The Alfred E. Smith School, or PS 163, enrolls approximately 550 students in prekindergarten through fifth grade. With a student-to-teacher ratio of 13-to-1, the school divides its academic programs into four categories: special education, general education, gifted education and a dual language program.
The curriculum at PS 163 revolves around literacy, math, critical thinking and problem-solving skills through daily instruction in core subjects, as well as art, music and technology. Special education is conducted in classrooms with co-teaching services, so students are integrated into the school population with the help of a learning specialist paired with a general education teacher. The dual language program is designed to put students on track to be fluent in both Spanish and English. The gifted and talented track at PS 163 is being phased out in kindergarten but continues in subsequent grades.
The school offers physical education via the E3 Sports program, which mostly involves team-based activities that encourage children to "Educate, Exercise and Evolve." PS 163 also offers students a comprehensive program called NYChessKids, which conducts in-class as well as after-school chess instruction with lessons, games, puzzles and online resources for at-home learning. Plus, the National Dance Institute brings its intensive arts immersion programs to PS 163 for third through fifth graders, and provides classes that culminates in a popular and well-attended performance at the end of the year.
The school’s namesake is the American politician Al Smith, a four-term governor of New York state and one-time presidential candidate. The PS 163 building does not share its facilities with any other schools, and the students at the Alfred E. Smith school enjoy unfettered access to the nearby Happy Warrior Playground for their daily recess.
P.S. 163 - Alfred E. Smith
Public Pre-K, Elementary School
|
Grade Pre-K-5
163 W 97th St,
New York, NY
New York City Geographic District No. 3
School Details
Head of School
Principal - Mr. Donny Lopez
Student Teacher Ratio
13:1
Math Proficiency
62%
Reading Proficiency
62%
Niche Grade
A-
A+
Source: Niche
Niche Grade Details
Academics
Reading Proficiency
62%
Math Proficiency
62%
Teachers
Student Teacher Ratio
13:1
Teachers
40
Full Time Teachers
40
Teachers in First or Second Year
4.4%
GreatSchools Rating
Source: GreatSchools
GreatSchools Rating Details
Test Scores
Science
21%
State Average
20%
Math
22%
State Average
22%
Teachers and Staff
Students Per Counselor
488:1
Student Diversity
Female
50.6%
Male
49.4%
Hispanic
54.5%
White
20.3%
Black
13.4%
Asian or Pacific Islander
6.8%
Two or more races
4.9%
Specialty School Programs
Free/Reduced Lunch Offered
This School’s Reviews
Niche Reviews
3/31/2024
This is a wonderful school. Great atmosphere and strong sense of community. This school is well-known for its dual language program in Spanish.
GreatSchools Reviews
5/28/2025
My daughter currently attends this school and is thriving. She is in the dual language kindergarten class and learning to read and write in Spanish despite not us not speaking Spanish in our home. I'm so impressed! I'm also shocked that more english-dominate families don't seek out the dual language...
8/21/2024
The Dual Language Program is experiencing some very difficult times. In each class 1/3- 1/2 of the students are new migrants. Although most of them have been here over a year now, most still can't say more than simple sentences in English. In my two children's classes last year, there was heavy favo...
3/31/2024
This is wonderful school. Well-known for its dual language program in Spanish.
6/13/2020
Teacher and administration was slow to respond or non-responsive to bullying and inappropriate behavior. Communication between departments was not good, and we were disappointed with our experience at this school.
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Attendance Zone
List Price Range
$449K - $7.1M
Homes For Sale
69
Average Home Value
$1,140,202
Median Lot Size
1,742 Sq Ft
% Renters
81%
Average Household Income
$116,851
% of College Grads
59.2%
Median Age
42
Average House Size
1,740 Sq Ft
% Commercial Property
91.4%
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Additional Schools in the Area
Public Schools shown may be Choice Schools
Choice Schools
Choice schools may not serve this home. Please check the school district website to see all schools serving this home.
- K to 8th
- Private
- Pre-K to 5th
- Charter
Parks in this Area
West 104th Street Garden
Frederick Douglass Playground
- Picnic Area
- Playground
- Multi-Purpose Field
Central Park 4 Mile Loop
Straus Park
- Trails
Booker T Washington Playground
- Baseball/Softball
- Basketball
- Soccer
Central Park
Julia Gabriel People's Garden
- Trails
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Carnegie Hill
Quiet streets, Central Park adjacent and old-school local businesses
P.S. 163 - Alfred E. Smith is a public school for students in grades Pre-K-5 in New York, NY and is served by the New York City Geographic District No. 3 in New York. The school has a total enrollment of 413 and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 13:1. Academic records show that 62% of students achieve proficiency in math, and 62% are proficient in reading. P.S. 163 - Alfred E. Smith has received feedback and ratings, with a Niche grade of A and a GreatSchools Rating of 6 out of 10. The average home value in this area is $1,140,202. Discover additional schools in the area, like The Cathedral School of St. John the Divine, Harlem Link Charter School, Gillen Brewer School, and more. Learn more about what New York has to offer, and browse homes for sale and for rent near P.S. 163 - Alfred E. Smith.