Ps 217 Colonel David Marcus School

1100 Newkirk Avenue

School District

New York City Geographic District #22
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:13
Type

public

School Map for New York City Geographic District #22

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 August 24, 2024

Part of this thing being in school is I important
Submitted by parent on September 08, 2022

The worst school ever!!! My daughter attended 12 years ago, but I still look at this school with disgust. My daughter was harassed by children on both national and religious grounds. Once, she was 7 years old, and part of her hair was cut off. On another day, they smeared the desk with glue, pushed and tripped until they saw the teacher. The principal of the school promised to help, but did nothing. I took my daughter out of this school after 10 months of study. I regret not writing to the Department of Education.
Submitted by parent on January 02, 2022

This school is the best! Warm, loving environment with a progressive thoughtful principal and teachers dedicated to their students. We feel incredibly lucky to have this school in the neighborhood. If you love the arts, community, diversity, and a supportive school with incredible garden and outdoor play space, I would highly recommend coming here.
Submitted by parent on October 12, 2017

We consider ourselves so lucky to have our 2 children attend P.S. 217! They have been getting a great education in a supportive environment. The school recently received a huge grant to upgrade the school's student technology/ computers. And at a time in our country when the Arts seem to have fallen out of favor, PS 217 still offers ample instruction in music, theater and art. The Parent's Association is very active, and the new principal that started in the Fall of 2016 is a breath of fresh air. Lastly, my family truly values the highly diverse student body, and feel it's important for our kids to engage with children from a wide variety of backgrounds. I cannot recommend PS 217 highly enough!
Submitted by parent on June 09, 2017

There is nothing better than loving your neighborhood school! PS 217 is wonderfully diverse, warm, engaging, open and has a firm eye on education and the arts. We have liked all of our teachers (core and subject-matter/extracurricular) and find the administration (especially the new principal) open and forward-thinking. The Parent’s Association is extremely active and engaging. Our garden and huge playground allow for unmatched in and out of school activities and I encourage anyone considering the school to come to our spring garden concert series or come after school to enjoy the playground and meet other PS 217 families. We also love the growing focus on healthy eating and physical fitness, which continues to evolve with active parents and families.
Submitted by parent on June 02, 2017

217 is a fantastic neighborhood school. The children are happy, the parents are dedicated, the school is economically and racially diverse, the new principal is energetic and open to new ideas. Our community engagement committee helps bring our diverse community together. Our wellness committee is helping us prioritize healthy eating and physical fitness. We have yearly theatrical productions and an afterschool enrichment program. We have fantastic outdoor space with a track. We have a beautiful garden cared for by parents and used by students. We are a Title I school with over 1200 students so there isn't as much $ floating around as there may be some of the more well-monied schools in district 15 but we have energy and passion and moxie and momentum. It's really a models of what public education in NYC can be.
Submitted by parent on May 23, 2016

I had a bad experience with the school's principal . I believe, a parents view should be considered when making important decisions concerning their child. I don't believe in a what the principal says goes sanario. When someone says to you," This is my school, and then proceeds to ignor you as a parent when it pertains to your child. The outcome could only lead to disaster for your child. I believe that both the parents and the school should work together for the best interest of the child. Although the principal portrays herself to be a person of integrity , I disagree with some of her statements and decisions towards my child.
Submitted by parent on May 19, 2016

The school has changed drastically. My daughter attends this school and we are not happy how it is going academically or any matter. Her 2nd grade teacher left the school end of Dec. 2015 right before the break and the class did not have a permeant teacher for almost over a month. The class fell behind and the new teacher seems like a nice guy but lacks experience with handling children. The school overall is pretty good as they have after school programs/magnet and plays and activities during the entire school year. Movie on Friday once a month, science fair. However, there is no diversity in the school and the administration is not pleasant. I've gone to the school to speak w/Ms. Conti and she is very short.
Submitted by parent on August 17, 2014

Our sons thrived in PS217 - a warm, welcoming environment, well managed and well maintained, with a strong academics and strong inter-cultural social environment for the students. We are very lucky to live in the PS 217 zone.
Submitted by other on March 15, 2014

This school is awesome! The teachers are awesome! They help students. Learn and have fun at the same time. Have a talent or want to learn a talent? Then this school has more than 10 talent classes! Graduation Ceremony, the 5th grade dance everything is great! Science lab full of animals. This school is the base to education and life. Shows and a lot more.
Submitted by other on October 29, 2013

hi this used to be my school about a year ago im successfully in 6th grade with a great education the only thing i dont like is the principal franca conti she doesnt like us she doesnt even listen to another person and listen to other people. like seriuosly but everythign else if mind blowing my 5th gade teacher mr.brown was a excellent teacher if you get him youre lucky people dont like mr.brown why dont like him he teaches his kids like if they were his real kids. all my teachers were great so everyone out there if looking for a elementary school go here and hoply you dont have a naughty kid.lol. okay this was my frist school which i went for 6 years from kindergarten to 5 grade. really loved it so yeah. now oyu guys decide which is better. and every year the school changes and turns better and better i wish i can stay there for my whole education so yeah. hope oyu listen to me and think about the school. becuase its awesome.
Submitted by other on February 13, 2013

I used to go this school, in eagle (now I'm in 6th grade) and it was a really good school. Teachers, as far as i remember, do work hard (mostly directed to my 5th grade teacher, who made 5th grade awesome for me). The principal has strong leadership, too. The school also has a garden, lots of after school programs, sales and more. It's a great school.
Submitted by parent on June 11, 2012

Unfortunately I was under the impression that PS217 was a great school based on location. Boy was I wrong. This school contains the most unqualified and unprofessional teachers I have ever met. My son's 3rd gradeexperience was a disaster , my son's teacher Ms.Dawn was unorganized, unpleasant and medicated. Conversations with this woman was difficult. Unfortunately the principal Mrs. Conti wasnt very helpful when I brought my concerns to her. She dismissed my concerns and very eagerly pointed out PS 217 overall grade average which was a "C". I guess she didn't think i'll look it up. I've learned so much from other parents who had similar experiences with the Prinicipal as well as other teachers at PS 217. Now, My Son attends a Chartered School with excellent informative caring teachers and I'm very happy with my decision.
Submitted by other on December 11, 2011

i love this school i used to go now i go to a better school the teachers push you to do better and plus it is on a beautiful campus and i love how the teachers are nice and one more thing with out a certain teacher written me a review i don't think i would be at my school and be in advanced classes
Submitted by parent on May 02, 2011

Frankly speaking, we were at first dissapointed that our child was not accepted in a city-wide school in Manhattan. But as years passed, we have realized that this school has lots of caring teachers, enthusiastic parents and great playground. We like the diversity of families at this school, where our child learns about other countries and cultures by experience. The school and perticipating parents planted vegetables in the front garden last autum. Children could observe how pumpkins, chilli peppers and eggplants grow!
Submitted by parent on March 03, 2011

This school is worse school i have ever seen. The administration very rude and uncooparative, teachers are not enough qualified to provide quality education they also careless. please if you could take your child to another school.
Submitted by other on November 26, 2010

Very good school. The teachers were great. What we were learning was easy though, I wish it had been harder.