P.S./I.S. 173 Fort Washington School in the Heights

P.S. 173, located in Manhattan, serves students from Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade, fostering a diverse and welcoming community. Parent sentiment is largely positive, with many praising the administration and teachers for creating a warm and inviting environment, particularly under recent leadership changes. The school emphasizes a "whole child" approach, integrating social-emotional learning with rigorous academics, utilizing curricula such as Science of Reading, Expeditionary Learning, and Illustrative Math. Academic proficiency in English Language Arts (32%) is below the citywide 25th percentile, and Math proficiency (42%) is around the 25th percentile, indicating areas for growth. The school offers a rich array of programs, including partnerships with Studio in a School for visual arts, and residencies in dance, music, and writing. Students in grades 4-8 can participate in various sports, and middle schoolers engage in STEM career exploration with Weill Cornell Medical. A School-Based Mental Health Clinic is also available. While parent satisfaction with family relationships is notably high, student survey results suggest opportunities to enhance school climate regarding cleanliness, conflict resolution, and perceptions of bullying.