Port Morris (P.S./M.S. 5)

PS/IS 5, also known as the Port Morris School of Community Leadership, offers children music, art, dance, and theater. In 2018 the school introduced a Spanish-English dual language program.

The school’s social media account shows lots of fun events and celebrations for the whole family. Achievements such as good attendance and moving up from pre-k and kindergarten are marked with celebrations too.

The school serves many recent immigrants as well as students living in temporary housing.  Spanish is the predominant home-language among the school’s many English language learners, though some students speak other languages at home including French, Twi, Madingo, French Creole or Soninke, according to the school’s Comprehensive Educational Plan. Teachers use computer intervention programs to help English language learners get extra practice in English and math, according to the school’s most recent Quality Review. There is a dedicated bilingual-instruction class in each grade.

Some math and writing lessons were highlighted in the Quality Review for their rigor. First-graders are taught some algebraic concepts and are expected to explain their calculations. They learn how to compose a good story and are tasked with including all the elements, including a “juicy main event” when writing about their family.

Overall, however, teaching is uneven according to the Quality Review. Some teachers do a better job than others in tailoring lessons for a range of students in the classroom; students often work independently and are not being engaged in enough discussions.

SPECIAL EDUCATION. There are self-contained and ICT (integrated co-teaching) classes. There’s also a separate Horizon program for students with an autism who are taught in very small classes that offer intensive support.

ADMISSIONS: District 7 priority to students living in the northern area. (Laura Zingmond, DOE data and reports, November 2019)