Their Brooklyn school became a national symbol of failure. Here’s what parents have to say.
Did you know search engines like Google are changing the way you see news? Keep Chalkbeat’s valuable education coverage at the top of your feeds by clicking here and checking the box next to our name. On a bright Wednesday morning in Brooklyn, students walked into P.S. 307 holding their parents’ hands or tumbled out of a yellow school bus. A crossing guard, a security officer, the principal, and…
On a Wednesday morning in Brooklyn, students arrived at P.S. 307, greeted warmly by crossing guards, security officers, and the principal. This school, which has been the subject of nationwide criticism since Nikole Hannah-Jones' daughter had a negative experience there, appeared to be thriving in the eyes of its parents.
A dozen parents were interviewed, and nearly all of them praised the school's staff, programs, and communication. They had not heard about the school's national news status. Parents expressed satisfaction with the way the staff interacts with children and the support provided for their children's academic needs.
One parent, Sheila Langley, described the school as "wonderful, very good. I love the way they interact with the children." Jessica Ramos, the parent of a fourth grader, also had nothing negative to say about the school, stating that everything met her expectations for her kids.
The school, which has a small student population of under 300 and serves primarily lower-income families, has received a new principal since Hannah-Jones' daughter left. Parents commented on the dedication and communication of the teachers, with one father describing the school as a "community and a family."
However, the school still faces challenges, such as low overall test scores and a lack of easily accessible academic information for families. While some parents are concerned about the school's performance, they acknowledge that their children are testing well above average. They also appreciate the resources provided by the school, such as better paid teachers and improved gym equipment.
Despite the generally positive feedback, one parent expressed concerns about the way the school communicates test scores to parents. Nevertheless, the overall satisfaction of P.S. 307 parents highlights that many are content with schools that are widely assumed to be low-performing, often due to factors that are not easily measured.
Written by urgent.news from Chalkbeat's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
