ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BLACKBOARD AWARDS 2008

Although we're decades past our elementary years, we at Manhattan Media still feel like we go back to school every fall with the publication of our Blackboard Awards series. This week, the focus is on a handful of public, private and religious elementary schools that go above and beyond when it comes to educating New York City's children. These schools were selected with the input of our advisory board and other school insiders, and they represent just one slice of New York City's diverse education universe. Please note: Blackboard Awards are not a competition or ranking; our focus has always been on identifying the variety of schools where a vibrant, caring and challenging learning community thrives. By spotlighting these schools, we hope to inspire greater dialogue and positive developments throughout the city's educational community. In the following pages, readers will also find several handy charts with stats for both public and independent schools, and a profile of a private nursery school that's taking a leap into the elementary grades. This year, for the first time, we also included Brooklyn public schools in our round-up of honorees. Over the next few weeks, we'll shift the spotlight to middle and high schools-and feature input from the people who have a front-row seat in the classroom: parents and students. To make sure your opinion is included, visit our website, [www.BlackboardAwards.com](http://www.BlackboardAwards.com), and take our schools survey today.

[Manhattan's Outstanding Public Elementary School]: P.S. 183, Robert Louis Stevenson School

[Brooklyn's Outstanding Public Elementary School]: P.S. 321, The William Penn School

[Outstanding Private Elementary School]: The Hewitt School

[Outstanding Religious Elementary School]: St. Joseph's School, Yorkville

[Manhattan's Rising Star Public Elementary School]: P.S. 187/Hudson Cliffs

[Rising Star Private Elementary School]: United Nations International School

[Brooklyn's Rising Star Public Elementary School]: P.S. 8

[New & Noteworthy Private Elementary School]: The Mandell School

[Rising Star Religious Elementary School]: Hannah Senesh Community Day School

Public Elementary Schools By the Numbers: [Download the PDF (116.9KB)]

Independent Elementary Schools By the Numbers:[Download the PDF (87KB)]

Tuition Guide to Independent Elementary & Lower Schools:[Download the PDF (82.8KB)]