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P.S. 101 School in the Gardens

Grades: Pre-K, K-5
Staff Pick
2 Russell Place
Queens NY 11375
Phone: 718-268-7231

Our Insights

What’s Special

Beautiful surroundings, experienced principal and staff

The Downside

Some parents say there isnt enough time for play

PS 101 is nestled is Forest Hills Gardens, a leafy community of Tudor-style houses and quiet streets. It has a stable staff, involved parents and a principal well experienced in teaching children to write creatively and to think about books as literature.

Monique Lopez-Paniagua, who has led the school since 2012, gives her staff extensive training in its methods of the Teachers College Reading and Writing Workshop. In the classrooms we visited, children not only learned to sound out words, they also learned to analyze characters and plot development.

It doesnt say he is sad, said a 1st-grade teacher, reading aloud from Peters Chair, Ezra Jack Keats story of a boy who is jealous of his newborn sister. How do we know he is sad?

Third-graders wrote persuasive essays with titles like Why cops are wonderful and Stop hunting and poaching animals. In one class, children flopped on a rug to read books they chose themselves.

The school has adopted GoMath, a series designed to teach children the underlying concepts of arithmetic. They really understand why we are re-grouping for subtraction, said a 2nd-grade teacher. When I was in school, I just did it. I didnt know why I did it. Teachers have a chance to meet with one another to perfect their own understanding of the new methods, and the school offers parent workshops as well.

Over the years, some parents have complained that there is too much emphasis on academics and not enough time for play, particularly in kindergarten. Assistant Principal Irtiz Gonzalez, who gave us our tour, acknowledged that todays kindergarten classrooms look more like the 1st grade of a generation agowith desks instead of blocks or dress-up corners. Gym is offered just once a week. But she said teachers encourage children to exercise in the classroom with activities like Zumba. And kindergartners have choice time at the end of the daya chance to pick an activity they like.

One downside: A teacher who was removed from the classroom for bullying children was reassigned to an administrative job at the school in fall 2014, angering some parents. The principal, Lopez-Paniagua, declined to comment.

SPECIAL EDUCATION: The school offers ICT (integrated co-teaching) classes with two teachers and a mix of general education children and those receiving special education services. There are no self-contained classes.

ADMISSIONS: Neighborhood school. The school has just one pre-kindergarten class of 18 children. Even for siblings there is a waitlist, said Gonzalez. PS 101 also has a 6th gradeunusual in the city. Some children choose to leave for middle school after 5th grade, but for those who want to stay, PS 101 offers a cozy alternative. (Clara Hemphill, January 2015)

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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?
72%
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?
89%
84% Citywide Average
Years of principal experience at this school
9.7

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?
94%
53% Citywide Average
How many elementary school students scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
85%
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
585
Asian
29%
Black
3%
Hispanic
18%
White
37%
Other
14%
Free or reduced priced lunch
22%
Students with disabilities
18%
English language learners
4%
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?
14%
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?
85%
30% Citywide Average
How many students with disabilities scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
78%
23% Citywide Average
How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
60%
21% Citywide Average
How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
0%
12% Citywide Average


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

Contact & Location

Location

Forest Hills (District 28)
Trains: M Line, R Line to Forest Hills - 71st Ave; E Line, F Line to 75th Ave
Buses: Q23, Q54, Q60, Q64

Contact

Principal
Monique Lopez-Paniagua
Parent Coordinator
Mariela Chevry

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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