Digital Arts and Cinema Technology High School

I had high hopes for PS. 29.Every year my child’s experience has been radically different. There seems to little alignment as students move from grade to grade. There is no system or app that allows for fluid communication. While there has been some amazing teachers, the lack of social and emotional support for students compounded with the inability to keep students safe from harassment, would make me reluctant to recommend this school.

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.

I was genuinely excited about enrolling my son after reviewing the school’s website and conducting my own research. The information presented gave the impression that the school was well-equipped to support children with IEPs. However, my experience over the past month has been deeply disappointing.Since his enrollment, I have received repeated complaints about behaviors that are developmentally appropriate, particularly given that my son can become overstimulated at times. Rather than demonstrating patience or implementing supportive strategies, I felt consistently pressured to transfer him to another school. This situation has taken an emotional toll on both me and my child.This transition was already significant for him, as he moved into a larger school environment. Instead of being supported through that adjustment, I feel his abilities were underestimated, and there seemed to be surprise when he began to show progress. That response raises concerns about expectations and the level of support being provided.Additionally, my interactions with his occupational therapy (OT) provider were particularly concerning. The communication I received felt overly focused on complaints rather than collaboration or solution-oriented support.Based on my experience, the school may be better suited for students who do not require additional support, as I did not observe the level of patience or specialized approach necessary for children with IEPs. Overall, I believe the school’s website may be misleading in how it presents its capacity to support children with diverse needs.

Fair warning to parents considering Fantis: do not count on continuity here, no matter what they tell you. The school markets itself as a long-term community with a clear admissions process and priority for current families, but that’s not how it plays out. Our child started in the 3’s program and was passed over for kindergarten during early and regular admissions — along with six other kids from the same class who had been there just as long. Spots went to outside families new to the school, some of whom did not meet the criteria the admissions materials describe as required.Make of that what you will.There was no communication during the process, being left in the dark while those seats were quietly filled from outside. The teachers were nice and the early education itself was a fine experience. But if you are choosing this school because you want your child growing up here through eighth grade, understand that is not a promise they actually keep.