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P.S. 108 Philip J. Abinanti

Grades: Pre-K, K-5
Noteworthy
1166 Neill Avenue
Bronx NY 10461
Phone: 718-863-9829

Our Insights

What’s Special

Longtime neighborhood school with solid academics

The Downside

Friction between principal and teachers, surveys show

In multiethnic Morris Park, PS 108 serves new immigrants from India, China, Albania, Korea and the Dominican Republic, as well as native-born Irish American, African American and Hispanic students. Two major teaching hospitals, Albert Einstein and Jacobi, are in the school zone, and the children of doctors and other staffers attend, according to the parent coordinator. The English language learner population has doubled over the past decade but still remains relatively small. 

PS 108 has been a stable neighborhood school with a solid reputation for many years. State test scores are slightly above average, and have improved in recent years as the school sets clear goals to work with kids who fall behind.  There are four kindergarten classrooms, and there is one pre-kindergarten.

The city gave the school high marks on its work with African American and Hispanic boys, a population that is often underserved, the Quality Review shows. Teachers provided additional support, including technology access during lunch, and before and after school, so students could practice math and reading skills online. In addition, the school offers classes on Saturday. Teachers saw a 61 percent increase in reading levels in 2019 among this special group and a significant improvement in math.

The school offers a few unique opportunities. Second graders “Build a Musical” with a resident artist from Inside Broadway. Fifth graders participate in a Veteran’s Day celebration that they prepare for weekly, including singing and choreography, over the course of two months in the fall. All K through 5th grade children get visual arts and music lessons weekly. [Field day photo from the school's Facebook page]

Principal Charles Sperrazza has been at the helm for more than a decade, but friction shows up between the principal and his staff on NYC school surveys. Trust is poor; only about one-third of the staff said they feel respected by the principal or that he is an effective manager. Most teachers said he does not have confidence in their expertise, according to the surveys. On the positive side, the school has strong teacher teams and teacher leadership, the Quality Review shows. And families seem unaffected, reporting on surveys that the principal is an effective leader who creates a sense of community. 

Some children are bused to Bronx House for an after school program; others stay at PS 108 to take part in a program run by the YMCA. The Ferkauf Institute of Yeshiva University offers free evaluations and counseling services to students. 

SPECIAL EDUCATION: The school has long served students learning English in small “pull out” groups or in regular classes, as needed, and depending on parent preference, the parent coordinator said. It also has a team-teaching program that integrates students with disabilities into regular classes with extra help and into small mixed-age classes for children with serious disabilities in grades 2/3 and 3/4. 

ADMISSIONS: Neighborhood school. (Lydie Raschka, web reports, November 2019)

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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 2020-21 NYC School Survey

How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
100%
82% 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 the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
86%
84% Citywide Average
Years of principal experience at this school
1.0

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?
74%
53% Citywide Average
How many elementary school students scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
57%
50% Citywide Average

What is the Pre-K like?

From the NYC Program Assessment (CLASS and ECERS-R) Database through 2019-2020

Instruction: Teachers ask kids to explain their reasoning when they solve problems
Activities: Children explore art, music, sand/water, dramatic play and more
Language: Teachers talk and listen to kids in a supportive way
Interaction: Teachers ask kids good questions and invite back-and-forth conversation

Who does this school serve?

From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot

Enrollment
482
Asian
13%
Black
5%
Hispanic
39%
White
40%
Other
2%
Free or reduced priced lunch
94%
Students with disabilities
16%
English language learners
10%
Pre-K seats
18

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

Average daily attendance
95%
90% Citywide Average
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
11%
40% Citywide Average

From the 2020 School Directories

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?
43%
30% Citywide Average
How many students with disabilities scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
31%
23% Citywide Average
How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
50%
21% Citywide Average
How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
24%
12% Citywide Average


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

Contact & Location

Location

Morris Park (District 11)
Trains: 5 Line to Pelham Parkway
Buses: Bx12, Bx21, Bx31, Bx8

Contact

Principal
Stefania Cedrola Mustafa
Parent Coordinator
Giorgina Rodriguez

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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