Paula Hedbavny School

I am very happy with PS 278, my son is in II grade and doing excellent! The school has a rich curriculum, an art and music program and a warm environment. As a parent, I believe success in your children education is a 50/50 effort and I found in PS 278 the tools I need to provide a safe and stimulating environment for my son. I am mostly grateful for the tireless effort of the parents involved in the school and Ms Guido whom I think is a wonderful and dedicated Principal. PS 278 is a real gem in our neighborhood.
--Submitted by a parent

We have two children attending PS 278 and are very happy with the school. There was a time when we weren t sure about raising our children in the city when they reached school age , but due to the wonderful experience we've had at 278, we have stayed. In the 278 School Community, our children see dedicated Moms and Dads from all walks of life working at the Bake Sale, Book Fair, Cancer Walk etc. and they see first hand what it means to be part of a community. They see the staff and families not only in school, but at the playground, in the grocery store, at functions outside the school, and it strengthens their feelings of belonging. To me that is such an important lesson. Even in this big, loud, sometimes tough as nails city, we have carved out a little slice of small town life. On top of all that, they are challenged academically and exposed to so many incredible programs Music, Art, Theatre, Dance. In the same month one of our children attended a concert with Natalie Merchant at the 92nd St. Y, the other a concert at Carnegie Hall - not too shabby! I think with every school, there will be bumps along the way, but for us, 278 has been a terrific experience. C. Leonardo
--Submitted by a parent

Kindergarten can be a very tough transition for a child and for their parent. However, as adults, we should be mature and realize it is wrong to generalize a whole school by one's own experience. To say that "People are being pushed out of Inwood because of this particular school" is a ridiculous comment! There are so many schools in Inwood to choose from - try another school if you want. Maybe if people have had issues with the local daycare and now the school they need to take a look at what the continual issue is. I for one am extremely pleased with 278. My teacher is warm, kind and comunicative. I get calls from the school about events and notices sent home. No school is perfect. I have friends with children at Muscota, Amistad, 178, Washington Heights Academy and even Anderson - all have things they love and things they do not like and would change - but they don't disparage the entire school. At 278 there are a lot of wonderful dedicated families committed so please don't speak for everyone when many wonderful families ARE staying. We love the music program, the dance program, the 92nd street Y relationship, the SEM prgram, etc.
--Submitted by a parent

I completely disagree with your review of the school. The school goes above and beyond what it needs to do to communicate to all of the families. Unfortunately, this is NYC and their are lots of different kids with lots of different issues. You seem to have your facts quite wrong. My child, Patrick is a 1st grader and has had a wonderful learning growth curve at this school. Not to say that the road hasn't been bumpy but I am not under a cloud of delusion. I am also proud to post my name to this because being passive aggressive is a trait I am not fond of. Marcee Deegan
--Submitted by a parent

Bearing in mind that this is a NYC Public School, we have been happy with the experience thus far. Anyone who would think they would be going into this experience not expecting bumps in the road is delusional. Communication - anytime we have needed response from the teachers, we have received it. If I have called the school, I receive a call back the same day or next. A request for a conversation or meeting has always been accommodated. We have received consistent communication as well from the school & PTA. Email we are a title 1 school, there are a great number of families who are not able to use email which means we would be excluding them from communication. That is not fair to them, is it? As long as I get a response, I do not care if it is via email or on a piece of paper. In 1st grade (remember, KG IS optional) the reading criteria is tough! The DOE this year has even increased the year end goals. I will not discredit the entire institution for occasional unsatisfactory things that are happening in his class alone. Dealing with difficult children and their families is the way this goes. Understandably, not everyone is up for that challenge. Danielle Floyd
--Submitted by a parent

I would like to address some key points that have been criticized: 1) We have ALWAYS received response back from the teacher/school so your attempt to apply this to the school as a whole is inaccurate. 2) Every time we have had issues the school has dismissed the child early and attempted to notify the parent. What are you expecting them to do? Welcome to NYC public school! 3) As the parent of a kindergartner you clearly have NO concept of how intense the reading is for the DOE curriculum. KG is OPTIONAL and the core curriculum does not enter the picture until 1st GRADE! 4) We are in CONSTANT communication with our teachers and ALWAYS receive communication back from them. The school still has a majority of families that are on or below poverty level and DO NOT HAVE ACCESS to email. Who cares if the response comes back on paper as long as there IS a response! 5) As for the statement of the school itself driving families out of the neighborhood that is just a futile attempt to smear this school s reputation and is just plain ignorant. Everyone knows there are multiple public school options as well as parochial. Glad you are moving on.
--Submitted by a parent

The opposite is true regarding driving parents out of the school and neighborhood. PS/MS 278 is continually adding children from other local schools into grades 1-8. I do not know any parents at any of the other area schools who have children that left 278 dissatisfied. Have people left the neighborhood who have left the school? - Of course they have. Is the school perfect and right for every child and parent? Of course it's not, but bad mouthing the school, out of spite, here or anywhere else in social media or cyberspace is in poor taste. Matt O'Shea
--Submitted by a parent

We have been delighted with our experience at PS/MS 278 and will have a second child enrolling in the school next fall. This year's lengthy waiting list is testament to the growing demand resulting from the school's excellent reputation in the neighborhood. The school balances a sense of structure and rigorous academics with a rich curriculum including music, art, dance, drama, gym, several project-based enrichment programs and the involvement of numerous cultural organizations from outside the school including Carnegie Hall and the 92nd Street Y. (This is no small feat in this fiscal climate!) The principal, faculty and staff are dedicated and skillful in their service to a school population with a very wide range of academic, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. We are proud to be part of such a diverse community that also boasts an extremely warm and committed group of parent volunteers. With all that one hears about the NYC public school system, friends and family outside the city are continually impressed (and a bit jealous!) to hear about the experience our son is having and the educational standards he is held to in our neighborhood "little red schoolhouse."
--Submitted by a parent

My son is a Kindergartener at PS278 this year, and we will not be returning next year. I would not recommend this school to other parents based on my own experience and observations. We have been very disappointed with this school on many levels including: 1) responsiveness to parent concerns, 2) responding to physically aggressive children in the class who are disruptive, 3) the reading curriculum and 4) communication. There are countless behavioral issues, including violence toward the teachers and other students, in class that the school has not addressed appropriately, and the school does not seem to be concerned that the learning process is disrupted on a daily basis. Beyond behavioral issues and lack of responsiveness, there are also major issues with communication from the school. They refuse to communicate by email and they do not update parents on the progress of learning in the class, or on an individual basis (except for parent teacher conferences). The school is driving many families out of this wonderful neighborhood who are searching for a safe school environment that provides quality education for their children.
--Submitted by a parent

I LOVE THIS SCHOOL!!! Its my daughter's first year. She's in first grade. The teachers and wonderful. The music program is wonderful. It has so many programs and activies. The principal is so involved as well as the parents. My daughter is learning things that other schools are teaching in second grade. Her grades are amazing. I would definetly recommend this school.
--Submitted by a parent