P.S. I.S. 217 Roosevelt Island

I love this school all the teachers put the children's needs into proper perspective. Throughout the school all the children learn about respect for one another and reponsablity toward there community. My daughter has been attending PS IS 217 since Pre-K. Her love of learning has been greatly rewarded by a staff that engages children and I feel that prepares them for the real world by rewarding the children for there hard work and respect with coupons to be cashed in for small toys and school supplies.
--Submitted by a parent

My child is now in his third year at this school. I see lots of exciting things happening here. The administration is always available, I see my child's teacher as much as needed and have her contact information for questions or concerns, the school is well kept, the art and music program is a definite plus and my child loves the school which is most important to me!
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter attended the school since 1st grade and I had consistent problems with the staff minus her 3rd grade teacher. In fourth grade I finally had enough and moved her after she told her teacher she was leaving the school the teacher packed her up and sent her home with all her belongings including good bye notes. Not one staff member contacted me to confirm this ! I feel like they wait until a child has completely failed to address any concerns.
--Submitted by a parent

PS 217 has been a wonderful place for my son and for me as a parent. The school building is well maintained, bright and cheerful. The principal and administration are easy to deal with and committed to quality education. Best of all my son is thriving in the Kindergarten G&T class. He loves his teacher and classmates. His days are filled with wonderful activities - computers, science, music, art, Spanish, and of course reading and writing. Plus, the school and the PTA have organized fantastic field trips. We could not be happier!
--Submitted by a parent

PS 217 has surpassed my expectations. My son has been thoroughly supported by his teacher and all the staff. They are always available to chat if there is a problem (or if there isn't one). I highly recommend this school.
--Submitted by a parent

PS/IS 217 suffers because of its negative reputation lingering from years ago. Sadly, people who repeat the stereotypes have not even seen the school. My children go there every day and I can't think of a safer and more nurturing place for them to study. Last year (2008/09) PS/IS 217 was only 2 points away from grade 'A' from the NYC Department of Education. Math program is particularly rigorous, the test scores improved every year, and are now well above the state average. English language scores are somewhat lower, because the school has so many UN workers' children (ESL students). The teachers are excellent, and the Principal is terrific! Always accessible. And the PTA (http://ps217pta.org) has been doing so many amazing things for the school.
--Submitted by a parent

Our daughter went to PS/IS 217 for preK & now goes to K. The school has great facilities. The staff is highly qualified. The class sizes are smaller than in most other public schools. The school offers in-class music and arts program, and many after school clubs. Among the cons, the G&T program at PS/IS 217 is new. The school is very international. Students come from 60 countries, and many of them are children of United Nations employees, who learn English as a 2nd language = lower average academic scores. These families can move to another country at any time, so the classes are not as uniform or as stable as some people may like. Location is not ideal for Manhattan families. People complain about the PTA, but from my perspective it is very active this year. Major improvement from what we saw before.
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter is in the new gifted and talented program. So far we love it. The teacher is fantastic at assessing each child's strengths and weaknesses. She adapts the lessons to each child. The office staff is very approachable, and have listened and responded to any concern I've had. The facilities are superb. One ongoing issue is a lack of parental involvement, but the PTA is working hard to improve this. I think this school just needs a new group of parents to come in, be involved in the PTA, and this school will deserve the 5 stars...
--Submitted by a parent

My son went there for pre k and kindergaden. Ms Haya was the pre k teacher she showed that she loved the children but at times it was apparent that there was pressure that took away from he focus on the children. His kindergarten teacher was awesome. Stayed in control of the class and made learning unique, all the while indulging in questions and being in control. The office staff was attentive all concerns brought to the office were addressed. The biggest let down would be the parents, the lack of support made it hard for the pta as well as administration to be the most effective.
--Submitted by a parent

The school has changed over the years. I have seen several principals come and go. The current leadership are young and innovative. My son's musical talents were nurtured well enough to get him admitted into a the specialized music high school. The new guidance counselor is tops. he responds well to the issues facing the students. many students lack manners or empathy... not the schools fault. Most of the teachers do a very good job and the environment is generally safe. one weakness is the lack of the presence of teachers of color.
--Submitted by a parent