Bethel Elementary School

I am writing this review to express serious concerns about my experience with **P.S. 9** and the way the school handles student support services and communication with families. My experience as a parent has been extremely disappointing, particularly regarding the lack of timely support for children who may need additional learning assistance.One of my main concerns involves the process of requesting accessibility services for my child. I formally requested an IEP evaluation for speech services because I believed my child needed additional support. Initially, the school determined that my child did not require any services at all. However, in the middle of the semester, the school reversed its position and acknowledged that my child would in fact benefit from services. Despite this realization, my child still never received the support that was identified as necessary. This delay and lack of follow-through significantly impacted my child’s educational experience and raises serious questions about how the school evaluates and delivers support to students who need it.Equally concerning is the way families are treated by school leadership and staff. In my interactions, communication from the school has often felt dismissive and unprofessional. The principal in particular has been extremely argumentative, combative, and disrespectful in conversations with parents. Rather than working collaboratively with families to address concerns, interactions often become confrontational. Parents deserve to be treated with respect when advocating for their children’s education.Additionally, the tone and language used by some members of the staff can be demeaning. The way adults are spoken to during meetings or discussions does not reflect the level of professionalism one would expect from a school administration. Schools should create a welcoming and supportive environment not only for students but also for families. Unfortunately, my experience has been the opposite.Overall, my experience with P.S. 9 has been very disappointing. The delays in providing accessibility services, the lack of clear communication, and the unprofessional behavior from leadership have made it extremely difficult to advocate for my child’s educational needs. I hope the school administration takes these concerns seriously and works toward improving both their special education processes and the way they engage with families.

My granddaughter has been at this school since K. She's now finishing 3rd grade. In 2nd grade, we discovered that she is dyslexic. It was a confusing and scary time. The school principal, the teachers, and the special education department were remarkably helpful and reassuring, and have continued their support and guidance. P.S. 11 has so much to offer. The halls are full of positive energy and excitement. All students participate in remarkable school performances and projects. Even after-school activities are above the norm. As an educator myself, and knowing how difficult it is to address the myriad problems and situations that every school encounters, I feel that P.S. 11 is exceptional.

We are in PK and could not ask for a better experience. We love our PK teacher. They just got accepted as an IB school and are applying a new curriculum that incorporates dance, art, Spanish and lesson plans around self and community. The PTA is very involved and making great strides.

Overall, PS 316 is a great school. Our daughter has been attending for the past three years, and our younger daughter will be starting next year. We've had a very positive experience.What stands out most is the wonderful community. The teachers have been excellent, the PTA is incredibly strong, and there are so many events throughout the year that help bring families together. Our daughter loves going to school, has enjoyed every teacher she's had, and has adapted very well to the environment. She's motivated to do well academically while also taking advantage of the many enrichment opportunities the school offers, including theater, art, science, and music. She has also developed close friendships with many classmates who seem just as happy to be there.The facilities are good overall, although, like many New York City public schools, they could benefit from updates and modernization.If there were one area I'd like to see improved, it would be communication. At times, there seems to be a disconnect between the administration and the PTA, and it can feel like they're not always working together as effectively as they could. I also think the principal could do a better job communicating with parents and students, particularly when issues arise. There have been a few situations that, in my opinion, should have been addressed more quickly and transparently.That said, no school is perfect. Overall, we've been very happy with our experience, and we're excited to have our second daughter attend. The positives far outweigh the negatives, and we would absolutely recommend the school to other families.

BWS is such an amazing environment for our kids. We joined when looking for a preschool for our then 3.5 year old (what Waldorf calls "Early Childhood"). We're now in our 3rd year (Kindergarten) and we're totally in love. The thoughtful approach to every subject, including art, music and physical growth has really blown us away. I'm excited to watch my daughter continue to flourish in the grades program, with such a hands-on approach to learning with your hands, head and heart for all subjects. Our little guy has also started once a week "caregiver and me" classes at, which have been great for his development and to get to know other parents. I'm so glad we found this community.