Schools in Williamsburg

PS 132 is really great in Williamsburg on Conselyea Street.
PS 34 in Greenpoint has positive reviews.
Also the private Northside Pre-School is really great too.

Good luck!

Best,
Phillia

http://schools.nyc.gov/SchoolPortals/14/K084/default.htm

Pretty sure you are not zoned for ps 34. There are schools in the Evill that you can use, which is why so many parents and kids on the L at 8 am every day and ps132 may let in students outside of its zone and it has a gifted and talented program. Let's not mince words, ps17 is total crap and has remained crap even after demographics shifted in the nighborhood. That said, it is hard to say what the neighborhood schools will look like in 6-7 years which is about when you would have a kid start in school. There will be a lot of kids between the edge, northside piers and domino, and hopefully they will not be zoned for an already overcrowded ps17.

look at insideschools.org

Proof positive that not all neighborhoods are appropriate for families.

You can't live like a 20-something hipster AND be a grown-up at the same time.

Proof positive that Matt is ranting once again - no neighborhood caters uniquely to one demographic, whether stereotyped or not.

Williamsburg certainly does.

So, NYCMatt, are you saying there IS only one demogaphic in Williamsburg? Or if not, are you implying that people chose to live in a neighborhood that doesn't cater to them? Both alternatives seem absurd.

"Or if not, are you implying that people chose to live in a neighborhood that doesn't cater to them"

Well, when price is a factor. Not everyone can afford everything they want.

The affordability of a neighborhood is certainly a factor in people's decision to live or to not live there and, in combination with other factors, determines the type of demographic the neighborhood caters to.

Kind of a vague point, no? Within all neighborhoods there are different quality buildings and apartments. You can live on the UWS or UES for a LOT or relatively little. I think the range is often greater than people think. Same's true in Williamsburg.

you are zoned for 17 - us too, but we chose the magnet school, 84 on grand and berry. they have a great prek one of the best, and an excellent dual language program in Spanish. Wonderful, we're very happy, and there's tons of families that are working with the Principal to improve the school. Great changes over the last year and half. We're staying in the spanish program. Also, 31 on Meserole Ave. and Lorimer St. in Greenpoint is also a magnet school, and either 84 or 31 are probably easier for you to get to than 132. On Sundays in the afternoon, you'll find a lot of kids that attend 84 playing at Grand Street Playground. "Magnet" schools, do not require you to be in the zone. Please sign up for the yahoo group, brooklynbabyhui, ASAP. Real happy Williamsburg families belong to the group, not like the street easy naysayers! You'll be able to tour 84 this upcoming Wed, Mar. 30th at 9. Go! listen to Principal Rodriguez. She is terrific.

The point was that Williamsburg is a diverse neighborhood and saying that it "certainly" caters to only one demographic is absurd. It has also become one of the most expensive areas in Brooklyn (at least parts of it).
As evidenced by the influx of young families, the neighborhood is now very attractive for people with children and it already has some excellent school options:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/23/realestate/23cov.html
But what is most important is the incredibly supportive and active community of parents and the dynamic that this community creates. It is just a logical consequence of these recent changes that the area's school options will broaden.

polisson, I agree. My comment was more in reference to swe's "point." That NYT article is kind of a puff piece though.

> and it already has some excellent school options

You're quoting a human interest piece... by the same source that 6 months ago wrote an entire article about the problem of the lack of quality schools for the yuppie set moving to williamsburg.

Key point... the NYTimes RE section is an *advertising* section, not a news section... which is why it is grouped with other such quality journalism sections as... classifieds... and autos. The editor of the section has in print even admitted to this.

swe, you've opined on Williamsburg schools before. Still wrong it seems, but I agree not to put too much stock in NYT articles on the matter. Regardless of whether they're pro or con.

bjw- agree that the article was puffish and sorta dumb, but had some truth in it. i've been here several years, and find the community of parents to be laid back and fun but helpful and involved in the schools and childrens' activities. prior to the major influx of new condos, etc... 31,34 and 132 were some of the highest ranking schools already. it's in the northwest part of WB where the growth is that needed help which is why we're involved at 84. i found a list of childrens' activity/place spaces which exist as well.
Williamsburg Movement and Art Center
Ms. J's
Streb
Klub 4 Kidz
Play
Gym Park
Greenpoint YMCA
Painted Cloud
Spacecraft
My Mini Hands
Aquanilo Swimming

somewhereelse, I quoted the article to demonstrate the interest that families have taken in the neighborhood recently. Do you deny that the article describes this tendency rather accurately?

Also, not sure what your point is other than that the NYT Real Estate section contains "advertising". You are not claiming that the article itself is "advertising", though, right?

also, there's a successful preschool/daycare called Williamsbug Northside that added an elementary school - this gives the community a private option too. there's also a catholic school on Havemeyer and n. 10th. another daycare is ABC which i've heard good things about.