Ps 124 Silas B Dutcher

515 4th Avenue

School District

New York City Geographic District #15
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:10
Type

public

School Map for New York City Geographic District #15

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on February 13, 2024

I have 3 children in the school, the teachers who know my kids so well, and appreciate the robust social emotional learning team.SEL team includes counseling in schools and restorative justice as well as dual language program and the small and intimate class sizes. The school is a title 1 school that has welcomed folks particularly asylees and folks temporarily housed with open arms. There are many activities and community building events as well as a strong and active PTA.This school is a warm environment for those in park slope that truly are open to their child learning and growing in a diverse community.
Submitted by parent on January 17, 2023

This used to be a good school. The teachers are overwhelmed and they don't have any assistance. They have to worry about whether the spanish speaking kids understood the lesson, meanwhile the other kids are being ignored. The school's mission seems to be more about giving free items and less on actually teaching. Many parents have realized this and they are moving their children to better schools. Stealing and bullying are also issues that are not addressed properly.
Submitted by other on January 17, 2023

As years go by the school has not been such a good choice for some parents/kids. There are no boundaries, teachers are always unprepared and you have kids that are bullies, discrimination and teachers/staff seem to just ignore issues and or have favorites. Half of these kids don't know english , but yet they put them in a class with teachers that don't understand Spanish. It has been the worst since the new principal stepped into the school! Maybe she should be more concerned about what is going on in the school with the children than worrying about how her wardrobe looks. There is NO Social-emotional support! I would never recommend anyone to send their children to this school!
Submitted by parent on November 18, 2022

Not my favorite school in Park Slope.
Submitted by parent on November 16, 2022

What a horrible school! Lots of bullying and teachers pick and choose who to help and leave others to fend for themselves and they don’t feel safe and feel as if they have to defend themselves. The Principle is more concerned with her wardrobe than the children. This is by far the worst school in District 15 - test scores are horrendous and I completely agree with what the Teacher below said.
Submitted by teacher on September 28, 2022

I’m a teacher and this is probably the most underprepared school I’ve ever worked at. You have classes of up to 20 kids where more than half don’t understand a single word of English, and teachers who don’t understand a single word of Spanish. Special Ed classes often leave the subs there alone when there should be 2-3 teachers in at a time. The kids do anything they want and I’ve seen multiple fights among small children with rulers and threats of violence.
Submitted by parent on June 11, 2021

I’ve come to this school when I was young and it was amazing I needed help in reading and right away I was taken out of class five days a week in small groups and they helped me my daughter now attends this school and needs help with reading and they ha e nothing what’s so ever to help their students all they tell me is they don’t have the staff to help my daughter I e begged and begged and nothing they failed her I don’t want my daughter attending this school anymore I’m in the middle of doing a transfer to a different school I’ve noticed that the school is under enrolled a lot of students!left
Submitted by parent on October 07, 2020

Impressive. The new principal is wonderful she’s been making huge strides in only a few years. We feel she’s working very hard to make PS124 a choice elementary school with smart hires, savvy ability to enhance existing practices and facilities with additional teacher trainings, workshops for the community, socially intelligence of what’s needed and when, and also able to cater to proactive parents with a phenomenal parent teacher coordinator (concierge) to provide supportive and knowledgeable information across the board. We have a first grader who started at PS124 in pre-k and now a new pre-k student too.
Submitted by parent on October 06, 2020

Overall we are pleased with the school and primarily came for the Dual Language Spanish program. Our son is currently in first grade and came here in Kindergarten. The teachers are very nice and competent and work very closely to meet the student where they are to help them flourish. COVID-19 put a monkey wrench in the progress we were making but I gotta admit P.S. 124 never skipped a beat. We got homework packets, clear communication and continued instruction from Day 1. We've elected for remote learning only and we recognize the school if doing the best they can, however, due to limited staff , our son is no longer in the Dual Language tract. Unfortunately, the communication record that we so praised in the Spring has been a little shakey since gearing up for this new school year. I'd recommend this school to a friend. The PTA is very inclusive, passionate, dedicated and hard working for the the students and faculty.
Submitted by parent on June 27, 2020

PS 124 is an underrated little school with a passionate PTA. The fact that the school is not overcrowded like other Park Slope elementary schools is great, especially in the area of Covid.
Submitted by parent on December 22, 2015

My son is in pre-k here which is very good. The teachers are very knowledgeable and make learning fun for the students. they do a weekly newsletter with pictures which keeps the parents involved. The program infuses a lot of Spanish and the kids are already learning to read and write.
Submitted by parent on December 01, 2015

Our daughter graduated from PS 124 in 2015, after being a student there since Pre-K. PS 124 is a little school with a huge heart. We relocated to Brooklyn from the West Coast, and came with very high expectations of what an elementary school should look and feel like. Admittedly, we were underwhelmed by the school's facilities, but realized very early on that what happened inside each classroom defines a school. This, for us, made up for the lack of bells and whistles on the outside. Our daughter received an incredible education from day one. She was well-prepared for the Common Core tests, and scored 3's and 4's all three years. She left 5th Grade as enthusiastic about school as she did entering into Pre-K, all of which made for a smooth transition into middle school. Outside the classroom, the school's PTA is growing by leaps and bounds, and puts on a series of events throughout the year with the focus of bringing families together and celebrating the school's multi-cultural diversity. Teacher retention is high, with most of the PS 124 teachers holding a 10+ year tenure within the building. It might not be the fanciest, or have the most robust list of extras, but PS 124 puts our children first and foremost, encouraging a true love for learning, and respect for one another.
Submitted by parent on April 18, 2014

My son's been in this school for 4yrs now and he absolutely loves it. The staff knows all the kids by name because it's a tight knit school. We love it
Submitted by parent on April 03, 2014

If you walk around PS 124, you will see happy kids getting a great education from smart and dedicated teachers in a safe, caring environment. In addition to the impressive classroom teachers, the school has a fantastic librarian, science teacher, music teacher and visual arts/yoga teacher. The school also has a diverse population and staff and administrators constantly model and reinforce a culture of mutual respect and caring. The classrooms are bright and airy, and the library is beautiful--large, well-stocked and welcoming. There is also an art studio and a science lab. I can't say enough good things about PS 124--it is pretty much my ideal elementary school!
Submitted by parent on April 02, 2014

PS 124 is a school that no one is talking about YET -- but they're starting to. Class sizes are small which is great - and the school is small making it a nice, tight-knit community. And you can certainly feel the love. It just started a dual language (Spanish) program in Pre-K and will be introducing a dual language program (Spanish) beginning 2014-2015. There's an AMAZING dedicated music teacher which is so rare these days. He also runs a guitar program for the older kids. Free swimming classes for 2nd grade There is a lot that this little school has to offer. My son is in Pre-K and loves it.
Submitted by parent on April 02, 2014

P.S. 124 in South Slope Brooklyn is a hidden gem of a school that has remained intimate and innovative at the same time that other neighborhood schools are regularly confronting severe overcrowding, a lack of pre-k offerings, and dwindling enrichment programs like music, art, science and tech. The school has fought to hold onto, and expand, music and art programs throughout all grades. And teachers and staff have made the integration of music, science and art a consistent theme from pre-k through the 5th grade. The school has been a part of the community for generations and as the community has changed, and continues to change, the school remains a strong constant embracing a multi-lingual student population as diverse as the surrounding neighborhood and introducing cutting edge dual-language programs for multiple grades starting in pre-k. As a center for learning and community cohesion the school deserves to be recognized for its greatness.
Submitted by parent on October 28, 2013

We feel so lucky to have won the lottery and have our son in pre-k at this great neighborhood school. The teachers are amazing. Our son has music, art and yoga! each week, loves all the teachers, has made great friends. We have no doubt that he will continue to thrive at this amazing school.
Submitted by parent on October 25, 2013

So much goes on behind the doors at this small school. Things like: dual language Pre-K, the 3rd Grade Green Team which facilitates recycling and energy efficiency both at school and at home, the grant-based Leader In Me initiative which uses 7 Habits of Highly Effective People to encourage leadership potential, as well as the school s continued emphasis on technology, art and music. It's a safe and nurturing environment that my child thrives in. It's such a gem.
Submitted by parent on October 25, 2013

P.S. 124 is a fantastic school! The class sizes are small, the teachers care a lot, and everyone in the building knows your child's name. The teachers and administration makes it a point to stay in frequent communication with the parents. The art and music programs are amazing and the curriculum challenges the students to think for themselves and be leaders. Every grade does something different. For example, 1st grade has a theater program and 2nd grade has swimming class. This is a school that also participates in the 7 habits of highly effective people, which is incorporated in the learning. Overall, I love the warm environment that P.S.124 in Brooklyn provides for my child.