A neighborhood school with room for children outside the zone, PS 145 has a magnet program to integrate technology into the curriculum. Sophisticated media equipment is everywhere and the teachers and students know how to use it and love it.

Children were busy and focused the day we visited. The quality of teaching seems strong. The hallways are neat and attractive with lots of student work on display. While class size is large, with 28 to 30 students, many classes have outside media or arts experts team-teaching with the regular teacher. The school has a sunny atrium that also serves as a community garden and a newly refurbished library.

PS 145, also called the Magnet School for Technology and Multimedia Communications, has received a federal magnet grant to buy lots of digital cameras and computers and to give teachers extensive training in how to use them.

Children learn how to write good sentences and paragraphs-- as they would at any good school. But they also learn how to frame a picture, make a story board, edit film, add sound, and use cartoon and documentary techniques. The school is developing its own video news network, complete with a studio.

The art organization, Studio in a School, works with children to create inventive art projects using collage, animation, and sculpture. Magic Box Productions helps teachers and students make videos using stop motion animation and music. Children learn to play keyboards in a program called Music and the Brain.

The school offers a dual language program in which classes are conducted in English two days a week, in Spanish two days a week and in both languages on the fifth day.

Unfortunately, there is friction between the administration and staff, according to the Learning Environment Survey. Nearly half the teachers responding to the survey said they don't trust the principal and more than half said she is an ineffective manager.

The school has an extensive afterschool program that includes African dance, music, track, chess, science and other activities. It also offers an English-as-a-Second-Language family literacy program after school, as well as extra academic help.

Special education: The school has a number of self-contained special education classes as well as collaborative team teaching. Fifth graders in special education made a documentary about bullying.

Admissions: Children from anywhere in District 3 may apply through the magnet program. There are weekly tours. (Marian Cross, February 2012)