Al-Madinah School

Was surprised to see some of the prior reviews. My child has made a sweet group of friends across the past few years at PS 133 and is excited to go to school every day. Student body is diverse and complex: consists of Gen ed, Spanish DLP, French DLP, and ICT classrooms. Very international school alongside families with deep roots in brooklyn. Great parent involvement and afterschool options.

My 2 kids have been at ps282 for the last few years and we couldn’t be happier. They’re learning and curiosity has blossomed. Awesome teachers and community!

32 is a very special community. My daughter adores every aspect of this school and I cannot recommend it enough. All of the staff and teachers knew my daughter's name in pre-k. We received offers from both 29 and 58 for kindergarten and we chose to stay at 32. Strong leadership, wonderful teachers, great selection of specialty classes, fantastic afterschool program.

My son has attended this school since pre-K. As a family that is neither white, wealthy, nor French, he has often felt like an outsider. Unfortunately, he's been subjected to frequent bullying, and the social environment has been deeply unwelcoming.While many of the teachers have shown kindness and have genuinely supported his academic growth, the overall culture among students is troubling. The atmosphere is dominated by privilege, and we’ve found that the most difficult dynamics often come from children of extremely wealthy or insular families.Parent culture here is cliquish and performative, often projecting unresolved personal issues onto their children’s school experiences. The administration, including the principal, has been largely ineffective at addressing bullying or creating meaningful change — and at times seems unwilling to engage with conflict directly.This school feels designed for a narrow, elite demographic, and many aspects — from the school "merch" in French to the unspoken social codes — reflect that exclusivity.We’ve made the difficult decision not to return next year. No family should feel invisible or unsafe in a place meant for learning and growth.

I have two kids in the school this year and we absolutely adore it. It is not our zoned school and I am so glad we chose 124. It is a small school, which makes it feel like family. All the staff know my kids’ names and how to best engage them in learning. There is strong social-emotional support including free counseling through the CBO partner, Counseling in Schools. There is also low-cost extended care 3K-4K and free after school for K-5 through a partnership with YMCA. My children feel both challenged academically and safe in the school. There are many enrichment programs available as well including a full time art and music teacher as well dedicated science, social studies, and theater teachers; and external programs such as dance, improv, swimming, coding and Lego robotics, among others. Over the last two years, the school has shifted to incorporate more project- and play-based learning, recognizing that these are children and learning can take many forms, including how you interact with peers to strategize and solve math problems or read & write a story together.Of course every school has challenges, but it’s important to note that leadership is open to feedback and willing to work with individuals and families to best support them. The parent community is highly engaged, prioritizing family events over high priced galas and auctions. We love the diversity of the school — cultural, language, socioeconomic — as it reflects the broader NYC and global community. This is not something that can be said for other neighborhood schools. Highly encourage folks to check out the website (ps124brooklyn.org) or stop by for a tour.