Adrien Block (I.S. 25)

IS 25 is a safe school with a long-time leader. It has a robust performing arts program and Korean dual language program, designed to make students fluent in both English and Korean.

Students choose one of five talents—band, art, dance, keyboard or chorus—and stay in their chosen track for all three years. Sixth and 7th graders also take part in special enrichment classes once a week, such as Italian, computer programming, drama, sewing or origami.

The school’s excellent and informative website has photos of family-friendly events such as ice skating and a family science night. Parents, teachers and children raise money for worthy causes, for example, they held a carnival to raise money to purchase a water pump for the people of South Sudan. 

Principal Mary Ellen Kociszewski Beirne has been principal since 2009. She was previously the principal at the High School for Applied Communication and taught for many years in parochial schools. 

IS 25 is located in the District 25 neighborhood of Flushing, steps from the border with District 26. It is housed in a large building erected in the 1970s, a period that favored the open school model. Many classrooms are windowless and divided by retractable walls. 

World Journalism Preparatory School and a few classes from a District 75 program, PS Q233, occupy space in the building and share access to the building's library, gym, auditorium and cafeteria.

The Greater Ridgewood Youth Council offers an after-school program at the school Monday through Friday from 2:30 pm until 5:30 pm.

Admissions: Open to District 25 with priority to students residing in the zone. (Lydie Raschka, web reports, May 2019).