PS 151, the Yorkville Community School (YCS) is a nurturing school with strong leadership, a cohesive staff of teachers and lots of parent involvement. Opened in 2009, YCS bears no resemblance to the former PS 151, which closed in 2001 because of low achievement and dwindling enrollment. These days, YCS, or the "new" PS 151, has no trouble filling its seats with zoned students living in a diverse patch of Manhattan's Upper East Side that includes everything from public housing and five-floor walk-ups to expensive brownstones and luxury high-rise buildings.

In September, 2011 YCS moved in to its permanent home on East 88 Street, the former site of the Richard Green High School for Teaching. The five-story building has ample space for the school to grow to its projected enrollment of roughly 750. YCS opened with only kindergarten classes and will add one grade per year until it reaches capacity in 2014-15 serving students in kindergarten through 5th grade. We visited the school during its mid-point in growth, with classes through 2nd grade.

The vibe throughout the school is cheery and laid-back. Students address teachers and staff by their first names, such as "Miss Samantha", YCS's founding principal Samantha Kaplan. Classrooms are arranged thoughtfully so kids have lots of opportunity to move around during a full day of learning. Colorful rugs for class-wide gatherings, low tables for group work and cozy corners for quiet reading and play are staples in every classroom. We even came across one student whose preferred place for quiet reading was on a bean bag in the hallway. Teachers don't overwhelm their space with lots of charts and lists. There are the usual daily schedules, word walls, math facts, as well as a few visual cues relating to current lessons, but mostly we saw student work on the walls.

Teachers put a lot of effort into crafting interesting lessons with many emphasizing the school-wide theme of community. Students take walking tours of the neighborhood, advocate for causes, raise money for charity and learn to acknowledge good qualities in others. First graders study restaurants by visiting local eateries, writing about what they learn and observe, and crafting their own menus. For their study on marine life, 2nd graders drafted persuasive pleas for causes such as saving coral reefs, whales and walruses. To foster good social and emotional development, students are often asked to write about the good qualities and kind acts of their fellow students.

Art, science, and gym are offered to all students twice a week. Students learn music and attend concerts through a partnership with the 92nd Street Y. Visiting instructors from the Salvadori Educational Center teach students about architecture and city infrastructure. Lunchtime sports and games are overseen by visiting instructors from Asphalt Green.

Parents in the community campaigned hard to have the school reopened, and have been a steady and supportive presence ever since. The PTA raises money to support the school and parents volunteer to conduct school tours. Kaplan makes sure there are lots of opportunities, like publishing parties and performances, for parents to come in. Once a month, parents are invited to Family Fridays, where they visit their child's classroom to observe lessons and participate in activities.

Special education: There are SETSS (Special Education Teacher Support Services) and an ICT class (Integrated Collaborative Teaching).

After school: The school has two on-site after school programs: Wingspan Arts leads a program five afternoons a week and Chess NYC offers a program on Tuesdays after school.

Admissions: Priority to students living in the school's zone. (Laura Zingmond, March, 2012)