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P.S. 2 Meyer London

Grades: Pre-K, K-5
Staff Pick
122 Henry Street
Manhattan NY 10002
Phone: 212-964-0350

Our Insights

What’s Special

Stellar pre-kindergarten program for little scientists

The Downside

Four floor walk-up with no elevators

PS 2 seems to be a place where the American Dream begins. The school serves many children whose families come from China and speak no English. By second grade, however, most children speak fluent English. Part of the secret of the school's success: the hands-on science classes in which children learn to talk about things such as snails and worms.

The pre-kindergarten program is one of the best in the district. An experienced pre-K teacher built a rainforest in her classroom nearly a decade ago. Today, the rainforest with a canopy of paper foliage and an interactive mural still stands, and some real critters in tanks and a number of plants have been added. Students grow vines from pumpkin seeds to add to the classroom foliage, write about their experiences watching butterflies hatch in their classroom (as best as 4-year-olds can), and examine snail eggs under microscopes.

There are two science rooms but the subject is present in all classrooms. On the day of our visit, 5th graders were conducting science experiments to determine the carbohydrate content of pieces of cereal and 4th graders were learning about how germs spread. The 4th grade science class was a bilingual class and the science teacher placed special emphasis on the spelling of words such as "disperse."

The school uses TERC math curriculum which requires students to explain how they answer math problems, which in turn builds students' language skills. Classroom tasks vary depending on the English speaking skills of students. For example, students in bilingual classes draw more pictures to show how they answer a math problem, as opposed to writing out their answers.

In addition to core academics, PS 2 students get music, art and computer classes. Every Wednesday, a chess master comes to the school to coach students. Students swim at the nearby Chinatown YMCA. All classes take field trips to the neighborhood library to check out books. PS 2's 5th graders work with the National Dance Institute (NDI) to learn special dance routines. The program, "brings out what children didn't know they could do," said Principal Bessie Ng, as we watched a group of 5th graders in a bilingual Chinese class dancing on stage in the school's auditorium.

Ng became principal in 2012 after the school's long-time principal moved out of state. She was the school's assistant principal for seven years prior to becoming principal. At the time of our visit, she had not yet hired a new assistant principal and wore many hats. She rushed around doing everything from receiving UPS boxes to comforting a crying child in the hallway to sitting in on a session for 1st grade teachers with a math coach.

The number of undocumented immigrant parents has decreased in recent years, said Ng, and that has led to an increase in parent involvement. Parents have raised money to install air conditioners in all the classrooms and they decorated the building hallways.

English Language Learners: PS 2 offers bilingual Chinese classes in all grades for students who are brand new English speakers. There are also self-contained ESL (English as a Second Language) classes, where instruction is strictly in English, for students on the intermediate level. The most advanced students who still require extra support get it from ESL teachers who work with small groups outside the regular class instruction. We saw some books written in both Chinese and English in the libraries.

Special education: For students with special needs, PS 2 offers both self-contained classes and co-teaching classes, which combine general education and special education students who are taught by two teachers.

Admissions: Zoned school (Catherine Man, May 2007, updated by Anna Schneider, May 2013)

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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?
97%
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?
87%
84% Citywide Average
Years of principal experience at this school
6.2

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?
71%
53% Citywide Average
How many elementary school students scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
56%
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
329
Asian
58%
Black
16%
Hispanic
22%
White
3%
Other
1%
Free or reduced priced lunch
94%
Students with disabilities
31%
English language learners
25%
Pre-K seats
15

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

Average daily attendance
92%
90% Citywide Average
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
28%
40% Citywide Average

From the 2020 School Directories

This school offers Transitional Bilingual Education in Chinese.

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?
40%
30% Citywide Average
How many students with disabilities scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
16%
23% Citywide Average
How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
75%
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

Lower East Side (District 2)
Trains: J Line, M Line, Z Line to Delancey St-Essex St; F Line to East Broadway; B Line, D Line to Grand St
Buses: B39, M103, M14A, M15, M15-SBS, M22, M9

Contact

Principal
Silvana Ng
Parent Coordinator
Vera Chang

Other Details

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

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

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