Get more from InsideSchools

A Message from InsideSchools: The data below is the most up-to-date data available from City and State systems. We are working hard to update the narratives for all schools. We welcome your insights in the Comments section. Questions? Ask us!

Thurgood Marshall Academy Lower School

Grades: K-5
Staff Pick
276 West 151st Street
New York NY 10039
Phone: 212-368-8731

Our Insights

What’s Special

A good balance of art and academics in a long day, small classes, morning meditation

The Downside

Few bathrooms, no gymnasium

At Thurgood Marshall Academy, students wear crisp white shirts and red ties and raise their hands respectfully to speak in class. Kids visit museums and study dance, violin and jazz. They start each day with a few minutes of silent, calming mindfulness.

A grandmother of two chose it over TAG (Talented and Gifted) Young Scholars because she told us it was exceptionally nurturing of the "whole child," particularly "black and Latino kids." 

The 15 or so staff members wear several hats—the nurse sings opera to the kids, the secretary doubles as the step-team coach. Children are in school until 5:30 p.m., allowing them time for sports, drumming, dance and more, which helps balance the serious academics that start in kindergarten. Kids meditate, and track their emotions with "mood meters." Children visit lots of museums and study dance, violin, and jazz.

The school was opened in 2005 in collaboration with the Abyssinian Development Corporation, the housing and social service arm of Harlem's biggest church, Abyssinian Baptist Church.

Principal Dawn Brooks DeCosta won a Cahn Fellowship in 2015, a reflection of her strong leadership. An educator for more than 23 years, she has watched the rise of middle-class parents in Harlem, and she and her staff hope to learn from PS 125, where parents have demanded more progressive practices such as hands-on "centers" in kindergarten. She wants to ensure her teachers have the tools to reach faster learners, too: "We've had such a focus on the struggler," she said. "We also need to focus on the advanced."

A few downsides: The old building has only two bathrooms on the third floor with one stall in each. There is no gymnasium, but kids play in a small yard or in the cafeteria. Some children miss many days of school because of long commutes or for health reasons such as asthma.

SPECIAL EDUCATION: Physical therapy takes place at another location but a special education tutor and a speech therapist are available on-site. There are also mental health services.

ADMISSIONS: There are up to 20 spots for kindergarten and 1st-graders depending on how many siblings are admitted. Applications for grades 1 to 5 may be picked up at the school. There are twice as many seats in 1st grade as in kindergarten, a boon to families set adrift from area charter schools, but very few spaces open in the upper grades. The application is not an evaluation of the child, DeCosta said.  (Lydie Raschka, October 2015; updated August 2016)

Read more

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?
36%
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?
80%
84% Citywide Average
Years of principal experience at this school
0.1

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?
34%
53% Citywide Average
How many elementary school students scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
47%
50% Citywide Average

Who does this school serve?

From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot

Enrollment
174
Asian
1%
Black
75%
Hispanic
19%
White
3%
Other
3%
Free or reduced priced lunch
89%
Students with disabilities
24%
English language learners
6%

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

Average daily attendance
85%
90% Citywide Average
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
64%
40% Citywide Average

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?
0%
30% Citywide Average
How many students with disabilities scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
14%
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?
0%
12% Citywide Average


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

Contact & Location

Location

Harlem (District 5)
Trains: B Line, D Line to 155th St; A Line, C Line to 145th St; 3 Line to Harlem - 148 St
Buses: Bx13, Bx19, Bx6, Bx6-SBS, M1, M10, M100, M101, M102, M2, M3, M7

Contact

Principal
Danica Goyens Ward
Parent Coordinator
Craig Frierson

Other Details

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

Was this information helpful?

Get more from InsideSchools

You may also like …

P.S. 200 The James Mccune Smith School

2589 7 Avenue
Manhattan, NY 10039

Comments

  • Is this your school? Please post any news, updates, events, changes, or other information!
  • We welcome questions, open discussions, and disagreements but comments with personal attacks, rude language, or those with seemingly malicious intent will be deleted.
  • Very long comments, those that contain links, or repeat comments may be blocked by our spam filter.
  • Problems? email us at contact@insideschools.org.
  • Users must comply with our Terms of Use.

×