P.S. 7 Milton Fein School

Located in the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx, PS 7 Milton Fein is a well-functioning school, with excellent attendance, that stresses writing and the arts and seeks to build strong ties with parents.

The school emphasizes small group work and requires all students in grades k to 5 to compile portfolios with writing and samples of work in academic subjects. The portfolios are used to assess student progress and also are celebrated at three “publishing parties” over the course of the year. The parties are among many special events Milton Fein offers children and their families.

Arts are key as students sample dance, music, visual art and drama. The school has a dance teacher and a visual arts teacher. Partnerships with arts organizations, including the Alvin Ailey Dance Company, supplement the classes. The emphasis on arts goes back to the man for whom the school is named—Milton Fein—who attended PS 7, served as principal for 27 years and was an advocate for arts education.

School administrators and teachers believe arts play a role in creating a good school environment. But PS 7 also has ramped up efforts to help students manage their emotions, be empathetic and make good decisions. Whatever the approach, it seems to be working. Although the school is far over capacity, teachers responding to a Department of Education survey say the children are well behaved and see the school and its surroundings as exceptionally safe. 

Academic achievement, though, has remained fairly flat. Test scores are about average, even though PS 7 is home to a gifted and talented program whose students are likely to score well on standardized tests. 

Admissions: Milton Fein hosts one of two gifted and talented programs in District 10. Students from throughout the district are eligible for admission, based on their score on a standardized test. Otherwise, the school is open to students who live in its zone. (Gail Robinson, from DOE and press reports, September 2019).