OCTOBER 2009 UPDATE: In September 2009, the Anderson School moved to the MS 44 building. MS 44  began to phase out in June 2009. Anderson shares the the building with two middle schools: the Computer School and West Prep Academy, a  school that opened in September 2009. Extra space at the new location allowed Anderson to accommodate about 50 additonal students. Jodi Hyde, former assistant principal for elementary grades at NEST +M,was appointed principal, replacing Brian Culot.

SEPTEMBER 2006 REVIEW: Open to children from all five boroughs, the Anderson School is one of the most selective schools in the city. Academics are accelerated, particularly in math, and very bright children have the opportunity to take part in advanced work such as national math competitions. Unlike Hunter College Elementary School, which accepts children only in kindergarten, Anderson accepts older children as well.

Anderson began as a program of PS 9, where it is still housed. In 2005, it was granted its own school status and is now PS 334. Brian Culot, former assistant principal of PS 110 on the Lower East Side, was named interim acting principal in July 2006. Maria Koetke, the assistant principal, has a PhD in multicultural and urban education from Teachers College at Columbia University.

The children are curious, hard-working, and eager for knowledge. First graders spend the whole year studying whales. Second graders, listing their goals for the school year one September, wrote sentences such as "My hope this year is to learn about marine biology," and "I would like to explore why birds build nests instead of just lying on a tree branch." Third graders read books about volcanoes and Greek myths more typically read by middle school students. Fourth graders re-enact the Salem witch trials. Anderson uses the Everyday Math program adopted by most schools in the city, but at an accelerated pace, one year ahead of the other children.

Anderson, which serves children in grades K-8, has excellent, creative teachers; a hyper-involved parent body; and cheery, well-equipped classrooms. Kindergarten classrooms have play kitchens and lots of blocks and books. Fifth graders relax in bean bag chairs. The school's building is shared somewhat awkwardly with PS 9. Not all of Anderson's classrooms are grouped together.

Most children enter the school in kindergarten, but there are occasionally seats for students in the upper grades and typically 20 openings for 6th grade, when the middle school program begins. The school expanded to include 6th, 7th, and 8th grade in 2003, graduating its first set of 8th graders in June 2006. Many went on to the city's selective and screened public high schools,

The middle school starts early, at 8:10 a.m., so kids can get settled before the elementary school children crowd into the building. Parents are actively involved in the school and were, in fact, the catalyst for the opening of the middle school program. Parents run an after-school program that includes theater, Tai Kwan Do, and fencing. They also serve on a committee that hires the staff.

For admissions, see the school's website. Although out-of-borough busing has not been available in past years, Culot said he is working to make it available. Culot hopes to recruit a racially and ethnically diverse student body and he believes that busing for children who live outside Manhattan will make it easier for children of color to attend. The school has far more applicants than seats available. In past years, when an IQ test was used for admission, there were more than 400 kindergarten applicants who scored above the 95th percentile required for consideration. Of those, 50 children were chosen after an interview. Now, the city Department of Education has replaced the IQ test with another test, called the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test or OLSAT. This school is included in New York City's Best Public Elementary Schools and New York City's Best Public Middle Schools. (Clara Hemphill, September 2006)

The Anderson School made the Blackboard Awards middle school honor roll for "Receptivity to Parent Involvement," "Acceptance of Diversity of People and Ideas," "Respect by Students for Each Other," and "Overall Social Comfort." (October 2007)

The following comments were received before the Anderson program separated from PS 9.

A parent writes that she "could not be more pleased with the level of education [her daughter] has received" in the Anderson program. She writes: "The math in particular is incredibly strong and it is one of the only elementary schools offering language starting in K." She adds: "EVERY teacher has been exceptional...every single one...and you'll never see a more focused group of kids anywhere. Diane Brady and Rachel Schnur are extremely dedicated and hands-on in every respect. The parents are hyper-involved." Finally, she objects to previous comments about the school's lack of racial diversity and tension between the various programs: "My daughter's classes have always had a diverse group of kids. And she is very friendly with kids in the G&T program...they interact in the PHENOMENAL afterschool program and at lunch/recess. In our six years at the school, we've had no complaints." (October 2004)

A parent writes that the middle school uses Apple Laptop Computers, 6th and 7th graders move with their homeroom throughout the day to science, social studies, math, English, Spanish, music, art, technology and gym classes, which are all taught by different teachers, and the school has added a new technology-based music program. "The goal [of the music program] is to have students understand music from all perspectives -- composing, arranging, notating, improvising, listening, analyzing, performing and understanding music in the context of their classroom studies of language, culture, art and history," she writes. She adds that parents are involved by running the After School program which offers musical theater, debate, Latin, musical instrument instruction, and sports. Parents also serve on the School-Based Options Committee to hire new staff for the school. Students must score a 1385 or higher to be invited to an onsite evaluation and interview. (August 2004)