P.S. 163 Alfred E Smith

I graduated from P.S. 163 two years ago. I was there since first grade, and I absolutely loved the school. I was in the gifted and talented dual language program. I loved all my teachers, they were extremely hepful, fun and energetic. The school is so diverse, I had friends of all different ethnicities.I really wish I was still there. I honestly cannot think of anything I didn't like about the school

I'm a parent of a gifted and non-gifted child who both attend P.S. 163. The school is made up of parents of many backgrounds (Black, White, Asian and Spanish). The staff there is extremely helpful. The Parent Coordinator is a gem. When I was unhappy with my oldest child's school she guided me through the process to get my oldest into P.S. 163. The Co-President of the PTA took a call from me at 9pm when I was unhappy about some school photographs that came out bad. I was able to have my child re-take the shots with no extra cost to me. My 2nd grader is in the gifted program. My 2nd grader scored high enough on the gifted tests that she could have gotten into any school that she wanted. I picked P.S. 163 because I liked the atmosphere. I especially liked the fact that there is not attitude of "we are better then you" among the students who are in gifted class against the ones who are in general education classes. I also liked that while there is a strong academic program, the children are allowed to actually have fun and be children. The school has a great afterschool program run by LEAP which is from 3-6pm.
—Submitted by a parent

During the enrollment process in 2010, we were offered a G&T seat at PS 163. We did not know much about the school at the time but from the moment we walked in the school doors we knew we found a D3 hidden gem of a school. The administration is available and is a constant presence in the school. The teachers are dedicated, hard working and have always been willing to give extra time to help support our child s education and development. I especially like the trailers for the kindergarten classrooms. I had neutral feelings about them going into the school year but they turned out to be ideal. The kids have their own bathroom, drop off & pick up are at the classroom door and there is a nice play yard just for the kindergartners. The school does not raise as much money as some of the other D3 schools but I feel the school and PTA have done a great job in choosing the right places to spend the money. The school community is warm and inviting. There is a great sense of pride in the school and all the programs offered in the school; Gen Ed, Dual Language & G&T, work together to make this possible.
—Submitted by a parent

Because the teachers are amazing and work so hard despite economic challenges, the children love going to school and are so proud of their accomplishments and because it feels like home.
—Submitted by a parent

PS163 is wonderfully diverse school with dedicated and caring teachers. our daughter just began Kindergarten, we are so happy with the time she is able to use the outdoor grounds and the science curriculum. It is easy to get involved in projects from gardening to Auction. PS163 is great!
—Submitted by a parent

The enthusiasm of the parents and teachers and the dual language program.
—Submitted by a parent

Our son is in the G&T Kindergarten class this year and we love the school. His teacher is one of the sweetest and most caring teachers I have met (and I recruit teachers for a living). The school is more diverse than any public or private school we could find in the City. As a strong supporter of school choice and charter schools in particular, I must say I am very impressed with this traditional public school. It has given me new faith that excellence is possible in an urban public school.
—Submitted by a parent

The staff is warm and caring. They are the hands,feet, and hearts that are making the bridges toward greatness for our children's emotional and educational development without chance. Only promise.
—Submitted by a parent

Absolutely love the teachers and faculty and how I know that my child is safe, loved and cared for when I drop my child off until I pick him up.
—Submitted by a parent

I love PS163 because it has a wonderful, diverse student body, dedicated parents, great teachers, and lots of interesting curriculum offerings like science lab, dance, chess, and quilting, in addition to all the basics.
—Submitted by a parent

We have smart students, a professional and collaborative faculty, a good administration, and a caring,giving,and proactive parents' association!
—Submitted by a teacher

I am a parent of a special needs kindergartener, the occupational therapist (HG) is fantastic, the speech therapist I have just met but seems to care about the overall goals for my child. The school is somewhat rigid and at times can seem cold but I think the school is a comporable choice to a private school.
—Submitted by a parent

I think the G/T program is worth considering and their multicultural background is impressing.
—Submitted by a student

My daughter is in the English language 'Gifted + Talented' kindergarten and we are very happy with her classroom experience so far. There are only 16 children in the class and the teacher, Danielle DeSimone, is enthusiastic and talented. We are also impressed with the principal, Dr. Virginia Pepe. On the negative side: Four kindergarten and first grade classrooms (including my daughter's) are housed in 'trailers' -- temporary structures that have become permanent -- and the school is so chronically short of money that parents are asked to supply routine classroom items like graham crackers for snack time, and hand soap. Also, although the G+T program attracts many middle-class families, the General Education program does not. So while the G+T classes are ethnically mixed, the GE classes have very few whites or asians.
—Submitted by a parent

The principal, assistant principal, and the K and 1st grade teachers (those I know) are fantastic, committed, and warm. They weathered the inevitable chaos of the beginning of the school year with resolve, and made the school as welcoming as possible to children and parents alike. This is not a rich school, and it is a school with a bi-modal distribution of student performance on the horrible standardized tests the students are compelled to take. In other words, there are real challenges that lower-performing students face, and it is entirely appropriate that the 'gifted and talented' programs do not get lots of special treatment. It is a testimony to the principal's vision for the school and for public education that the resources that are there are there for all.
—Submitted by a parent

I love this school my son was there from k to 5th and it was a great experience for him and me. From the teachers to the PTA everything was great. The gifted and talented program was the best.
—Submitted by a parent

Great committment to the arts. This school has a three year arts grant from the Center for Arts Education.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is now under the leadership of a new principal and I believe is taking the school in a much better directions. My daughter loves this school and has had 3 wonderful teachers in the G&T Program. Overall we've been very happy.
—Submitted by a parent

Although I rate the teacher quality as highest, I'm also concerned that most of the teachers don't spend valuable time w/children making sure they understanding the work being distributed.
—Submitted by Veronica Miles, a parent

This is a great School! The Principal is doing her job very good. The have many options for extracurricular activities, the parent are really involved in school activities.
—Submitted by Josefa Taveras, a parent