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P.S. 8 Issac Varian

Grades: Pre-K, K-5
3010 Briggs Avenue
Bronx NY 10458
Phone: 718-584-3043

Our Insights

What’s Special

Extra support for students

The Downside

Overcrowding, attendance is low

PS 8 is a large, neighborhood school along the Mosholu Parkway Greenway. The school has earned high marks on its Quality Review for having a positive, safe tone and for its “personalized guidance services and support.” 

The large staff, with many veteran teachers, strives to maintain stability and foster a sense of community. The school is overcrowded, with 300 more students than it was designed to serve. Student teachers, parent volunteers, two psychologists, three guidance counselors (one of whom is bilingual), and several assistant principals help reduce the classroom teacher’s load. 

The school has increased its visual arts, music and dance instruction to serve specific populations including English Language Learners, students with disabilities and students from low-income families, according to the Comprehensive Educational Plan (CEP). 

Younger children visit the New York Botanical Garden to study seeds and plants and do hands-on projects. A theater teacher from Flamenco Vivo Carlotta Santana provides instruction in music and dance. Studio in a School brings in visual arts lessons, based on the Arts in Schools Report.

The school has a student council, and takes part in city programs such as Algebra for All and Computer Science for All. Students may take part in a coding team, a recycling team and cooking lessons. 

Attendance could improve. Many children miss at least 18 days of school during the year. Classes are large, with an average of 32 children. 

The school has a full-time health clinic on the premises. The Montefiore Health Center employs a full-time nurse and pediatrician, as well as psychologists and social workers, who provide a full range of medical care and counseling to the neighborhood. It is open to all PS 8 students, as long as they register. 

After-school and Saturday programs are run by the Beacon Program.

SPECIAL EDUCATION: There are bilingual English-Spanish classes, ICT (integrated co-teaching) classes that mix children with special needs into general education classes and self-contained ENL (English as a New Language) classes. Staffers who speak Spanish and a few other languages are on hand to translate for parents. 



ADMISSIONS: Zoned neighborhood school. (Lydie Raschka, web reports, April 2020)

 

Read more

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?
94%
86% Citywide Average

From the 2019-20 NY State Report Card

How many students were suspended?
0%
0% Citywide Average

From this school's most recent Quality Review Report

Are teachers effective?

From the 2020-21 School Quality Guide

How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
90%
86% Citywide Average
Years of principal experience at this school
6.9

How do students perform academically?

From the New York State 2021 -22 Assessment Database

How many elementary school students scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
24%
51% Citywide Average
How many elementary school students scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
28%
50% Citywide Average

Who does this school serve?

From the 2021-22 Demographic Snapshot

Enrollment
726
Asian
8%
Black
7%
Hispanic
77%
White
6%
Other
1%
Free or reduced priced lunch
90%
Students with disabilities
21%
English language learners
23%
Pre-K seats
15

From the 2020-21 School Quality Guide

Average daily attendance
87%
92% Citywide Average
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
52%
26% Citywide Average

From the 2020 School Directories

This school offers Transitional Bilingual Education in Spanish.

How does this school serve special populations?

From the New York State 2021 -22 Assessment Database

How many students with disabilities scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
4%
28% Citywide Average
How many students with disabilities scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
2%
23% Citywide Average
How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
11%
28% Citywide Average
How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
12%
17% Citywide Average


For more information about our data sources, see About Our Data · More DOE statistics for this school

Contact & Location

Location

Norwood (District 10)
Trains: B Line, D Line to Bedford Park Blvd; 4 Line to Bedford Park Blvd - Lehman College
Buses: Bx1, Bx10, Bx16, Bx2, Bx22, Bx26, Bx28, Bx30, Bx34, Bx38, Bx41, Bx41-SBS

Contact

Principal
Claudia Tahiraj-Sadrija
Parent Coordinator
Michelle Capo

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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