Our History

Built in 1897-98 in Collegiate Gothic style with columns, cathedral windows and old-world plaster detail, PS166 is one of the most impressive public school buildings in the city. Designed by the award-winning architect C.B. Snyder, the charm of a by-gone era is still evident in the sculptured facade, the sweeping entrance staircase, and the sunny, high-ceilinged classrooms.

In 1995 a complete renovation was undertaken and the entire building was modernized, becoming a barrier-free institution. It received Landmark status at the end of the millennium and a new million dollar playground at the beginning of the new millennium. The playground was designed by the innovative architect M. Paul Freidberg and is open to the public after school hours and on weekends. There is a separate playground for the kindergarten children.

In 2003, the school was renamed The Richard Rodgers School, after its illustrious alumnus, the great musical composer Richard Rodgers. Other well known graduates include Jonas Salk, J.D. Salinger, Charles Benenson, Lewis and Jack Rudin, and Ronnie Eldridge, who served for many years on the New York City Council.

In 2009, a three-year exterior renovation project by the NYC Schools Construction Authority to replace all windows, re-point the brickwork and repair the roof was completed.

In 2016, the school playground renovation was completed to make the playground safer and more enjoyable for all students.

Richard Rodgers, Class of 1916

Many thanks to Charles Plohn, whose father was a member of the class (third from left in the front row)  for finding, framing and donating this amazing vintage photo. Be sure to look at this photo displayed on the wall  in the second floor hallway. It is the PS 166 8th grade class photo from 1916, featuring Richard Rodgers (second from left in the front row.)

FAQ's

2023-2024 School Year

What are the school hours?

8:20 AM - 2:40 PM

What should I do when my child is absent?

​If your child is absent, please send an email of explanation to attendance@ps166.org and copy your child’s teacher.  Please do not call the main office. All absences should be documented. If your child misses 3 days or more, please send in a doctor’s note of explanation to your child’s teachers upon his/her return to school. Lateness and absences must be permanently recorded by the NYC DOE.  Visit the Attendance page for more information.

What if my child gets sick or has an accident during school?

If a child becomes ill or is injured during the school day, the nurse will contact the family or send home a note, depending on the circumstance.

It is extremely important to make sure that the BLUE emergency form is filled out with correct information.  Emergency Contact forms can be filled out in your Operoo account. If information changes throughout the school year, please  update  the form in Operoo or contact the main office.

Should my child stay home from school?

Your child should not attend school if he/she has any of the following symptoms:

• Evidence of infection, sore throat and swollen, tender, painful neck glands
• Fever of 100 degrees or higher
• Vomiting
• Earaches
• Diarrhea
• Persistent Cough
• Body Rash
• Ring Worm
• Lice

To contact the school nurse call 212-579-0851. If your child has any ongoing medical issues, please notify the nurse as well as your teacher. If your child requires medication during the school day, a form must be submitted before the nurse can dispense medication.

I need to pick up my child early, where do I go?

Sign in at the  safety agent's desk in the lobby. Proceed to the main office (room 209) . You must sign out your child and a staff member will bring your child to the office to meet you. 

What is the best way to get in touch with the school?

Communicate with your child’s teacher by sending a note in the communication folder. Although teachers are not able to speak to parents during instructional time you can make an appointment to speak with them. Some teachers prefer e-mail and will let you know if that is a better way to communicate.

If you need to reach Deborah Markewich, the Parent Coordinator, email is best. dmarkewich@schools.nyc.gov . You can also call 212-579-4555 but due to the volume of messages, it may take a day or so to get a response.

What is ICT?

PS 166 has an Integrated Co-Teaching (ICT) class on every grade level. ICT classrooms include students with and without disabilities and have two teachers, a general education teacher and a special education teacher. The teachers work together throughout the day to adapt and modify instruction for special needs children and make sure that the entire class has access to the general education curriculum. Students with special needs may be in an ICT classroom all day or for a portion of the day. The number of students with disabilities in an ICT classroom does not exceed 40% of the total class register.

Where is the lunch menu?

PS 166 uses the alternative K-8 lunch menu. It can be found on the Quick Links home page of this website.  Additional lunch information can be found on the Lunch page. 

How much does school lunch cost and how do I pay for it?

School lunch is free for all students. All families must complete a school lunch/family income form each year regardless of whether your child plans to eat school lunch. The DOE uses the information from these applications to provide funding to our school.

Is there a breakfast program?

Breakfast is free and available to all children.  There are bagged breakfasts available to students who request them. Students requesting breakfast should arrive no later than 8:10 AM.

Where do I get a student MetroCard?

MetroCards are assigned based on distance from school and  are distributed the first few weeks of school. If you think your child qualifies for a MetroCard and you would like to request one, send a message to dmarkewich@schools.nyc.gov 

Can my child attend PS 166 if not in the school zone?

Admissions to PS 166 for Kindergarten are based on a set of priorities and are not on a first-come, first-serve basis. Admission priorities are as follows:
·    Zoned students with verified siblings.
·    Zoned students without siblings
·    Non-zoned students who reside in district and have siblings in the school who will be articulating into grades 1 – 4.
·    Non-zoned students who live out of district and have siblings in the school who will be articulating into grades 1 – 4
·    Non-zoned, out of district students

Does PS 166 have a Gifted and Talented (G&T) Program ?

PS 166 does have a G&T program with two classes per grade, kindergarten - grade 5.


What is the School Leadership Team (SLT)?

The School Leadership Team is a collaborative team of parents and teachers and the principal that is mandated by state law to play a significant role as an advisory panel in representing the school community. The SLT helps create structures for school-based decision-making, develops school-based educational policies and ensures resources are aligned to implement those policies. The SLT writes and reviews the school’s Comprehensive Education Plan (CEP).  Parents are elected for two year terms on a staggered basis. Visitors are welcome to all meetings. Visit the SLT page by clicking here. 

Awards + Grants

• 2020 Grow to Learn Mini Grant funding for supplies for the Kindergarden and Reading garden
• 2019-2020 School Wellness Grant for Wellness in the Schools program
• 2019 Lowe's Toolbox for Education: Funding for a new shed for the PS 166 Reading Garden
• 2019 Capital Grant: $200,000 from Council member Helen Rosenthal for technology upgrades
• 2019 Capital Grant: $70,000 from Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer for technology upgrades
• 2019 Grow to Learn Mini Grant: Funding for new planters for the PS 166 Reading Garden and Kinder Garden
• 2018 Citizens Committee of New York City Composting Grant
• 2018 Participatory Budgeting Grant: $250,000 for technology upgrades from City Council Member Helen Rosenthal
• 2018 Capital Grant: $80,000 for technology upgrades from Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer

Do you have grant writing skills and want to help our school procure grants? Be sure to check out our fundraising page.