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P.S. 183 Robert L. Stevenson

Grades: Pre-K, K-5
Staff Pick
419 East 66 Street
Manhattan NY 10065
Phone: 212-734-7719

Our Insights

What’s Special

Strong, creative work in all grades; proximity to world-class research institutions enriches the school

The Downside

Large class sizes in the upper grades

PS 183 is a vibrant neighborhood school with involved parents, committed staff and rich, engaging academics. Its also a multicultural place: Some neighborhood families come from abroad to work as scientists and healthcare professionals at Rockefeller University and the several world-class hospitals in the area. Among the student body, nearly 40 different languages are spoken.

The vibe throughout the school is welcoming and creative, which is apparent as soon as one enters the century-old building. Photos of smiling staff and a display celebrating the languages spoken at the school flank the main office entrance. The narrow hallways are lined with student artwork and projects. Classrooms are lively spaces where students move around with purpose. Its common to walk into a room and find children sprawled out on the rug or couch, reading and writing, while others work at tables or in a cozy corner of the room. Class sizes run large in the upper gradesroughly 32 in the 5th-gradebut class routines are well established so kids move smoothly from one activity to the next with little time wasted.

"We want students to take ownership of their learning," said Tara Napoleoni, the school's principal since 2010. [Martin Woodard replaced Naopoleoni in 2017. She left to take a job as principal of an elementary school in Rye Neck, NY.] Teachers are very adept at meeting childrens individual needs. In the younger grades students keep folders with personalized teacher notes such as what level books they should be reading, which areas they're strong in, which skills they need to practice more, and suggestions for challenge work.

The school uses the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project curriculum, which encourages students to read a wide array of books of their choosing and at their skill level as well as write and revise multiple drafts of work on a variety of topics. They read serial stories, mysteries and historical fiction as well as biographies, memoirs, and books on social issues and science. Teachers also connect readings to topics studied in other subjects. For instance, 4th-graders learn about soil erosion in science at the same time they are reading and writing about floods and environmental themes in class. Fifth-graders read historical fiction such as Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie when learning about westward expansion in social studies.

Typical of many District 2 schools, 183 uses Investigations Math, 3rd edition, which emphasizes conceptual learning and multiple approaches to problem solving. Teachers balance this with some drilling of math facts. A part-time math coach works with teachers to develop lessons and visits classrooms to help with instruction.

In fifth grade, classes are departmentalizedessentially a modified middle school format. Each 5th-grade teacher specializes in one of three areasreading, writing or mathand students travel with their class to different rooms for instruction in those subjects. The benefit is that students are taught by a specialist in a classroom filled with resources to support that subject. Students spend roughly two periods a day in their homeroom class where they learn social studies and science (in addition to their twice-weekly visits to the science room) and get extra instruction in reading, writing and math too.

Every Friday, students in all grades participate in small-group electives. Teachers, staff, the principal and even parents volunteer to run one of over 40 clubs that cover a range of interests such as story telling, singing, knitting, cooking and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). Students get to try a new club every five weeks.

Parent involvement is strong. In addition to raising money for teaching assistants and to support school programs, parents volunteer in a variety of ways: grant writing, leading school tours, running events such as the school carnival, helping out in art and music classes, and much more.

Outside organizations such as Wingspan Arts, ChessNYC, Yorkville Sports and Drama Kids run a range of onsite activities after school.

SPECIAL EDUCATION: In addition to SETSS there is an ICT class on each grade.

ADMISSIONS: Zoned, neighborhood school. (Laura Zingmond, December 2015; updated by phone August 2016; principal update only 2019)

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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?
85%
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?
78%
84% Citywide Average
Years of principal experience at this school
5.2

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?
88%
53% Citywide Average
How many elementary school students scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
87%
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
496
Asian
20%
Black
2%
Hispanic
9%
White
64%
Other
6%
Free or reduced priced lunch
10%
Students with disabilities
14%
English language learners
5%
Pre-K seats
36

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

Average daily attendance
95%
90% Citywide Average
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
11%
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?
63%
30% Citywide Average
How many students with disabilities scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
55%
23% Citywide Average
How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
67%
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

Upper East Side (District 2)
Trains: F Line, Q Line to Lexington Ave-63rd St; 6 Line to 68th St - Hunter College; 4 Line, 5 Line, N Line, R Line, W Line to Lexington Ave-59 St
Buses: M101, M102, M15, M15-SBS, M31, M57, M66, M72, M98, Q101, Q102, Q32, Q60

Contact

Principal
Martin Woodard
Parent Coordinator
Luann Propper

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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