Ps 321 William Penn

180 7th Avenue

School District

New York City Geographic District #15
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:16
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 October 08, 2024

I’m a teacher and parent with 2 children here and I can’t recommend 321 enough. Administration is extremely supportive, thoughtful and organized. Teachers truly support one another and collaborate, and parent engagement is wonderful. Thoughtful curriculum engages students in all areas in a calm supportive environment. My kids love going to school each day. I cannot imagine a better, more well-rounded education. Top notch.
Submitted by parent on October 06, 2024

PS 321 is an excellent school if your child has no learning disabilities or social/emotional issues. It is also good if your child’s issues are prominent enough that a neuro-psych evaluation got you an IEP with extra instruction. Your child will benefit from the extra instruction and being in a social setting with relatively affluent kids of parents who support high academic standards. It’s a very large school and the zone is quite small, so all of the classmates live within a few blocks of each other, making every day an opportunity to run into classmates at playgrounds and restaurants. The principal who has been serving for decades is focused on discipline and is reactive to a complaint of bad behavior but uninvolved with everday cases of poor academic progress, leaving that to others. And she does not like to admit when she is wrong. When the whole country abandoned Lucy Calkins’s, “Balanced Literacy” for phonics as a pedagogical methodology, she retained it in limited form. If you get close to a teacher, you will learn the principal is unpopular among the veterans. Thankfully, teachers tend to be very good and experienced.There is a huge emphasis on PTA fundraising (w/ a gala and ticketed dinners in parents’ homes) and many committees, but much of the money goes to large speaking fees to book authors or to hiring music and art teachers — great for the thriving students or those with extra classroom help — but many feel it could be better spent hiring extra teachers for large classrooms. However, 321 teachers are overall good and very experienced.PS 321 split into an upper and a lower school, adding one 3K and three pre-K classes. All four classes are filled with in-district siblings of PS 321 kids. Competition was a lottery and many people were disappointed. Hopefully the program will be expanded. The lower school is in a former Catholic high school under long-term DOE lease four blocks away. And while the move was mandated by the DOE, the principal held meetings with parents where she claimed it was her decision and that her assent was conditioned on (among other things) getting rid of the moldy crumbling classroom trailers on the PS 321 lot. Of course, the trailers still stand. The lunchroom is horrid w/ fluorescent lights, ugly tiles, big columns, no windows and sad DOE lunches. Picnic tables outside would brighten things. There are many pricey after-school vendors but the DOE-sponsored Kids Orbit is a teen-run scream fest.
Submitted by parent on March 31, 2024

I didn't appreciate how wonderful this school is until my children moved on in the school system. Liz Philips is wonderful. The teachers are engaged, and my kids have fond memories of their classes.
Submitted by other on September 20, 2023

My daughter went here years ago from Kindergarten until half of Second Grade. They lack diversity and were not accommodating to kids who needed the extra help. My daughter was diagnosed with ADHD in second grade, and was transferred to PS 133. There she received the help and support she needed to succeed. She became a star student.
Submitted by parent on May 21, 2023

PS321 has provided an amazing environment for my child. It’s the perfect blend of traditional and progressive-based education. We are privileged to be part of the community. Lots of engaged parents, Social-Emotional learning, diversity-learning (yes the school is not as diverse as it used to be, not to the fault of the school, but the neighborhood.
Submitted by parent on May 30, 2019

Not a 10 rating school... By far!
Submitted by parent on November 15, 2018

Both of my kids had different experiences. One flourished, the other left with very low academic self esteem because of being a different learner. No matter how many times we asked for help in that department they just weren't able to give it. But that makes sense. By the fifth grade there are over 30 kids in each class. How is one teacher supposed to be able to offer any kind of extra TLC?
Submitted by parent on September 18, 2018

I love 321 and most of the people I know here do as well. Top notch public school with very engaged teachers and students, a constantly adapting and thoughtful curriculum, a progressive view on testing and homework, lots of field trips, special events, a hyper-engaged PTA, the greatest principal around, and my kid is excited and happy to go here. I agree the people in the office can be rude to parents, I've definitely been annoyed with them, but whatever. It's a public school not a spa. And the school is awesome.
Submitted by parent on August 11, 2018

I wish that I could give this school a good review, but I just can't. Before we ever enrolled I heard from 2 separate families that the school is fine, "as long as you don't ever need anything from them." Unfortunately, I have found this to be 100% true. The front office staff ALL need to be fired. They are almost comically rude- you couldn't cast a more miserable bunch of nasty old biddies if you tried. More importantly, the administration is typical of petty bureaucrats...they are only interested in making their own jobs easier and not in effectively addressing the ACTUAL needs of their students. Forget about asking them to do anything but follow a checklist or to show any real interest in the well-being of your child.Special services for are spotty and inconsistent and have proven to be SUCH a disappointment over the past 2 years.The truth is that PS 321 is a "good school" because it's full of good kids from good families. The teaching staff and administrators only need to show up and work through the curriculum, occasionally throwing in a "feel-good" event for everyone to pay themselves on the back over. There's nothing magical that they're DOING - they have a lot to work with is all and just lucked out with the demographics of the neighborhood, but when the chips are down and they are actually asked to DO something or THINK about something, or god forbid, go to bat for your kid, their true colors come out.I wish like hell we could afford private school....
Submitted by parent on June 08, 2018

Friends are so nice and helpful. But students life will be also determined by teacher’s integrity and hospitality and support. If teacher is horrible half of school life will be corrupted.
Submitted by parent on May 01, 2018

Excellent. Teachers and Principal are doing great job.
Submitted by parent on April 27, 2018

I'm writing this review mostly to address many unfounded complaints. I can empathize with complaints about office staff and PTA, but who really cares? A small dot that disappears in the light of all the other great things at this school.My children have been at the school for years. The teachers are amazing, the principle and her team are amazing, the programs and after-school are amazing.Is it over-crowded, sure, but it is so well run that it actually doesn't matter. Look to the test scores on that too. My children are very happy. They LOVE school and are crazy about the events (who thought a kid would be excited to go to 'Green & Healthy Night'). Lots of communication on a class and teacher level.
Submitted by parent on April 19, 2018

We are moving to the zone and couldn't get anyone at the school to even give us the time of day. The staff we were able to eventually get on the phone were rude beyond need. Very short and did everything but hang up on us.
Submitted by parent on May 12, 2017

It is my opinion that 321 is definitely overrated. The school is too crowded and the staff can be dismissive to some parents (Administrative staff; not the teachers) PTA is very pushy and have found that not every voice is heard. Lunch periods are extremely short. Lastly, if your child does NOT have an IEP he/she will have to be in an inclusive IEP class at least once during their time there. I (and several other parents that were NOT heard) found this to be very disruptive to our children's development. Our children would come home stressed and did not want to go to school the next day. It wasn't until their IEP stint was over and they were in a non-inclusive class that they were interested in learning again and actually enjoyed going to school. PS 321 is Overrated...
Submitted by parent on June 21, 2016

Wonderful school, wonderful teachers. From the very first day they emphasize kindness, caring and inclusiveness. Very active PTA and an administration that is easily accessible. Every time I drop off or pick up from son from school there is such a fantastic energy emanating from the yard. I cannot recommend the school enough and feel privileged that may son is a student there.
Submitted by parent on January 20, 2014

It is my opinion that 321 is overrated. The school is too crowded and the staff can be dismissive to some parents. They could also do a better job with students who learn differently. The parent voice can be very vocal, but once again it is those who are vocal who hold power and they are not interested in other voices.
Submitted by parent on September 23, 2013

My son's school is focused on learning. They understand children learn in many different ways. I, however, chose not to send my oldest child here as I do not believe they do a very good job with children on the spectrum. This might change as there is a new vice principal. It's tool ate for my oldest now. While this school is good for saavy children who can negotiate a school of 1400 children, It is not good for children who need smaller classes and a calm environment.
Submitted by parent on September 23, 2013

Yes, it's huge. But the reason why is that the teachers are amazing. My son started in Pre-K and is now in 4th grade, and every teacher has been distinctly different and absolutely wonderful. We could have chosen a citywide gifted school starting in kindergarten and chose to send our son here instead. No regrets. He's happy, creative, thriving, and made the highest scores possible on the third-grade NY test. Thank you, Liz Phillips, Ms. Merris, Mr. Bill, Beth, Mr. Chris and Ms. Rosenblum!
Submitted by parent on May 17, 2013

Having recently moved to the area from out of state, a good school was a top priority and a good public school was even better as so many of us have doubts about our education system but know that we were raised with a good public education. Well, my son has been at PS 321 for several months now and I only have top praise for his teacher (even his substitutes), the principal, and the high participation of the parents. The school offers much more than my son's previous good public school and I believe it is because of the caring leadership of the principal and the involvement of the parents. Any issues that get just a few parents' attention (like mandatory testing) are soon to become well discussed issues for everyone to have their say. The parents can have a significant impact on what goes on at the school. I know that my son is safe, getting a good education, able to expand his mind in areas he did not have access to before, and he is part of a great student body. I now understand why people move to Park Slope for the schools and PS 321 is a shining example.
Submitted by parent on April 18, 2012

This is an extraordinary school with excellent leadership, incredible teachers and great PTA. My first daughter graduated from this school and got into one of the most prestigious gifted and talented middle school in Manhattan. The teachers she had were experienced, competent and nurturing. Her 5th grade teacher made the transition from elementary school to middle school so smooth and seamless. She even emailed her previous 5th grade students on the first day of middle school to with them the best. This is the school that my first daughter wants to go back and say hello to her teachers and staff. Also, my second daughter is currently 2nd grade and she's been here since pre-K. She also has nothing but wonderful experience with teachers, staff and friends. They also offer excellent after school programs and promotes art and music.