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P.S. 279 Captain Manuel Rivera, Jr.

Grades: K-8
2100 Walton Avenue
Bronx NY 10453
Phone: 718-584-6004

Our Insights

What’s Special

Emphasis on individual attention

The Downside

Lagging academic achievement

A fairly large kindergarten to 8th grade school, PS/MS 279 Captain Manuel Rivera, Jr. works hard to provide students in the Fordham section of the Bronx with academic and social supports in a nurturing environment. To accomplish this, the school has added team-teaching class and extra time in the day for individualized instruction and help. Small group work is key.

The children seem to appreciate the effort. In a Department of Education survey, an unusually large percentage of middle school students said teachers give them individual attention and help with academics and personal issues. Overall, students and teachers see the school as safe and supportive.

PS/MS 279 offers a number of activities beyond the typical academics, including chess, theater and sports. Other school programs stress community service and empowering students, including one in which struggling students are trained to tutor younger children. Parents may attend a 10-week program aimed at helping them help their children, given through a collaboration with the Committee for Hispanic Children and Families, and an after-school science program for students and their parents.

The school has a high percentage of English language learners, almost all of them Spanish-speaking, and offers English as a New Language and Transitional Bilingual Education in Spanish. Its arts program is centered around music and includes choir, band and instrumental lessons. Partnerships with Community Word and the Apollo Theater stress student expression and collaboration. 

Despite its strengths, PS/MS 279 struggles with low test scores. In an effort to make its program more demanding, the school is renewing its emphasis on small group work and emphasizing literacy in all subject areas.

ADMISSIONS:  For kindergarten, priority goes to children who live in the zone or have siblings in the area but anyone is welcome to apply. For middle school, MS 279 gives priority to students who attended the elementary school or who live in the school zone. It does not fill all of its seats. (Gail Robinson, from DOE reports, June 2020)

 

 

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School Stats

Citywide Average Key
This school is Better Near Worse than the citywide average

Is this school safe and well-run?

From the 2022-2023 NYC School Survey

How many students say they feel safe in the hallways, bathrooms and locker rooms?
87%
80% Citywide Average
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
47%
56% Citywide Average
How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
98%
78% Citywide Average
How many teachers say they would recommend this school to other families?
98%
79% Citywide Average

From the 2019-20 NY State Report Card

How many students were suspended?
0%
1% Citywide Average

From this school's most recent Quality Review Report

Are teachers effective?

From 2023 End-of-year Attendance and Chronic Absenteeism Report

How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
91%
83% Citywide Average
Years of principal experience at this school
11.1

How do students perform academically?

From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database

How many elementary school students scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
46%
53% Citywide Average
How many elementary school students scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
38%
50% Citywide Average
How many middle school students scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
36%
52% Citywide Average
How many middle school students scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
40%
57% Citywide Average

From the 2022-23 School Quality Guide

How many 8th-graders earn high school credit?
89%
91% Citywide Average

Who does this school serve?

From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot

Enrollment
732
Asian
2%
Black
16%
Hispanic
80%
White
1%
Other
1%
Free or reduced priced lunch
100%
Students with disabilities
22%
English language learners
23%

From the 2022-23 School Quality Guide

Average daily attendance
92%
91% Citywide Average
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
28%
35% Citywide Average

From the 2020 School Directories

Uniforms required?
No
This school offers Transitional Bilingual Education in Spanish.

How does this school serve special populations?

From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database

How many students with disabilities scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
31%
27% Citywide Average
How many students with disabilities scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
24%
21% Citywide Average
How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
15%
17% Citywide Average
How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
18%
12% Citywide Average


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

Contact & Location

Location

Fordham (District 10)
Trains: B Line, D Line to 182nd-183rd Sts; 4 Line to Burnside Ave
Buses: Bx1, Bx2, Bx3, Bx32, Bx36, Bx40, Bx41, Bx41-SBS, Bx42, BxM4

Contact

Principal
Jean Dalton Encke
Parent Coordinator
Samantha Velez

Other Details

Shared campus?
Yes
This school shares a building with a pre-k program
Uniforms required?
No
Metal detectors?
No

Zone for the 2019-2020 school year. Call school to confirm.

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