Joan Goldberg is a resident of the Upper East Side and a recently retired New York City public school teacher of 37 years. Joan walks through the history and current advantages of each and every public school on the Upper East Side from the evolution of programming to how to determine the best school district for you and your family as you contemplate a move.

Joan Goldberg taught in the New York City public school system on the Upper East Side for 37 years. She and her husband, Howard, raised their three children on the Upper East Side where they currently reside. All three children attended PS 6 as did Joan and her two brothers, Dr. Barton Hoexter and Dr. David Hoexter.

How many years have you been working in and/or involved in the New York City public school system?

I taught for 37 years in the New York City public school system. The first position I ever had in New York City was on 108th Street on Madison Avenue. Shortly thereafter, I was transferred to PS 6. My mother and I were there at the same time. She was teaching 5th grade and I was teaching 4th. She worked there for 35 years. I was also involved as an active parent in the school system since all three of my children attended PS 6.

How has the network of public schools on the Upper East Side evolved since you started teaching at PS 6 in 1967?
Ninety-Sixth Street has PS 198. Attached to 198 is the Gifted and Talented School there known as the Lab School. In order to qualify, your child must be in the 90th percentile. PS 6 which is located on 82nd Street and Madison is a renowned institution on the Upper East Side. There is PS 190 which is now known as 290 on 82nd Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues and that school has gone through a rebirth, a real phoenix. It has a fabulous principal. What is interesting about 290 is that Shelley Harwayne left Columbia’s TC – Teacher’s College – and she immersed the entire school in the writing program. She created a reading and writing program which was implemented from Kindergarten through 6th grade at the time. PS 158 has been on 77th and York for over 70 years. My father went there. They currently have a very strong math department. PS 183 which is on 68th street – has small classes and generally two classes on a grade for Kindergarten through 3rd grade only. Starting in 4th grade, the class register increases. Then there is 267 which is located on 63rd Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues. PS 267 was created because there was an overpopulation on the UES and there was no place to put these children and they belonged in a school district. That school has been growing. Right now it is Kindergarten through 3rd grade. It is in brand new facilities. The principal, Medea McEvoy was my next door neighbor at 6. Then she became the Head of Literacy for New York City and finally she took this on as a responsibility. The last school in that border line is PS 59. They have two classes on a grade and they are also in brand new facilities on 57th Street and 2nd Avenue right next to Whole Foods. In this district, there are also several Pre-K’s around and the children are selected by lottery.

Could you mention one major pro and one major area for improvement for the schools that we discussed?
I hear that too often they are so worried about teaching to the test by 3rd grade that they really are just dumping overly creative curriculum. On the other hand, some of the private schools don’t teach as rigorous a program as these schools. Even though there are more children in a class – in private school, there are about 18 to 20 children in a class. The public school has 26 to 28 children. I think that with the public school education, the academic expectations are sometimes higher. They no longer do workbooks. The other difference is that you do have homework whereas you don’t really have homework until the 3rd Grade in some private schools.
All of these schools have creative art programs. They have fabulous music programs and dance programs. Often, the PTA asks the parent body to support these programs. Unfortunately, you only have PE once a week. If you want your child to do some extra physical activity, you will have to enroll him or her in an afterschool center of some sort.

PS 198 – Teaches to the changing community.

Lower Lab – Similar to Hunter, there is a challenging admissions test as well as an interview.

PS 158 – It is very warm, very endearing – great principal. It seems that they specialize in math.

PS 267 – PS 267 is growing. The facilities are beautiful and what they are teaching there is amazing. It mystifies me that she has a dance movement teacher, she has a music teacher, she has an art teacher. And, oh my God – the science room. Kindergarten – they were doing some kind of flies. It is always up-to-date. The science program at 267 was, I thought, just amazing. Their writing and reading program stimulates every child.

PS 290 – The writing program there is supposed to be amazing. And, a wonderful principal.

PS 59 – I know someone who goes there and has been very happy.

PS 6 – On the roof of PS 6 is a prototype for environmental science centers. Another thing to consider is the location of PS 6. Since it is so close to the museums in the area, you pick your child up after school on a Wednesday and you say – “Oh, let’s go over to the Met, it’s a block away. Let’s go down to the Whitney.” It’s just easy to expose your child to the culture of New York City in a relaxed manner. It’s part of being the best of New York. When I was teaching, we would take our clipboards over to the museum and we would sit there and draw and sketch. The teacher doesn’t make a big deal about saying our big trip is going to the Met. You just pick yourself up and go.
In each of the schools on the UES, the parent body is eager to enrich the curriculum. Parents are encouraged to participate in their child’s experience – ie Mystery Reader is when the parent knocks on the classroom door unbeknownst to the child and reads his/her favorite book to the class. Every parent has a chance to be a Mystery Reader. It is not arms-distance about the parents. It is a very inclusive experience for all.

What is the key to ensuring acceptance for your child at the school in your neighborhood?
It is my understanding that your child – if your child is in the neighborhood – they will have first priority. But you have to register and look at the cues when they have the registration. Don’t wait until September because then you will be shut out.

Final thoughts?
I think that you have to visit the school that you are interested in and find what works for you. If you like the warmth of the school, then that’s important. If you like the way the teachers are talking to the children, then that’s important. It is important to find a school where you feel comfortable because then the experience will be beneficial for all.

Note: Two recently opened schools were not discussed in the interview. PS 151 and PS 527. Feel free to visit www.insideschools.org for more information on those schools as well as the ones mentioned in the interview.