The Riverside School for Makers and Artists

The Riverside School for Makers and Artists, serving grades K-8 in Manhattan, aims to provide an enriching, balanced, and inclusive educational experience with a strong focus on arts, design, and engineering. The school is a candidate for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Program (MYP), which emphasizes intellectual challenge and real-world connections. Academically, the school offers an accelerated math program where all students take the Algebra I Regents course, and also provides the Biology Regents course. The school occupies a modern building that opened in 2017, featuring large classrooms and state-of-the-art technology. However, academic proficiency in both ELA (18%) and Math (19%) is well below the citywide 25th percentile (41% ELA, 39% Math). The school's official ratings for Instruction and Performance, Safety and School Climate, and Relationships with Families are all "Needs Improvement." Student survey results indicate low favorable rates for feeling safe in hallways and bathrooms (61%) and for conflicts being resolved fairly (48%). Parent sentiment is mixed; some praise strong communication and engaging arts programs, while others express concerns about student behavior, a perceived lack of academic rigor, and disruptive classrooms. The school also implements a Diversity in Admissions Initiative, prioritizing 25% of seats for applicants eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.