Ps 15 Roberto Clemente

We moved to NYC at the end of COVID; I was looking for school options and relying heavily on reviews from this and other forums, which was really tough. We've been at Anna Silver for 3 school years now, commuting from Brooklyn, and I'm glad that we made this choice. In our experience with the school, and specifically the Mandarin Dual Language program:- The key staff - Principal, Parent coordinator, and school safety officers know and greet the kids by name every morning. - The principal and teachers are all outside at dismissal after school, and have been incredibly willing to chat when I have had questions or concerns. When I'm not at dismissal (and kids go to after school), teachers and staff have all been very responsive over email.- Within the Mandarin Dual Language program, the class sizes have been small (all below 20!) allowing for good teacher attention, and tight bonds to form amongst the classes. In my oldest daughter's cohort, all but 2 students and ALL OF the non-native speakers went on to Mandarin Dual Language middle school programs, which I think says a lot for the interest in the language and love of learning instilled. - There is a wide range of activities and programs brought into the school for arts and dance exposure.In my school search, I often heard variations of "it's not a good school, the test scores aren't great." It is worth calling out that the school has many students who are both recent immigrants and learning English. All parent communications are in English, Spanish and Mandarin. We've personally loved the diversity of the school, and the care that is shown to learning about everyone's culture and language.

This school is flagged by the state as a failing school. Students are performing terribly. There are better schools in the area to send a child.

The Children’s Workshop School PS 361 (cwsnyc.org) is a great example of why small public community schools deserve recognition. In 2025, with two classes per grade from 3K through 5th, it offers an intimate environment where children are truly known. My first grader practically skips to school and still stops to hug former teachers. Even as a sometimes quieter kid, they feel deeply at ease, and it’s wonderful to hear how confidently they join class discussions.Much of this comfort comes from the school’s thoughtful approach to transitioning children into the community. Each age group—3K, Pre-K, and K—is introduced to school spaces and staff at a developmentally appropriate pace. Classroom commitments, where students agree on how to treat one another, genuinely shape daily life. Every Friday the whole school gathers for Community Meeting, where families are welcome and kids eagerly await the Kind Act awards.In Pre-K, families play a central role. Each one chooses a day to share something meaningful—heritage, traditions, hobbies—and the weekly updates are a highlight. The kids also love the homemade treats that often appear, from onigiri to taralli to hamantaschen.By Kindergarten and 1st grade, new rituals appear, like the tiny tooth-box necklace the Principal gives each child who loses a tooth. My own kid spent many “choice time” moments making drawings for the Principal.Academically, the school is grounded in the science of reading, giving children a strong foundation so reading clicks in Kindergarten. The Bridges math curriculum is playful and game-based, helping fluency grow naturally. Students also enjoy movement, music, drumming, yoga, dance, theatre trips, a hydroponics lab, community-garden workshops, computer classes, and multi-night trips for 4th and 5th graders. Affordable after-school clubs add even more. Their 2024 book In Their Own Voices offers deeper insight.Social Studies is especially distinctive. First graders study NYC waterways and visit them firsthand. Joining trips to the Little Red Lighthouse and the High Bridge amazed me as much as the kids.The building has history, natural light, a great playground, a peaceful multicultural library, a block room for long-term projects, and even school turtles in the hydroponics lab.A strong PTA anchors community-building events, and DOE surveys show high satisfaction among families and teachers. It truly is a gem of a school.