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P.S. 319

Grades: Pre-K, K-1
Staff Pick
360 Keap Street
Brooklyn NY 11211
Phone: 718-388-1588

Our Insights

What’s Special

A small, cheerful early childhood center

The Downside

Children must move to another setting after 1st grade

Formerly an annex for the now-closed PS 19, across the street, PS 319 is an oddity in the city's public school system, serving only pre-kindergarten through 1st-grade children. This tiny Williamsburg school has a Spanish and English dual language program in addition to regular classes. Even though pre-k is not "officially" dual language, children sing songs in both languages, and teachers post labels around the room in Spanish and English.

Staff members stay for years, even decades, which may account for the relaxed, close-knit atmosphere. "It's a small environment," said a parent. "I like the friendliness, the teachers." Teachers do not shy away from hugging a child if they feel it's beneficial. We watched a veteran teacher comfort a child who'd had a very rough start in September. "He responds to caring," she said, patting him on the back as he relaxed into her embrace.

Classrooms are not identical but children appeared settled and familiar with routines in all the rooms. Some teachers display artwork that looks almost identical while others put up a mixture of creative styles. One 1st-grade teacher had an "early finishers" board so faster learners could choose extra work after finishing their required work. Over time, teachers have fine-tuned writing instruction with help from trainers at Teachers College, Columbia University, and have added more number routines to each day.

Principal Aleyda Zamora Martinez moved to New York in her teens from Nicaragua and graduated from Brooklyn College. She recalls running a packed after-school program at PS 19 (now PS 414), with ping pong and table games, as she rose through the ranks from teaching assistant to bilingual teacher to assistant principal. She became principal of PS 319 in 2005.

Parents are welcome here. They help lead craft projects tied to in-school lessons, serve as "mystery readers," and are invited to attend workshops. About a dozen families move away each year due to rising rents in this desirable neighborhood, but it hasn't resulted in much change in the mostly Hispanic make-up of the school. The attraction of the school's dual language environment has helped stop a decline in numbers of students, according to the principal. And plans call for a third pre-k to be added in 2015, which may draw more families.

There is no music teacher but we heard kids singing in several classes and there are science, social studies and art teachers. Children play in the courtyard or move to animated exercise videos. On very cold days they walk laps inside the square donut-shaped building.

The building has few hallways so one must walk through classrooms to get to others. Two large rooms are divided only by shelving, as in the open classrooms of the 1960s. Perhaps surprisingly, the arrangement works: Classes are orderly and teachers keep kids focused despite the distraction of, say, a science lesson in the next room where kids are blowing up balloons to learn about the properties of air.

SPECIAL EDUCATION: There are two team-taught ICT (integrated co-teaching) classes in 1st grade. Some children work with a specialist up to three times a week on letters, sounds and writing. The teacher works with small groups of children who need a boost in understanding numbers. "It works so well," said the RTI (response to intervention) teacher who assists children who lag in skills.

ADMISSIONS: Neighborhood school. Families may choose between PS 319 and PS 414. Martinez said some parents prefer the smaller setting and others want their children to get used to the bigger school. Most children switch to PS 414 for 2nd grade with some exceptions depending on school zone or choice. About 10 percent are from out of zone. (Lydie Raschka, April 2015)

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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?
90%
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?
75%
84% Citywide Average
Years of principal experience at this school
17.1

How do students perform academically?

What is the Pre-K like?

From the NYC Program Assessment (CLASS and ECERS-R) Database through 2019-2020

Instruction: Teachers ask kids to explain their reasoning when they solve problems
Activities: Children explore art, music, sand/water, dramatic play and more
Language: Teachers talk and listen to kids in a supportive way
Interaction: Teachers ask kids good questions and invite back-and-forth conversation

Who does this school serve?

From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot

Enrollment
104
Asian
3%
Black
4%
Hispanic
79%
White
13%
Other
1%
Free or reduced priced lunch
63%
Students with disabilities
13%
English language learners
13%
Pre-K seats
39
3-K seats
10

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

Average daily attendance
90%
90% Citywide Average
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
61%
40% Citywide Average

From the 2020 School Directories

This school offers Dual Language classes in Spanish.


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

Contact & Location

Location

Williamsburg (District 14)
Trains: Z Line to Marcy Ave; J Line, M Line to Hewes St; G Line, L Line to Metropolitan Ave-Lorimer St
Buses: B24, B39, B44, B46, B48, B60, B62, Q54, Q59

Contact

Principal
Zenzile Dabreo-St.Hilai
Parent Coordinator
Francisc Rodriguez Regad

Other Details

Shared campus?
No
This school is in its own building.

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

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