50 United Nations Plz #9D
New York, NY 10017

My daughter graduated from Art & Design high school in 2022 and had a great experience. It was a safe environment, the students were supportive of each other and I didn't see any issues with bullying, the teachers were nurturing and supportive. The kids loved art, but there were also good academic classes and AP classes but a large focus on visual arts classes. Staff and principal does a good job of helping students prepare for college. The new principal is great !

As a guardian of a current student at this school, this student is being bullied and none of the teachers are doing anything about it. It was already pretty bad that the teachers aren't doing anything about the bullying, but it is worse that the teachers did not let this student tell their family members about it because they say that it will make it a bigger deal. It is not alright for a teacher to tell their student to not call their parent because of it will ruin their school reputation. The teachers dealing with this problem says that they will be able to fix the problem but they didn't do anything. Now this student is afraid to go to school because the bullies threathens to jump this student and call their friends over to also bully and join in. Also, the bullies didn't get in trouble because the teacher said that he did not see it happen. This isn't the first time this student was bullied but the first time, there was at least one teacher that tried to solve the problem but she left so now this student is having trouble solving this new problem. As for learning, teaching, and other parts of reviewing a school, if students don't feel safe then they obviously would not feel motivated or excited about learning and other activities.

The new school building is a pleasant departure from the typically older school buildings in NYC. A standout feature of the school is its early "robotics" club, hosting a club for FRC entry (First Robotics Competition). This program exposes children to STEM fields from an early age, fostering creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork skills.The school's approach to homework, starting from 1st grade, promotes accountability and develops good study habits. The teachers are young, passionate, and patient, fostering a positive learning environment. Their active engagement with parents via the ParentSquare web portal is commendable, keeping parents informed and involved in their children's education.The PTA is very active, consistently providing enriching programs for kids of all grades, including organizing engaging field trips. The quality of the After School program is good overall, with a wide spectrum offering and certain activities standing out as exceptional (Chess, FRC club, a few others)The school boasts a well-organized Chess program, which shows promise of becoming a strong contender in future NYC competitions.The principal's involvement and dedication are impressive - she appears industrious and driven. The school's focus on academic achievements without an overtly political agenda (DEI etc) is refreshing and stands in contrast with Schools like PS111, or even private schools like Grace School.The teachers at all levels are EXCELLENT - they are dedicated, supportive, and skillful at fostering a positive learning environment.Cons:Firstly, the after-school vendor's logistics staff appears to have a high turnover rate, which can cause inconsistency in the quality of services provided. However, it is noteworthy that this issue seems to be somewhat mitigated as of Spring 2023.Secondly, the school's elections and input to integrating the recent (non-English speaking) immigrant students could use a more strategic plan. I understand this was shoved on (all ??) NYC schools, and that it is good to provide opportunities to all children, yet the school needs to take steps to ensure this does not disrupt the learning pace for existing students. It would be beneficial to implement specialized programs or resources (Special needs ?) for these new students to help them catch up and integrate better. I predict all PS NYC schools that took in immigrant arrivals will have a huge drop in scores and quality in the next 2 years. Its a tough situation