Tompkins Square Middle School

Tompkins Square Middle School has a deep commitment to collaborative work and diversity. The school does a good job of serving students with a wide range of skills, and teachers and staff pride themselves on providing a stimulating and welcoming environment where all students can thrive.

Named for nearby Tompkins Square Park, the school is housed in a red brick building that it shares with two elementary schools, PS 64 and the Earth School. Inside, the hallways are narrow, but many classrooms are spacious and brimming with books that teachers thoughtfully arrange on shelves and in bins for students to access with ease.

Most students say that teachers listen to their ideas and treat them with respect, according the most recent NYC School Survey. In classes, teachers incorporate a range of problems and tasks into lessons to ensure that all their students are challenged. Many classes have two teachers to ensure students with special needs get support along with their peers.  

To ease their transition to middle school, 6th-grade students have two anchor teachers: one for math and science and the other for humanities, which is a double period covering both English and social studies. In the upper grades, students continue to have one teacher for humanities, but have separate teachers for math and science.

Students often work in groups, sometimes on assignments that stretch over several days. In math, students in all grades spend a few days tackling a complex, school-wide math problem, one of several assigned throughout the year.

Students read and write a lot; they tackle challenging novels in book clubs. Seventh-graders study the Constitution and participate in a mock trial held at a downtown courthouse as part of The Constitution Works program.

A flex period is built into the middle of each day, allowing students to take enrichment classes, participate in teacher-led advisory groups and, when needed, get extra help in academics.

The school has dedicated music and theater rooms. Eighth-graders choose art, dance, music or theater as a “major.” 

All students study Spanish.

The school offers a range of free sports, arts and academic enrichment activities after school.

Students responded to the survey that they get a lot of support throughout the high school admissions process. Tompkins Square is also one of several middle schools throughout the city that administers the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT) to its students onsite during the school week.

SPECIAL EDUCATION: Roughly half of the classes follow the ICT (integrated co-teaching) model.  

ADMISSIONS: The school is open to District 1 students. Admissions is based on a review of students’ academic performance as well as records of attendance and behavior. (Laura Zingmond, telephone interview and web reports, May 2019).