Achievement First East New York is part of a network of 19 Achievement First charter schools in New York City and Connecticut that aim to bring children with lagging skills up to speed in preparation for college. A longer school day and year, a strict behavior code, and more hours spent on reading, writing and math are some features of the school, which occupies the third floor of a building shared with PS 13. Principal Hilary Cymrot served as a founding 1st-grade teacher and academic dean for three years. Prior to that she taught 3rd-grade at CS 44 in the Bronx.

Scholars, as students are called, sit in desks in rows of four facing the teacher (except for kindergartners, who gather at round tables or on rugs.) Extra space for small group work is fashioned out of portable wall dividers in hallway areas with tables, pillows, beanbags and rugs. These areas, with college banners and bold colors and slogans (Read, Baby, Read!) feel like the children’s play space at IKEA. Children wear uniforms and the atmosphere is orderly and academic. There are no blocks or play areas in kindergarten. Class size can be as large as 28 but most rooms have two teachers. The school day runs from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. except Friday, when children are dismissed early so teachers can plan. Specials are art, music and dance but no gym. After school offerings include king-fu, yoga, track, basketball, choir, piano, guitar club and African drumming.

Instruction feels scripted and highly structured. In a kindergarten classroom two groups of about 12 each sat on the rug, turned away from each other, faces raised expectantly as they were drilled on words like “do” “girl” and “with.” “Get ready!” teachers said, frequently calling them to task. At a hallway table another teacher modeled for a group of seven how to sit; back straight, hands folded. Third graders were instructed to look for the problem in a story while others read non-fiction picture books silently at their desks.

Every second counts at Achievement First – a teacher drilled her class on words as they stood in line to use the bathroom and children were urged to hurry and open a book to the title page – though efforts are made to keep things fun. “It’s sentence time! It’s sentence time!” rapped a group. A teacher promised to shave his head as an incentive for completing homework. Children praised each other with “Shout-outs.” Kindness, achievement, and good conduct are rewarded with stickers, which many kids display on their foreheads. Surprisingly, given that a dozen parents were touring the school on the day of our visit, one teacher used a severe tone with her class. “Stop talking! It’s rude!” she said angrily, among other rebukes. Mostly the tone was upbeat: “I love that Thomas has his eyes on me.” Teachers are observed weekly by a “coach,” – the principal, a dean, or a mentor teacher.

Two school deans and a full-time social worker are on-site. A 1st-grade parent said the staff tries to “find ways to get aggressive kids to express their feelings, to calm down, and talk.” Other services include speech, physical therapy and occupational therapy. Parents are invited to participate in monthly morning meetings with the principal and are encouraged to attend workshops and volunteer at least six hours per school year. Newsletters go home urging parents to keep attendance up, send healthy snacks, and join activities like the parents v. teachers basketball game highlighting the school’s step team.

Special Education: The school offers SETSS, ICT (across all grades), counseling and speech.

Admission: Admission is determined by lottery. Priority is given to residents of District 19.  Parents may contact the school for a tour and to request an application, or can download one from the AF website at www.achievementfirst.org. There were about five applicants per slot in 2010-11. (Lydie Raschka, March 2011)