107 W 25th St #5E
Manhattan, NY 10001

After having graduated from this school, I can safely say that the majority of the students are not really prepared for college. The grading curves in classes such as math are absurd, with tests only counting for 30% of students' grades and having corrections well into the AP sequences of stats and calculus. The average scores on AP exams are low, with the majority of students having failed the AP Calculus AB exam, prompting the school to stop offering the course. Students frequently use their phones during class and exhibit a general air of ambivalence towards their own education, with this trend seeming to have worsened with incoming classes of freshmen. The teachers at MVA are generally very good if you follow the curriculum that they would like to teach, as opposed to what they end up teaching after having to bend their wills to unruly students. They will offer good advice and provide additional support before AP exams, but the impetus falls on the individual's maturity and seriousness to truly benefit from them. In a world of ever-increasing competitiveness for college admissions, along with the end of affirmative action, I wonder how the school will continue to be able to inflate grades and prop up their students' entrances into colleges for which they lack the preparation.

I'm astounded by the level of education at this school. My son is in Kindergarten G&T and is already reading. He has light homework which he does independently. He participates in after-school activities M-F and loves every activity/instructor. I always enjoyed school growing up and I'm so glad that PS 11 is fostering the same excitement around learning for my son.