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James Weldon Johnson

Grades: 3-K, Pre-K, K-8
176 East 115th Street
Manhattan NY 10029
Phone: 212-876-5522

Our Insights

What’s Special

Nice building, spacious classrooms

The Downside

Revolving door of principals

PS/MS 57 has had a revolving door of leaders in recent years, with three administrative changes, and some students complain of safety concerns on school surveys. Attendance is below the citywide average; almost one-third of the children miss a month or more of school. 

Principal Yaira Jimenez took the helm in 2018, replacing a very short-lived principal, who took over when Lorraine Hasty retired in 2017. Jimenez is working with all-new assistant principals and it is too soon to say if she will be able to earn the trust of the teachers, some of whom have been at the school for many years. Parent coordinator Liz Rivera said, “We’re getting our school back in place.”

On the positive side, PS/MS 57 has spacious classrooms, a large gymnasium and a well-equipped library. An interior courtyard has been transformed into an environmental conservation laboratory called the "Garden of Dreams." The garden features a cedar-planked deck with a tin roof designed to catch and filter water used in the student-maintained garden. Families are welcome. The school hosts a Grandparents Day, when grandparents are invited into the classrooms to share a snack and activity. 

The school offers an English-Spanish dual language program, as well as 3K and pre-K programs. It has an on-site health clinic that many students use as their primary source of medical care. 

Admissions: The elementary school admits zoned students. Admission to the middle school is open to all District 4 students. The school accepts about fifteen children in 6th grade when some elementary school students leave to attend charter schools or other public middle schools, the parent coordinator said. (Lydie Raschka, web reports and interview, October 2018)

 

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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 students say they feel safe in the hallways, bathrooms and locker rooms?
70%
80% Citywide Average
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
75%
56% Citywide Average
How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
51%
78% 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?
81%
82% Citywide Average
Years of principal experience at this school
4.5

How do students perform academically?

From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database

How many elementary school students scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
28%
53% Citywide Average
How many elementary school students scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
36%
50% Citywide Average
How many middle school students scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
15%
52% Citywide Average
How many middle school students scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
33%
57% Citywide Average

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

How many 8th-graders earn high school credit?
13%
39% Citywide Average

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
527
Asian
2%
Black
22%
Hispanic
74%
White
1%
Other
1%
Free or reduced priced lunch
91%
Students with disabilities
26%
English language learners
14%
Pre-K seats
15
3-K seats
14

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

Average daily attendance
87%
90% Citywide Average
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
53%
38% Citywide Average

From the 2020 School Directories

Uniforms required?
No
This school offers Dual Language classes in Spanish.

How does this school serve special populations?

From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database

How many students with disabilities scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
3%
27% Citywide Average
How many students with disabilities scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
6%
21% Citywide Average
How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
6%
17% Citywide Average
How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
18%
12% Citywide Average


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

Contact & Location

Location

East Harlem (District 4)
Trains: 6 Line to 116th St
Buses: BxM10, BxM6, BxM7, BxM8, BxM9, M1, M101, M102, M103, M106, M116, M15, M15-SBS, M2, M3, M35, M4, M98

Contact

Principal
Yaira Jimenez
Parent Coordinator
Lizbeth Rivera

Other Details

Shared campus?
No
This school is in its own building.
Uniforms required?
No
Metal detectors?
No

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

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