P.S. 36 Margaret Douglas

Listen, this place is no longer what it used to be. The lunch room is a disaster, the lunchroom staff yell at the children, and there is a total lack of organization throughout the building. CHildren are often sitting on the floors waiting to be picked up by there teachers, and there is not enough room for all the children. The Assistant Principal is not very personable and appears to not know what she is doing. The sad thing is that this school could be one of the best, but because there is no PTA that is a problem. As a parent I want to hear what the teachers are thinking. This school will be yanked from these parents and administrators if they don't get it together here. I did not notice any classrooms with White boards and I heard other parents complaining that their children did not even have text books!! I will pull my children out as soon as they are taken off the wait list at another school I am waiting to hear from. I am convinced that these reviews are posted up by PA members and the rest were written after the parents were "buttered up" by PA members, because I have been to way better open houses for my children. If you want to educate your child, this is not the place.
—Submitted by a parent

My twins were in Pre-K last year & the teachers were Phenomenal! Both Ms. Orosco & Ms. Nadal truly go above and beyond the expectations of a Pre-K teacher. They are focused on overall education & do an exceptional job!!! The parent participation was phenomenal in Ms. Orosco's class and the field trips were a breeze! I would recommend them in a heart-beat! *The administration is very united & everyone seems to work well together! I LOVE PS36 & My daughters (now 5) cant wait for school to start again!
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter went here for Pre-K & I couldn't wait for the end of the year to take her out. I agree with the aprent who said disorganized. The administration seemed to care less about many of my concerns. When I would ask the VP questions she would always pass the buck to the principle or a teacher. Flyers would be handed out a day too late so, I wasn't aware of mandated meetings or other happenings at the school. At the PTA meetings in the morning, there was always a small turn-out. Hopefully, more were in attendance in the evening. Pre-K was never addressed in hand-outs & I felt as if I was at 2 different schools. The teachers seem to be caring & nurturing, though throughout the year my daughter's teacher was by herself or had a revolving door of 5 assts. Once the children would get attached to one, the school transferred the asst. to another class or school. Therefore, my daughter began regressing towards the end of the year. She would tell me how the other children were mean to one another hitting, saying cruel things, etc. & that noone would do anything. A vast number of the parents in this school would curse at & in front of children, scream, & smoke in front of them.
—Submitted by a parent

I agree with the other parent! This school should get nothing short of 5 stars! I went there when I was a little girl, as well as my daughter and my son. We all love the school! The principal is wonderful,and the teachers are beautiful inside and out. They have the best kindergarten teacher ever..Mrs.R.Harris! Everyone there truly cares about the children and their families and are completely involved. From the principal to the ladies in the office, From the teachers to the assistants, from security to the janitor...they are all wonderful caring people, and you can tell because the children love them so much. The only parents who would possibly give a bad review are the ones who don't care to be involved in their children and dont take the positive advice from the leaders at the shool. No one is saying your child is bad, just get involved with your child so they have a chance at a bright future!
—Submitted by a parent

My twin daughters have been attending PS 36 since it had a Pre-K 3 class, and they are in kindegarten now. I have been very pleased with the school overall, in particular the teachers they've had and the clear commitment of the principal and AP. Although the school can be disorganized at times, what's more important is that my girls have been getting a superb education and are reading and writing beautifully and they are passionate about learning.
—Submitted by a parent

disorganized i wouldnt recommend
—Submitted by a parent

My younger son went to Ps. 36 and I could not be more pleased. My older son went to an elite preo school off CPW, and I think the quality of teacers are identical. My son is now ioff to another school because of the 2nd grade cut-off and he is well prepared and thriving because of the foundation provided at ps. 36.
—Submitted by a parent

My two daughters went to this school last year and the teacher they had were phenomenal
—Submitted by a parent

Out of all the elementary schools in district five this is by all means the best one. I just wish it went higher then the second grade. After your child leaves P.S.36 you feel lost. I have two children my youngest went here.I just wish my oldest had a chance to go here instead of horrible P.S. 154.This is a great school for any child for the age of four to seven.
—Submitted by a parent

I myself attended P.S. 36 from 1986-1992. My parents and myself loved the school even then. My daughter loves school and enjoys her teacher very much. I feel the school is on point with our children's education and I know my other children will benefit from P.S.36 in the near future.
—Submitted by a parent

My daugher was in kindergarten when she went to this school. She learned alot but I think they need to bring their standards up a bit more. My daughter went on to catholic school for 1st grade the following year and she was a bit behind. I compared the kindergarten curriculum of this school to her current school and there is a big difference. They didn't concentrate too much on reading which was my biggest concern. I did like that they do have a couple parents/teachers meetings through out the school year.
—Submitted by a parent

My child graduated from PS 36 and I must say that this school was excellent! The principal and staff were extremely helpful and I found the teachers to be genuinely concerned with the progress of my child. My child now attends another school in the area and it has been a nightmare! What 36 had that others seem not to, is a balance between maintaining discipline while still being able to teach the children and help them to maintain their enthusiasm for learning. School is supposed to be a place of learning, not a boot camp! I sincerely wish that 36 taught upper grades or at least to the middle school level. We miss it terrbly. My child never fails to comment on how much he wishes he were still there every time we pass the building.
—Submitted by a parent

Feb. 2006. Absolutely, thoroughly pleased and impressed parent. I had posted previously about concerns heard through the neighborhood grapevine. Now, my daughter has attended for many months and I have first-hand experience with this school. I am happy to report my extreme pleasure with this school. All NYC schools deal with day-to-day problems, and this one is no different. I have the highest praise for the Principal, Ms. Mullins-Simmons. I have personally worked with her through some complicated problems, and she is a treasure. So is my daughter's homeroom teacher. I immediately noticed about the teacher that she trys to make order out of chaos wherever possible, and she does a great job at all levels. My daughter is learning very well, and the teacher demonstrates very good control of her class. Teacher knows very well how to use behavior-modification techniquest to achieve results. Very, very pleased parent. A++
—Submitted by Robert Hill, a parent

My child has been going to this school since kindergarten she learned to read in that class she has been in the tag class since first grade she is about to graduate in june 2005 and without the start she got from there I don't know if the schools in my area would have given her such a great start so I would reccomend anybody to send there children there. The diversity is also great she gets to interact with different ethnic groups of children that she may not have met.
—Submitted by a parent

I am the prospective parent who wondered about the alleged condition of teachers 'losing control of the classrooms' here. Since I posted my original query, I have spoken to the Principal about many things, including the former teacher's report. I am now inclined to say that all of my concerns have been discarded, and this seems to be an ideal school to send my child to. With my re-evaluation as of Jan 2005, I feel that this school is an A+ school that any parent should be pleased and proud to participate in. I consider my family lucky to be living in this school's catchment zone. Regards, A rigorously demanding parent, RHill.
—Submitted by Robert Hill, a parent

I think the school needs to reevaluate itsself. There are some good teachers, but the principal and some of her staff need to be replaced. There also are great saftey issues in the school. I would not recommend this school to a parent.
—Submitted by a parent

I've been dealing with this school for quite a while. I have 2 kids that graduated from here: one is going to the 9th and the other to the 6th.Both got such an enriching start by attending Margaret Douglas.Not only are the teachers great, but the principal takes great pride making sure that the students are her first priority!!I also have a son there who will be starting 1st grade in Sept. The cirriculum is so wonderful, that my son was reading on his own before he left Kindergarten!!!. I give the Margaret Douglas School the Highest Praise!! I reccommend this school to any of the parents in the neighborhood.

This school enhanced my nurturing and set a wonderful foundation for my three boys of which two were of special needs. The curriculum for the special education sector allowed two of them to become decertified from special educational services and join the general education population in which they all have excelled and move on to the intermediate level. I recommend this school highly to any parent whose main focal point is setting the foundation in their child's educational success as well as life's success.
—Submitted by a parent

My child will be entering the 1st grade and she has been prepared for the first grade way before the school year ended. If you are thinking about having your child attend this school you don't have to look any further because this school is great. The Principal is very good with the students and parents too.
—Submitted by a parent

I have heard that children excell far more ahead of those who learn through the arts then children who don't have this advantage. It wasn't until my children attended this school that seeing is believing.