P.S. 191 Amsterdam

My son is in Kindergarten here and I am totally impressed. He is a mainstream student in an ICT class and he is truly benefiting from the amazingly patient, competent and driven teachers. These teachers care! At first I was nervous about sending him. However, the scores online DO NOT depict what is really going on there. They are working so hard at bringing up these scores and it is evident. The classrooms have ipads, laptops and smartboards. He is learning piano, dance and doing gorgeous art projects. My son has learned so much. The parent coordinator knows every student personally and takes such great care of them (and their parents). Everyone talks about how great the pre-k is but I have to say, the Kindergarten is wonderful too. Take a tour. You will be surprised.
—Submitted by a parent

As a sub/NYS Certified Teacher, I find that the middle school has a discipline problem. I have been a substitute teacher for 11 years and a NYS Certified teacher for 2 and I have subbed in 100 or more public and private schools. I recently subbed for this school and I was the co-teacher to the primary teacher. You unfortunately expect, a substitute teacher to be put through the grinder, but they were also putting the classroom teacher through the mill and they have been with her since September. Students get away with so much negative behavior because teachers and administrators are afraid to put the hammer down on bad behavior. Also when it comes to other adults in the school, students need to know that ALL adults should be respected, not debated. I will say that the parents are responsible for some of the negative behavior, peer pressure is next and the fear and the tied hands of the teachers and the administration is the another factor. Children have been given too much empowerment in the schools and the teachers having become pawns. This assignment definitely compelled me to write this post based on my disappointing experience. Needless to say, that I will not return.
—Submitted by a teacher

I am the proud parent supporter of The Museum Magnet school for Inquiry Innovation and Imagination formerly known as PS 191. I am writing on behalf of my daughter to commend her Pre-K G-6 teachers for all their leadership, commitment, hard work, and support throughout year. I expected great things this year and I have not been disappointed. So often we hear complaints from parents and teachers that the other is not doing their job. It is hard for teachers to understand the strengths and challenges of parents and parents often feel like outsiders in the school world. So I am very thankful we are breaking down barriers fostering positive communication between teachers and strong school to home connection through face to face dialogue, emails, phone calls, weekly newsletters, etc... I believe it is vital to have an excellent rapport with your child's teacher because it will lead to better outcomes for your child. I highly recommend sending your child here very please with the curriculum!
—Submitted by a parent

We have had a great experience with the preK program this year. The teachers and the staff--particularly the parent coordinator, Damaris Carrion--are dedicated and wonderful. I am excited about the direction this school is headed as the Museum Magnet school. My son gets free art classes from Studio in a School and free after school yoga from Kids Creative. There have been field trips to the theater, a farm, botanical gardens and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. There's a partnership in the works with Lincoln Center. And their winter and spring shows are not to be missed! (Blew me away, really.) Mr. Piccorelli, the music teacher, is great. I'm aware of the poor ratings this school gets and I can't speak to the upper grades, but I was very happy with the preK program and I have heard good things about kindergarten as well. We have had a wonderful experience this year and I see that this school is actively working to improve and best meet the needs of its students.
—Submitted by a parent

I remember pouring over online reviews in the yr before my little guy started pre-K. I hoped to find a school that would be fun, challenging, and enjoyed; a perfect fit. His year of preschool (year before PS 191) was abysmal. He attended a wonderful, expensive, very social preschool. My son hated it. Going to school daily was intensely difficult. If you saw a mom with a stroller and a screaming thrashing child going up WEA during 2009-2010, that might have been us. What a gift this year has been. My son's teacher has 18 kids in her class. She is assisted by a full time teachers assistant, and during half of the year, by a student teacher. His teacher addresses my sons academic strengths and weaknesses. Ms. B. handles the behavioral difficulties that occur in any classroom, but seem to be intense at this developmental stage as kids try to be separate. The music program, and work with Lincoln Center Inst, field trips to look at one hundred year old buildings, sculpture, etc., is amazing. The teacher, asst teacher, principal, parent coordinator, music and art teacher have all been very receptive and accessible. With the magnet grant the future continues to look bright.
—Submitted by a parent

My son is currently in the 7th grade. he has been in the school for 2yrs now. From day one the teachers, counselor, assistant principal have been supportive and provide me with information constantly in regards to his behavior both good and bad. My son has struggled with his behavior which in fact affects his grades but the staff has not given up on him and are working diligently to bring out his potential. Up until 6th grade my sons grades were nearly excellent and they are helping me to bring him back non stop.
—Submitted by a parent

My son is in Pre-k and I must admit I was apprehensive before he started but am now totally won over. The teacher's are dedicated, professional and very qualified. Recently school uniforms were introduced and they have really added to student pride and a sense of community. The level of parent support is improving. There are regular fund raisers - raffles, bake sales etc. Ms. Carrion, the parent co-ordinator and the Principal, Ms Verdesoto are doing an excellent job at making this a great school.
—Submitted by a parent

I have three children in this school and they are all very different children and this school manages to accommodate each child. One of my children struggles with reading while the other is in the gifted and talented program and the one who struggles with reading gets a lot of extra help it just really works out well for all of them I give the school two thumbs up!
—Submitted by T. Ortiz, a parent

My son attends P.S. 191 and it is a wonderful school, the staff is very caring and the Parent Coordinator Mrs. Carrion is very professional and always answer questions asked and not asked. i am looking forward to my son learning in this school I beklieve with the kind of teachers and staff this school possess he and all other children attending will go far.
—Submitted by Nikel Dixon-Jones, a parent

The new middle school here, Hudson Honors, is still a work in progress, but coming along quite nicely. I look at what my child has learned compared with what other kids know as well as what the high schools want and I am pleasantly surprised. I think they could teach to a higher level here, however, even though a good number of kids aren't at grade level. Threre is good after-school stuff and lots of extra academic help from the teachers for kids who want it--though some clearly need it and don't ask. Every kid takes Spanish too, and that is a plus. Bad thing is not enough gym time for these youngsters. But on the whole, a good staff, serious principal, and mostly well-behaved kids.
—Submitted by a parent

This is my daughter's first year in New York City Public School and I'm very happy to have her at P.S.191. The class size is good (<25 in 4th grade) and her teacher is excellent. Academically I feel she is being challenged and is nightly bringing home useful homework, no busy-work. The staff at the school is incredible. Administrators are always available to speak with parents, and they make us feel welcome daily by either greeting us at the door, holding open house discussions, and even serving coffee regularly in the parent room where parents and staff can discuss school topics. The school works frequently with community projects to bring extra-cirricular activities in art, science, social studies, and sports to the students. My daughter is getting a quality education in a very pleasant atmosphere. I have an excellent impression of this school.
—Submitted by Kimberly, a parent

The quality of academics is poor. It's hard for children to learn because there are too many kids per class, my child was in kindergarten in this school and he had 27 kids in his class'. He came home almost everyday saying he didn't learn anything while in school. my child is five years old he loved to go to school but now he don't want to go. 191 is not a good school.
—Submitted by Jazzmin Johnson, a parent

This is a great school I give it a thumbs way up. Anybody and everybodys child should go there.
—Submitted by a former student