Ditmas Park Back to School: All You Need to Know

The "back to school" season is quickly approaching, and classes start Sept. 6 for all grades other than pre-kindergarten, which begins Sept. 10. If you're gearing up to send your children to one of Ditmas Park's many public schools, there are some points and dates to keep in mind. 

P.S. 249, otherwise known as , is an "A" school. Its motto is "Where college begins in Kindergarten," and is located at 18 Marlborough Road between Caton and Church Avenues. Regular school hours are 8:20-2:40 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

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While regular school hours end at 2:40 p.m., children that need help with homework can call dial-a-teacher at 212-777-3380 Mondays through Thursdays from 4-7 p.m.

At the Caton School, , uniform is necessary. Uniforms may be purchased at Cookies or Ideal Department Stores.

For students in pre-kindergarten through third grade, girls must wear navy blue skirts or jumpers, light blue blouse, navy blue girl's tie, navy blue socks or tights and a navy bue sweater with emblem. Boys must wear navy blue trousers, light blue shirts, navy blue boy's tie, navy blue socks, navy blue cardigan with emblem. 

For students in the fourth grade, girls must wear khaki skirt or jumper, white blouse, white or navy blue socks or tights, navy blue sweater and a navy blue tie. Boys must wear khaki slacks, white shirts or polo shirts, navy blue socks, navy blue ties and navy blue cardigans. 

Located at 330 Rugby Rd., P.S. 139's slogan, "Where great things happen!" is taken very seriously. The school includes a gifted and talented program; a balanced literacy program across all grades; an incentive math programs; an inclusion program on all grades to support sudents with special needs; and a reading recovery program for at-risk first graders. 

Other programs at P.S. 139 include Project Read held four days a week; Sports and Arts in Schools, a foundation-sponsoed extended day program held four days a week; and A.M. Academic Intervention Program for third, fourth and fifth graders in math and literacy. 

P.S. 245, located at 249 East 17 St., "Where teaching and learning take place!," holds grades pre-kindergarten through fifth. A new school schedule has been implemented for this year; school will be open from 8:15 a.m.-2:35 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 8:15 a.m.-3:25 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays for students on the extended schedule.

The school's uniform is navy blue pants, skirt, skort or jumper; a white collared shirt or two-buttoned collared shirt; and a red, white and blue plaid tie, which can be ordered through Cookies. 

P.S. 217, located at 1100 Newkirk Ave., is a kindergarten through fifth grade school that has an enrollment that tops 1,350 children.

"We are a Title I school with a large English language learner population, but our ELA, science and math scores consistently reflect the school’s high-performance environment," the school's website says. "On every grade level there is a gifted class, inclusion/CTT classes, self-contained special education classes and the full spectrum of support services."

Monday through Thursday, school is from 8:40 a.m.-2:50 p.m. On Friday, school is from 8 a.m.-2:20 p.m. Children enrolled in the extended day program arrive at 8 a.m. Monday through Wednesday.

P.S. 217′s community partner, Flatbush Development Corporation, offers an after-school program for a limited number of students. This program is housed in the school building, and begins immediately after school until 6 p.m. For more information, contact Program Director Klein Dolcine at FDC at 718-859-3800.

Want to know more about the schools in Ditmas Park? Not sure which school your child is zoned for? Contact your borough enrollment office or check the Department of Education website. Think we missed an important fact? Let us know in the comments section below or email caitlin.nolan@patch.com.