P.S. 7 Samuel Stern

Every child at PS/MS 7 studies a musical instrument and swims at Asphalt Green. Children grow herbs and garlic and make pesto as part of the Edible Schoolyard program designed by author and restaurateur Alice Waters. 

Reading test scores, while still below average, are improving, according to school data. A couple of top-notch teachers have won Big Apple Awards. The school is part of the Middle School Quality Initiative (MSQI), a city program designed to boost reading levels with a longer school day and special activities. Students get homework help and take part in sports activities with Union Settlement and Urban Dove organizations after school.

The schools faces challenges. About one-third of the pupils live in temporary housing, according to the schools yearly plan. Attendance is a challenge, and teachers struggle to maintain order in classrooms, according to school surveys.

Although most middle school pupils report feeling safe inside the building, a majority of teachers say the neighborhood is unsafe, according to surveys. The neighborhood has one of the highest concentrations of public housing developments in the city.

[photos by L. Raschka]

ADMISSIONS: Neighborhood school. (Lydie Raschka, web reports, August 2017)