something new, but I really felt like my son's growth was suffering while the the staff were trying to get oriented themselves.
—Submitted by a parent

Great school! We are very happy that we made the choice of sending our child to 276. It is far and away the best school downtown, and the building is amazing!
—Submitted by a parent

I would like to see a more child centered environment as I.S. 276. It seems as though a lot is based on what is most convenient for the adults in the building and the children are not always considered or put first. There seems to be a cold approach and a lack of compassion for the middle school kids in particular. The Principal seems a bit rigid and dismissive of opinions not originating in her own mind. I also find it odd that in a school building, the elevators are not to be used by the very children who attend the school because a few kids decided to goof around in the elevators in the beginning of the year. This year long ban seems extreme and for the children lugging ten pound backpacks up 8 flights everyday, this can present back problems as it has with my child. I was looking forward to a school in which the children were put first but it seems again, to be extremely adult centered. Unfortunately, there is one agenda being taught and so the level of indoctrination is a bit much.
—Submitted by a parent

I am very pleased with how the teachers, principal and parents have worked together to make PS 276's inaugural year a fun and enriching learning experience for our Kindergarten children. We look forward to moving into our new school building and welcoming a new Kindergarten class as well as expanding to include 1st, 2nd and 6th grades.
—Submitted by a parent