P.S. 132 HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

P.S. 132 is located in the Washington Heights area of Manhattan in New York City.  The school opened its doors in September 1905 to accommodate 127 students and a faculty of 15.  By 1915 there was a need to expand, and a second wing was added to the structure, making it one of the most modern public schools of its time.  The school was named the Fort Washington School in honor of historic Fort Washington and its importance during the Revolutionary War. The old fort was located in a section that today falls within the school zone.

A rare 1910 postcard photograph contributed by Eugene Katz shows PS 132 once considered "the most modern elementary school in America."

Over the years this area has seen waves of migration of different ethnic groups that have been reflected in the composition of the school population.  Many notable personalities have attended the school including Lou Gehrig, Rita Moreno, and Montgomery Fats.  In 1985 the school was rededicated and named the Juan Pablo Duarte School in honor of the founding father of the Dominican Republic, thus reflecting the school’s present day student population. The population reflects the varied language and ethnic groups of the community at large that the district boundaries traverse.  The predominant populations of the school are Hispanic (96.3%) and African-American (1.7%), comprising a total of 1,300 students in grades K to 5.  Because of an increase in student population, in 1989 the school acquired an annex on 183^rd Street that houses twelve classes.

Today, the school continues to adapt its educational programs to meet the changing needs of its student population.  A bilingual and ESL program services English language learners (ELLs). Additional federal, state and private funding is secured to supplement instructional services and an array of academic intervention services are provided for the “at risk” population.