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The Academy of Talented Scholars

Grades: K-5
Staff Pick
50 Avenue P
Brooklyn NY 11204
Phone: 718-621-2730

Our Insights

What’s Special

Unique enrichment clusters; strong in the arts.

The Downside

Inadequate common schoolyard.

P.S. 682, The Academy of Talented Scholars (TAOTS), is a small school where hands on learning is emphasized and academics are fused with arts.

Founding Principal Josephine Sportella-Giusto drew on her 15 years as a teacher to create the blueprint for TAOTS while studying at the New York City Leadership Academy. Central to her vision is the Schoolwide Enrichment Model (SEM), a model that is often used with gifted children. SEM students take regular classes as well as a variety of non-academic classes, which include no more than 12 students at a time.

Children, who get to pick the special classes, seemed excited and engaged during our visit. Among the many choices are: Guitar Mania, Italian Dancers, Ju Jitsu, Kindergarten Math Wizards, Shutterbug Society, Spanish Explorers, TAOTS Reporters, TAOTS Top Chefs, World Artists, Young Publishers, Young Yogas and Yoginis, and Zumba. Projects range from kindergartners digging into a slice of watermelon to find out if their estimates of how many seeds were in a slice were correct, to a class that blends creating poetry with painting. When we visited, third graders in the Top Chef cluster were learning how to make sushi while getting a background on Japanese culture. All necessary enrichment equipment is provided by the school, from iPads for the blogging cluster, to guitars for the music cluster.

Teachers often work with the help of trained, parent volunteers. Students also complete writing assignments about what they learned.

The academy was founded in 2009 and shares its building with two other schools; a District 75 school and The Brooklyn School of Inquiry. The building is modern and colorful, both inside and out. Currently, the school is K-3, but the school will continue to expand until it is K-5.

On the second floor, a brightly colored hallway leads straight into the TAOTS main office; a pleasant, airy space with enough seats to accommodate the handful of kids that stop by in the afternoon to wait for their parents.

A partnership with Reach the World, an organization that allows students to connect with world travelers through video conferencing, enhances the social studies curriculum. The school is part of Tribes, a community building organization.

TAOTS is rich in arts and technology. Interactive whiteboards and computers are in most of the classrooms. Students take technology classes, learning how to produce presentations and improve their research skills. Art and music instruction is offered to all students.

School facilities include a home economics room and a science lab. The large double gym, cafeteria, and library are shared with the other two schools occupying the building. The school's uniform policy is loosely enforced.

TAOTS has an active Parent Teacher Organization. Parent volunteers assist with cluster classes and run the library. A math workshop helps parents to better understand the math curriculum.

Special education: TAOTS offers an ASD Nest program and other special education services. The ASD Nest Program serves children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Students with ASD learn in a classroom alongside typically developing children, taught by two teachers who have been trained in the program’s specialized curriculum and teaching strategies. All special education students are integrated in regular classes. The building is handicapped accessible.

After school: In partnership with Project Success, TOATS offers an after school program called the Test Prep Academy. The Academy meets three times a week.

Admissions: Neighborhood school. (Eliana Mascio, February 2012; updated admisisons, 2019)

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School Stats

Citywide Average Key
This school is Better Near Worse than the citywide average

Is this school safe and well-run?

From the 2020-21 NYC School Survey

How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
79%
82% Citywide Average

From the 2019-20 NY State Report Card

How many students were suspended?
0%
1% Citywide Average

From this school's most recent Quality Review Report

Are teachers effective?

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
85%
84% Citywide Average
Years of principal experience at this school
13.2

How do students perform academically?

From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database

How many elementary school students scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
82%
53% Citywide Average
How many elementary school students scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
76%
50% Citywide Average

Who does this school serve?

From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot

Enrollment
353
Asian
36%
Black
2%
Hispanic
8%
White
53%
Other
2%
Free or reduced priced lunch
63%
Students with disabilities
24%
English language learners
28%

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

Average daily attendance
94%
90% Citywide Average
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
16%
40% Citywide Average

How does this school serve special populations?

From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database

How many students with disabilities scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
87%
30% Citywide Average
How many students with disabilities scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
83%
23% Citywide Average
How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
61%
21% Citywide Average
How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
30%
12% Citywide Average


For more information about our data sources, see About Our Data · More DOE statistics for this school

Contact & Location

Location

Gravesend (District 20)
Trains: N Line to Kings Highway
Buses: B4, B6, B82

Contact

Principal
Josephine Sportellagiusto
Parent Coordinator
Melissa Appelbaum

Other Details

Shared campus?
Yes
This school shares the Lucretia Marcigiliano Campus with one other school
Metal detectors?
No

Zone for the 2019-2020 school year. Call school to confirm.

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