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P.S. 105 The Blythebourne
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Brooklyn NY 11219
Our Insights
What’s Special
Successfully serves a large Chinese immigrant population
The Downside
Overcrowded
The student body at PS 105 is predominantly of Chinese descent, and many children are recent immigrants learning the English language. Nevertheless, the school maintains better-than-average test scores. In addition, it offers a rich program of art, dance and instrumental music. Students and teachers benefit from the expertise of three math coaches and three literacy coaches.
Many teachers are multilingual, but instruction is strictly in English in regular classes and mostly in English in bilingual Chinese classes. In bilingual classes, the teacher interchanges Chinese and English to help kids learn the harder academic words they need to know in order to progress in school. When they read books, younger children fill out a form to identify three new words they learned, two critical observations about the book, and one question to discuss with a group. The preferred choice for casual conversation among students remains Chinese.
The school is well-staffed to assist the many children learning English. According to the city's Quality Review, there are 22 English as a second language (ESL) licensed teachers, and 23 bilingual licensed teachers. Eleven of those teachers hold dual certifications in English as a second language (ESL) and a bilingual extension.
In addition to art, there is an early childhood string program, music lessons and dance lessons with St. Luke's Orchestra. Kids stay connected to their native culture by participating in performances around Chinese New Year featuring a fusion of traditional song and dance, morality tales and American arts, such as tap-dancing [see photo from the school website].
The school also offers a "Gifted Learners of Bilingual Education" (GLOBE) program, originally intended as accelerated classes for newcomers with limited English proficiency. Now the program offers enrichment in the Chinese language for all gifted students in the 1st through 5th grades.
Reasonably snug at more than 1,200 students, the building has ballooned to over 1,700 children. The opening of PS 69 was meant to relieve the burden, but PS 105 continues to grow with each new influx of immigrants, who now make up over half of the population.
The Brooklyn Chinese American Association, a community organization, hosts an afterschool program. It also performs dragon dances during the New Year celebration.
Special education: Children with special needs perform above the citywide average in every area and are held to the same high standards as everyone else.
Admissions: Neighborhood school.(Lydie Raschka, web reports and school data, September 2014)
Read moreSchool Stats
Is this school safe and well-run?
From 2022-2023 NYC School Survey
From the 2019-20 NY State Report Card
From this school's most recent Quality Review Report
From 2023 End-of-year Attendance and Chronic Absenteeism Report
How do students perform academically?
From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database
Who does this school serve?
From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot
From 2023 End-of-year Attendance and Chronic Absenteeism Report
From the 2020 School Directories
How does this school serve special populations?
From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database
Contact & Location
Location
Contact
Other Details
Zone for the 2019-2020 school year. Call school to confirm.
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