P.S. 128 Audubon

PS 128 Audubon, located across from New York-Presbyterian Hospital in Washington Heights, is a neighborhood school with an English-Spanish dual language program. The school has received awards for its ballroom dance and school wellness programs. It has a media center for research, writing, and lessons that require technology, plus robotics, track, basketball and art clubs.

School culture and environment: The tone is respectful, friendly and orderly. Children walk in loose lines along the hallway, chatting calmly with each other. They call teachers by their last names and wear uniforms but it’s not strictly enforced. School surveys show teachers are happy with the principal, and trust within the school community is high. Classrooms feel bright and busy, with walls covered in posters, sometimes in two languages, and lots of pictures. Tables are in groups of four, or side-by-side in rows. Some kids work on rugs; most sit at desks, or join lessons with the teacher on a rug or at a table. Teachers use a social-emotional program from Columbia University, in which kids discuss and role play problems in small groups.

Teaching and curriculum: PS 128 has a longstanding reputation for a traditional approach to instruction, but teachers have shifted their lessons to emphasize group work and class discussions. The school wants to raise expectations and challenge students more, according to their yearly plan. In one classroom, we observed 5th-graders sitting at desks in rows solving math problems in a textbook. In another, students worked in small groups; one group of four gathered around a computer to research deforestation. In a 1st grade classroom, children worked together matching letter sounds with pictures, while another group worked on phonics skills on laptops. Routinely, teachers lead the whole class in movement breaks. If you visit, ask for examples of how children get extra academic support if they need it.

Class size: Class size typically runs from 15 in the lower grades (K-2) to 30 or more in the upper grades (4-5). Two or more adults help out in grades K-3 but 4th and 5th grade classes typically have one teacher.  

Indoor and Outdoor Space: Kids play in the gymnasium, in a yard with climbing equipment, or at Audubon Park across the street. There is classroom space for art, dance, a media center, and special education services. Parent workshops take place in a spacious hallway area. PS 128 shares the building with Castle Bridge, a tiny, project-based elementary school. The two schools do an annual STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) fair together. The building was constructed in 1959 and expanded in 1990. Renovations improved the windows and air conditioning.

Parent and Family Engagement: Parents are welcome to volunteer and attend workshops on topics such as  literacy, health and safety, parenting, and leadership.

Special education: Self-contained classrooms mix up to 12 children with two adults. These small classes span two grade levels (K-1, 2-3, 4-5), and are led by a co-teaching team that teaches all subjects. The gym teacher adapts activities to fit students’ needs. A goal on the CEP (Comprehensive Education Plan) is to move more students into less restrictive settings.

After school: Several after-school options can be found on the school's website.  (Lydie Raschka & Natasha Quiroga, May 2023)