542 E 11th St #5
New York, NY 10009

I have two kids at East Side, one is white, the other, Latinx. Both my kids love, love, love the school, its culture of zero tolerance for bullying and the teachers' dedication. It's obvious that teachers at this school love their job and are strict about academics and empathetic towards their students. My children feel safe and happy at this school every day. I see that there are two reviewers on this platform who complain about the school's "woke" politics and how it supposedly "makes children feel dirty and horrible for simply being born white". Obviously, these reviews are false and they don't belong to the East Side School's community because they don't reflect the reality at E.S. Everything the school does for the students and their families is to promote reflection and dialogue about key issues in our society (institutionalized racism is only one of those topics and the one that made the headlines because many white people are used to not being questioned for their actions). I am white and I never felt discriminated against for being asked to reflect about the privilege my skin color automatically gives me. If you're white and you feel threatened when asked to think about the innate privilege your skin color gives you, you're part of the problem, not the solution and the reason why we need more schools like E.S. My children are growing into mature, well-educated intellectuals who are aware of the world they live in and are ready to thrive in it and fight for their beliefs.

The Children’s Workshop School PS 361 (cwsnyc.org) is a great example of why small public community schools deserve recognition. In 2025, with two classes per grade from 3K through 5th, it offers an intimate environment where children are truly known. My first grader practically skips to school and still stops to hug former teachers. Even as a sometimes quieter kid, they feel deeply at ease, and it’s wonderful to hear how confidently they join class discussions.Much of this comfort comes from the school’s thoughtful approach to transitioning children into the community. Each age group—3K, Pre-K, and K—is introduced to school spaces and staff at a developmentally appropriate pace. Classroom commitments, where students agree on how to treat one another, genuinely shape daily life. Every Friday the whole school gathers for Community Meeting, where families are welcome and kids eagerly await the Kind Act awards.In Pre-K, families play a central role. Each one chooses a day to share something meaningful—heritage, traditions, hobbies—and the weekly updates are a highlight. The kids also love the homemade treats that often appear, from onigiri to taralli to hamantaschen.By Kindergarten and 1st grade, new rituals appear, like the tiny tooth-box necklace the Principal gives each child who loses a tooth. My own kid spent many “choice time” moments making drawings for the Principal.Academically, the school is grounded in the science of reading, giving children a strong foundation so reading clicks in Kindergarten. The Bridges math curriculum is playful and game-based, helping fluency grow naturally. Students also enjoy movement, music, drumming, yoga, dance, theatre trips, a hydroponics lab, community-garden workshops, computer classes, and multi-night trips for 4th and 5th graders. Affordable after-school clubs add even more. Their 2024 book In Their Own Voices offers deeper insight.Social Studies is especially distinctive. First graders study NYC waterways and visit them firsthand. Joining trips to the Little Red Lighthouse and the High Bridge amazed me as much as the kids.The building has history, natural light, a great playground, a peaceful multicultural library, a block room for long-term projects, and even school turtles in the hydroponics lab.A strong PTA anchors community-building events, and DOE surveys show high satisfaction among families and teachers. It truly is a gem of a school.