{"id":240331,"date":"2024-01-11T03:50:04","date_gmt":"2024-01-11T03:50:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/buoyantbloomer.com\/?p=240331"},"modified":"2024-01-11T03:51:54","modified_gmt":"2024-01-11T03:51:54","slug":"brooklyn-elementary-schools","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buoyantbloomer.com\/brooklyn-elementary-schools\/","title":{"rendered":"What We Know About PS 456 & Brooklyn Elementary Schools"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Brooklyn elementary schools span the gamut from progressive to traditional, and PS 456 with its close ties to the Brooklyn New School (aka BNS aka PS 146) will be on the progressive end of the spectrum. Progressive schools <\/a>aren’t going to be for every family, and if you have your heart set on an NYC gifted and talented program<\/a> or any G&T program, progressive schools likely won’t be for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had the opportunity to listen in to the inaugural PS 456 open house<\/a> (don’t worry, there are 5 more virtual sessions and 1 more in-person session) and Principal Johnson-Willis struck me as a kind-hearted soul who would carry the spirit and ethos of BNS over to this brand spanking new elementary school in Downtown Brooklyn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Questions? I’ve got answers. Here we go!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who can apply to Brooklyn elementary schools and PS 456 in particular? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Parents of children born in 2019 and 2020 have a shot at a seat at PS 456 for the 2024-2025 school year. The school is starting out with three Kindergarten classes and one PreK class. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are 27 unzoned Brooklyn elementary schools<\/a>. The search function is not great in MySchools, but it is the most accurate, so check the filter for unzoned schools, then zoom in on the map to focus on just Brooklyn which spans 12 schools districts. PS 456 and BNS are two of these 27 schools that take students from across the borough. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to diversity, the only criteria NYC uses is whether you qualify for free or reduced price lunch. One other criteria I saw for diversity in admissions<\/a> was for students who live in temporary housing. Even though schools claim they want racial, social, and economic diversity, the only legal way they can screen for diversity is through these two criteria. I actually did not know this and it only came to my attention at the PS 456 open house. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The parent coordinator who has been with BNS for 20 years and will partially assist with PS 456 until it hires its own parent coordinator did make a good point: non-zoned schools that accept kids from all over the borough have a higher chance of hitting the three areas of diversity that elementary schools are seeking. Zoned schools will only take children who live in the immediate area, and as we all know, housing still segregates and impacts school quality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What will the facilities be like at PS 456<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Unlike other Brooklyn elementary schools, PS 456 is going to be brand spanking new. The address is 489 State Street in downtown Brooklyn, conveniently located across from the Whole Foods and Apple Store. This is going to be what I think is the only truly accessible school in all of Brooklyn owing to its proximity to Atlantic Avenue Barclays Center and Hoyt Schermerhorn St. subway stations. That’s 12 subway lines combined! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is going to be a top of the line facility compared to buildings built in the 60s or earlier. All classrooms will reportedly have sunlight which is great since kids learn best in well ventilated, inspiring, naturally lit spaces. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Khalil Gibran International Academy will be moving into this very same building. Though both schools will be housed in the same building, you can rest assured that the high schoolers will not be bullying the 5th graders. They will have separate entrances, separate gyms, separate cafeterias, and separate libraries. Both schools will also have separate music rooms and separate art rooms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Side note: our school house a middle school and an elementary school with no separate entrances or waiting areas. I have yet to hear my Kindergartener complain about an incident. I think the issue of mixed schools using the same building is really a moot point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A note of caution: it was unclear at the end of the presentation what was meant by shared spaces in the school outside of the science lab. Probably a point of clarification that you should raise if you are into this. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What kind of programs will be offered at PS 456?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Like many Brooklyn elementary schools, a mix of programs will be offered. There will be:<\/p>\n\n\n\n