The Center School, known as M.S. 243, will stay at its current location, still sharing a building with P.S. 9 at 100 W. 84th Street. P.S./I.S. 191 and the Manhattan School for Children (MSC) will also remain at its current location.
Public school officials said the proposed changes, which drew parental backlash throughout the year, were withdrawn from scheduled voting on Wednesday at the city’s Panel for Education Policy (PEP), making it extremely unlikely the plans will come to fruition for the next school year.
The city’s Department of Education (DOE) had been in touch with parents throughout 2025 and 2026 regarding the proposed changes, intended to address issues related to class size and student enrollment.
But parents urged officials to pause any relocation or closure plans for the schools until at least the 2028-2029 school year—and they listened.
Parents and teachers at P.S. 243 on the Upper West Side, which shares a building with P.S. 9, at 100 W. 84th St., are outraged and concerned about the proposal, which would dismantle a mixed-grade student body of grades 5 to 8 and disrupt its curriculum.Photo via Google Maps
Nicole Brownstein, a spokesperson for NYC Public Schools, told amNewYork that after hearing the community’s concerns, the agency withdrew some of its proposals from the April 29 PEP agenda.
“We take family and community feedback very seriously and, after careful consideration, we have decided to withdraw some of the proposals from the April 29 PEP agenda,” she said. “Ensuring that every child has access to academically rigorous and truly integrated education remains our focus, and withdrawing these proposals is not an end to these important conversations.”
Parents cited concerns around pick-up and drop-off times, curriculum changes and proximity to public transportation among reasons for opposing the proposals. They have also long emphasized the need for clear communication and transparency from the DOE.
Parents at the involved schools said they were elated by the news that the schools will not change locations. Olivia Greer, whose son attends the Center School and daughter the MSC, was an advocate against the proposals. She said she burst into happy tears when she heard the news on Monday.
“We were hopeful and determined to see it through to the bitter end,” she said. “This is not what we anticipated. I’m elated.”
She said she was grateful to Samuels, elected officials and the school communities for recognizing the importance of keeping the schools intact.
“I truly believe that all of the members of the PEP were listening. They were engaged with every public meeting that we attended. And we attended a lot of them,” Greer said. “I think for all three schools, parents are relieved,” she said.
Meanwhile, school officials said they remain committed to listening to parents’ concerns and finding ways to improve the education experience for public school students and families in NYC.
“To our school communities: we heard you,” Brownstein said. “Over the coming months, we’ll continue to partner with our communities to explore how to strengthen family participation around school changes so all of our children can benefit from more advanced coursework, arts programming, and school-wide enrichment activities, while addressing class size and ensuring sustainable enrollment.”