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P.S. 396

Grades: Pre-K, K-5
1930 Andrews Avenue
Bronx NY 10453
Phone: 718-294-0862

Our Insights

What’s Special

ASD Nest program for children with autism

The Downside

Teachers could foster more student discussion in class

PS 396 is a tiny school that has long embraced students with special needs. It is home to an ASD Nest program, which places students with autism in classrooms alongside general education students. These are small Integrated Co-Teaching (ICT) classes, with one special education teacher and one general education teacher. Kindergarten classrooms combine four children in the ASD program and eight children in general education. As students get older, the class size increases, with a 4 to 16 ratio in grades 4 and 5. 

“My child attends the Nest program for [kindergarten] and loves it,” said a parent in our comments section. “Everyone is so nice.... We live a bit far but it’s worth the travel. Definitely a good program at this school.”

While test scores have a ways to go, the school boasts excellent attendance. Staff reward children who get to school regularly with special events, such as a game night, according to the school website. And, although the school is small, it has a healthy selection of arts. Music, art and theater teachers work with classroom teachers to weave art into academics. Social justice is also emphasized in the arts through residencies with DreamYard. Additionally, children take field trips to art museums. 

After-school programs occur in three cycles throughout the year, with choices that include sports and arts programs, gardening, musical theater club, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), movie and book clubs, and computer, according to the Comprehensive Educational Plan. 

The school can do more to challenge students to discuss topics in class, which helps them understand and stay interested in the lessons. The majority of the classrooms still place emphasis on the teacher talking and lecturing. The Quality Review states, “…high levels of student discussions and participation are not yet evident across the vast majority of classrooms.”  

The school is housed in a sprawling complex consisting of a main building constructed in 1938, a modern addition with curved walls built in the 1980s, and an earlier annex built in 1922. It shares the complex with a middle school, MS 390.

ADMISSIONS: Neighborhood school. (Lydie Raschka, web reports, March 2020)

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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 teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
82%
82% 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?
77%
84% Citywide Average
Years of principal experience at this school
11.8

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?
49%
53% Citywide Average
How many elementary school students scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
36%
50% 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
219
Asian
0%
Black
22%
Hispanic
76%
White
1%
Other
1%
Free or reduced priced lunch
90%
Students with disabilities
38%
English language learners
21%
Pre-K seats
29
3-K seats
3

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

Average daily attendance
91%
90% Citywide Average
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
36%
40% Citywide Average

From the 2020 School Directories

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?
39%
30% Citywide Average
How many students with disabilities scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
29%
23% Citywide Average
How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
0%
21% Citywide Average
How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
17%
12% Citywide Average


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

Contact & Location

Location

University Heights (District 10)
Trains: B Line, D Line to Tremont Ave; 4 Line to Burnside Ave
Buses: Bx12, Bx18, Bx2, Bx3, Bx32, Bx36, Bx40, Bx42

Contact

Principal
Nicole Tine
Parent Coordinator
Marilyn Morales

Other Details

Shared campus?
Yes
This school shares a building with MS 390
Metal detectors?
No

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

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