For days that begin with yoga, end with playwriting, and leave room in between for conflict-resolution training, architecture projects, and chess, you might first look to Lower Manhattan’s universities. In fact, you can find all this and more (not to mention reading, writing, and arithmetic) at the many great elementary schools south of Houston Street.

Serving children in neighborhoods from Battery Park City to the Lower East Side, there are more than a dozen downtown public elementary schools. Through the snapshots below, we hope to introduce you to the programs and features that make each unique.

P.S. 1, Alfred E. Smith

8 Henry Street
(212) 267-4133

Grades: Pre-kindergarten through 5
Enrollment: Approximately 650 students
Principal: Ms. Amy Hom

P.S. 1’s stated mission is to “foster the growth of each student so that each may benefit from their multicultural community today and contribute to their multifaceted world tomorrow.” Located just blocks from the Bowery between the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges, this Chinatown school places great emphasis on cooperative and inquiry-based learning, as well as on providing special opportunities for English language learners (ELL). Special programs include an International Academy Dual Language program for all grades, full-day Superstart Pre-K classes, adult ESL classes, and Saturday reading programs. After-school programs include Project Arts Extended Day with the Chinatown YMCA, Culinary Institute for ELL children, and the Extended School Day for Literacy and Math program. Other activities include informal peer-mediation and conflict-resolution programs as well as an After School Kids Summit and free summer program, where students go on field trips for research and work on themed projects.

P.S. 2, Meyer London

122 Henry Street
(212) 964-0350

Grades: Kindergarten through 5
Enrollment: Approximately 750 students
Principal: Mr. Brett Gustafson

Paying close attention to educational developments nationwide, teachers at P.S. 2 use research-based performance standards to design daily assignments and lesson plans while focusing on raising children’s sense of self-worth. Development of critical-thinking and problem-solving abilities is also emphasized. Special programs include an extended school year, extended school day, bilingual pupil services, an Internet club, and after-school enrichment clubs. Students are also given the opportunity to apply for instrumental music instruction -- choosing between violin, trumpet, clarinet, flute, saxophone, and drums. A garden club teaches ecology and horticulture skills while also cultivating a green space at the school to be enjoyed by students.

P.S. 20, Anna Silver

166 Essex Street
(212) 254-9577
http://schools.nycenet.edu/Region9/ps20/ourschool.asp

Grades: Pre-kindergarten through 6
Enrollment: Approximately 850 students
Principal: Dr. Leonard H. Golubchick

A magnet school for technology and the arts, P.S. 20 draws children from all over the city to the Lower East Side. The school’s curriculum, aligned with city and state standards, includes several special areas of focus, among them architecture, science, and immigration. A special unit on human rights and the Holocaust is also offered, culminating in an annual sixth-grade trip to the United States Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. Through partnerships with various organizations, P.S. 20 also offers several arts programs, including studies of architecture, ceramics, dance, playwriting, and storytelling with the Henry Street Settlement, as well as programs with AMAS Musical Theater and Theater for the New City. Committed to providing a multicultural education, P.S. 20 also offers bilingual classes to students and their parents in Spanish, Chinese, and Bengali.

P.S. 42, Benjamin Altman

71 Hester Street
(212) 226-8410

Grades: Pre-kindergarten through 5
Enrollment: Approximately 700 students
Principal: Ms. Rosa O’ Day

Within a standards-based integrated curriculum, teachers at P.S. 42 strive to create a “child-centered learning environment” where literature and real-life experiences are used to develop literacy and strengthen skills in all subject areas. The languages and cultures of the school’s diverse student body are used in creative ways to help foster self-esteem, and ESL and bilingual Chinese programs are also offered. Other special programs include TERC Math, designed to improve mathematics, science, and technology teaching and learning, and Project Read, providing students with one-on-one time with teachers to strengthen reading skills. Beyond the academic curriculum, classes and clubs are offered for computers, art, dance (including ballroom dancing), orchestra, and tai chi. Other extracurricular programs focus on conflict resolution, culinary arts, and basketball.

P.S. 89

201 Warren Street
(212) 571-5659

Grades: Pre-kindergarten through 5
Enrollment: Approximately 450 students
Principal: Ms. Veronica Najjar

Battery Park City’s P.S. 89 works hard to help connect students to the community around them through several programs, including one in which students partner with members of the Battery Park Conservancy to participate in gardening and environmental projects, and another, called Days of Taste, in which students team up with chefs from local restaurants for instruction in cooking and health. Instruction in science, art, music, dance, and gym complement the school’s standards-based curriculum, and an extended-day program is available for students who need extra help with reading and math. Beginning in the fourth grade, all students get to select a musical instrument to learn to play. The school also serves children with speech, language, and developmental delays in "collaborative team teaching" classes.

P.S. 110, Florence Nightingale

285 Delancey Street
(212) 674-2690
http://schools.nycenet.edu/Region9/ps110/

Grades: Pre-kindergarten through 7
Enrollment: Approximately 600 students
Principal: Ms. Irene Quvus

In keeping with its motto, “All students can learn and succeed,” P.S. 110 believes that every child has unique talents and gifts that can be enhanced through a wide range of activities. To better address the needs of individual students, the school is divided into three small learning communities, or mini-schools, that plan curriculum in accordance with city and state standards. Hands-on projects help develop science and arts skills, complementing a balanced literacy program incorporating regular 90-minute reading blocks. Students with mild learning disabilities receive support from special education teachers, and a reading specialist works on site to provide instruction to students in need of extra attention. In and beyond the classroom, P.S. 110 also provides special emphasis on drama. Children rehearse and perform classic Shakespeare plays as part of an in-house enrichment program called the Shakespeare Repertory Company.

P.S. 124, Yung Wing

40 Division Street
(212) 966-7237
http://www.ps124.org/

Grades: Pre-kindergarten through 5
Enrollment: Approximately 1,000 students
Principal: Ms. Alice Hom

Intent on delivering “rigorous, comprehensive education” to its students, the Yung Wing School has developed programs addressing “not only the intellectual, but also the physical, emotional, and social needs of our students,” reads its mission statement. In making decisions affecting the school, administrators strive to include the concerns and opinions of teachers, parents, and students. In addition to a gifted-and-talented program, bilingual services, an extended school day, and multimedia labs, the Yung Wing School also boasts partnerships with several organizations providing additional learning opportunities. These organizations include the National Dance Institute, Chess in Schools, and the Chinatown Planning Council. Meanwhile, basketball, band, journalism, drama, and gymnastics round out a long list of extracurricular activities and clubs.

P.S. 126, Jacob August Riis

80 Catherine Street
(212) 962-2188
Grades: Kindergarten through 8
Enrollment: Approximately 700 students
Principal: Ms. Kerry Decker

The development of both critical and creative thinking skills, necessary for problem solving and independent learning, is a prime goal at P.S. 126. Involving parents and families in the academic progress of their children is also key: Ongoing communication between home and school is strongly encouraged and parents, as well as staff and students, are held accountable for student achievement. An assessment-driven curriculum following city and state standards is enhanced by several special programs, including English as a Second Language classes, art instruction through the Studio in a School project, instrumental and choral music instruction, and dance instruction through partnership with the National Dance Institute. Extended-day programs in literacy and mathematics are available for all grades above kindergarten, and an after-school program run by the YMCA is also offered.

P.S. 130, Hernando Desoto

143 Baxter Street
(212) 226-8072

Grades: Pre-kindergarten through 5
Enrollment: Approximately 1,100 students
Principal: Ms. Lily Woo

Believing that “effort creates ability,” P.S. 130 seeks to provide an excellent education to each of its more than 1,000 students through an integrated curriculum centered around a balanced literacy program. Other programs -- including computers, science, physical education, music, and art -- are designed to support and reinforce the literacy program. In recent years, the school has added to its offerings a Talented and Gifted program serving all grades. The school is also home to two community-based organizations, one providing need-based day care, the other providing after-school homework help and recreational activities. Asked to describe what makes P.S. 130 unique, Principal Lily Woo cited the school’s ability to provide excellent education to English language learners. Though the majority of students at the Chinatown school are not native English speakers, the effectiveness of the school’s curriculum at helping students master necessary language skills has won P.S. 130 recognition as a U.S. Department of Education Title 1 Distinguished School.

P.S. 134, Henrietta Szold

293 East Broadway
(212) 673-4470

Grades: Pre-kindergarten through 6
Enrollment: Approximately 400 students
Principal: Ms. Loretta Caputo

Seeking to develop among their students a “respect for and appreciation of the diversity of others,” P.S. 134 places emphasis on communication and cites its diverse student body as one of its greatest strengths. “We are committed to encouraging independent learning and fostering socially responsible behavior,” reads the school’s mission statement. In addition to providing a standards-based curriculum meeting city and state requirements, P.S. 134 asks all its students to begin the day with a math problem designed to encourage and develop critical-thinking and problem-solving skills. Special enrichment programs are provided for children in grades 4 through 6. Additional programs include a stock-market club, a school garden club, a creative conflict-resolution program, and an after-school program run in cooperation with Henry Street Settlement, a local community organization.

P.S. 137, John. L. Bernstein

327 Cherry Street
(212) 602-9800

Grades: Pre-kindergarten through 6
Enrollment: Approximately 400 students
Principal: Ms. Melissa Rodriguez

With a curriculum combining the arts, technology, and the humanities, P.S. 137 sets out to teach to “the heart and spirit as well as the intellect.” Using strategies supported by current curriculum requirements designed to champion literacy, each grade supplements a base literature reader with several sets of novels over the course of the school year. Teachers have been trained to further foster reading and writing by creating print-rich environments in which to learn. P.S. 137 also sponsors several special cultural-arts programs, including music programs affiliated with Carnegie Hall and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s and a dance programs affiliated with Alvin Ailey. Chess is used to develop problem-solving skills and abstract thinking, yoga classes are provided for both students and teachers, and programs like Chance to Succeed and Virtual Y offer homework help after school. The school works closely with various organizations to develop new and different learning opportunities for students. Partnerships exist with the NYC Police Department’s D.A.R.E. program, Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, Junior Achievement, and Chess in the School.

P.S. 140, Nathan Straus Preparatory School of Humanities

123 Ridge Street
(212) 677-4680
http://schools.nycenet.edu/Region9/ps140/

Grades: Pre-kindergarten through 8
Enrollment: Approximately 500 students
Principal: Mr. Esteban Barrientos

Preparing students “to make a successful transition into the 21st century” is the chief goal of teachers and administrators at P.S. 140. The programs and curriculum reflect this goal through a strong emphasis on science and technology and include activities in ecology, horticulture, and computer technology, Regents prep in earth science, and research opportunities for students in the school’s Science and Technology Laboratories. Foreign-language study is also emphasized. Unlike many other downtown elementary schools, P.S. 140 continues through the 8th grade, providing peer tutoring as well as a preparatory school program for grades 7 and 8. Extracurricular offerings include chess and science clubs, a music and fine arts program, an after-school leadership program, training in conflict resolution, and a basketball team. Partnerships with the City Lights Theatre Program, the Grand Street Settlement Senior Citizen Tutoring Program, Project DARE, and Artist Space Program help further support the efforts of the school to provide diverse learning opportunities for its students.

P.S. 142, Amalia Castro

100 Attorney Street
(212) 598-3800

Grades: Pre-kindergarten through 6
Enrollment: Approximately 550 students
Principal: Ms. Zulma E. Candelario

Taking its name from a dedicated school administrator and former assistant principal who died prematurely due to illness, the Amalia Castro School, or P.S. 142, believes in building “a sense of community” by encouraging collaboration among parents, students, staff, and community-based organizations. A clear focus on the academic achievement of students is matched by a strong commitment to developing a complementary and comprehensive arts program to encourage creativity and expression. Art, music, dance, and drama instruction is provided by the Henry Street Settlement, yoga instruction is made possible through a New Vision Grant, and an Authors Program brings creative writing to classrooms. In June 2002, the school also won a three-year grant from the Center for Arts Education to help integrate dance and drama/playwriting instruction into the curriculum for grades 1-3. Working with an arts partner, Mark DeGarmo and Dancers/Dynamic Forms, teachers and students in first-grade classes now incorporate dance into their literacy, social studies, and math curricula. Second- and third-graders work with a teaching artist from Henry Street Settlement to develop playwriting skills. And students in grades 4-6 try their hands at musical theater through work with teaching artists from Inside Broadway, a professional children’s theater company helping schoolchildren produce adaptations of classic Broadway shows.

P.S. 150, Tribeca Learning Center

334 Greenwich Street
(212) 732-4392
http://www.ps150.net

Grades: Pre-kindergarten through 5
Enrollment: Approximately 200 students
Principal: Ms. Alyssa Polack

In this small Tribeca elementary school, principal Alyssa Polack prides herself on being able to get to know each child individually. “Being the principal is like being part of a close family,” she writes on the school website. Formerly known as ECC/Bridges, the Tribeca Learning Center, or P.S. 150, opened in 1987 and ever since has focused on delivering student-centered learning opportunities while actively encouraging parent and family involvement. Weekly specialized classes in art, music, dance, technology, and library skills are offered, and two artist-in-residence programs are also offered for each class in the school. An after-school program is also available, providing help with homework as well as clubs focused on tap dance, pottery, photography, cooking, crocheting, karate, drama, and yoga. Tours of the school for prospective parents and students are held each month from October through March.

P.S. 184, Shuang Wen

293 East Broadway
(212) 529-5025
http://schools.nycenet.edu/Region9/ps184/

Grades: Pre-kindergarten through 5
Enrollment: Approximately 315 students
Principal: Ms. Ling-ling Chou

Working to prepare students for success in an “increasingly global society” as they “spiral toward grade 5,” the Schuang Wen School is committed to a dual-language and dual-culture approach to education. As the first elementary school of its kind in the country, Schuang Wen provides bilingual instruction for its students in English and Chinese (Mandarin). Chinese exchange teachers and artists work with teachers in the classrooms, and senior citizens from the nearby Chinatown community also assist, making for intergenerational classrooms. Evidence that the dual-language learning system is working for Schuang Wen students, the school placed third among the almost 1,000 New York City public elementary and middle schools on the statewide English Language Aptitude (ELA) test in 2003. A Mandarin after school program is also provided, as are family literacy projects, English as a Second Language classes, and Mandarin as a Second Language classes. Partnerships with the Asian Languages Bilingual Education Assistance Center; Department for the Aging; Columbia, Pace, and New York Universities; the New York Chinese Cultural Center, and Flushing Chinese Cultural Center help make many of these programs possible.

 P.S. 234, Independence School

292 Greenwich Street
(212) 233-6034
http://www.ps234.org

Grades: Kindergarten through 5
Enrollment: Approximately 700 students
Principal: Ms. Sandy Bridges

Teaching children to work together while acknowledging and encouraging the different strengths and needs of each individual student is a main goal at P.S. 234. “We are committed to meeting our children where they are, and extending their learning as far as we can,” reads the school website. Strong teacher-student relationships are developed, in great part due to the fact that students remain with the same teacher for two years at a time -- one teacher for kindergarten and first grades, another for second and third, and a third teacher for fourth and fifth grades. Half-day pre-kindergarten is also available. Special units of study centered on development of reading, writing, oral communication, and research skills complement a predominantly social studies- and science-centric curriculum. Programs in art, music, and library skills help round out the offerings. Through the school’s literacy program, children are encouraged to read aloud in a group setting as well as independently, and many students participate in book clubs and writers’ workshops as well. A computer program exists for students in grades 2-5, and beginning in the fourth grade, each child is given the opportunity to learn to play a brass, woodwind, or string instrument through small group lessons twice weekly. An after-school program run by Manhattan Youth, a nonprofit parent/community group, sponsors extra-curricular clubs and activities, providing further emphasis on instrumental music, and an extended-day program is available to at-risk readers.