Fairmont Neighborhood School PS 314

Fairmont Neighborhood School has music, visual arts and musical theater classes. A partnership with Children’s Aid Society offers children a chance to try cooking and archery, and students may participate in math and science activities during and after school. Children’s Aid also hosts activities during holiday breaks and over the summer, according to the Comprehensive Educational Plan (CEP). 

Unfortunately, the school has struggled from the start to instill a safe and orderly environment, school surveys show. Founded in 2013, it had three principals in its first seven years. Principal Monique Hibbert took the helm in 2018. At the end of her first year, there were promising signs; most teachers said she communicated a clear vision and set high expectations for student learning, according to the NYC School Quality Guide.  

The school brings children and families together to celebrate Hispanic Heritage and Black History months, and invites them to a spring art show and a multi-cultural celebration.  

The building is shared with Samara Community School and boasts a beautiful renovated library. 

SPECIAL EDUCATION: The school offers team teaching classes on each grade, in addition to mixed-age K-2 and 3-5 “self-contained” classrooms.  Each grade also has a classroom designed to help children learning English. Fairmont has a musical theatre program through Arts Connection, which allows students with special needs and those learning English to tap into visual, auditory, physical and musical talents, according to the CEP. Fairmont has speech and physical therapists on staff, among other specialists. 

ADMISSIONS:  Zoned neighborhood school. (Lydie Raschka, web reports, August 2019)