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P.S. 194M Countee Cullen Academy · Pre-K through Grade 5 · Harlem

A Community ofPOWER

Perseverance
Optimism
Wisdom
Excellence
Responsibility

We are proud to provide a well rounded high quality education and safe environment for our scholars and families.

Enroll at P.S. 194 Read the credo

Colophon

School: P.S. 194M
DBN: 05M194
Grades: Pre-K – 5
District: 5, Manhattan
Set at: 244 W 144 St

Breakfast 8:00 – 8:20 AMFree for every NYC public school student
Lunch 11:00 – 11:55 AMMenus published by NYC Public Schools
Beacon, Monday to Friday 2:40 – 5:45 PMDismissal begins at 5:30 PM

One school, one vision, together we are on a mission! From the school’s own homepage

Signature section — the acrostic pulled at full size

The POWER sheet

P.S. 194 calls itself a Community of POWER. The five words are not a slogan the school hangs on a wall — each one carries its own definition, written by the school, and every line below is set exactly as the school wrote it.

Perseverance

We work hard; we learn from our mistakes; we win big; we are tough

Optimism

We see promise and possibility in all that we do; we see into the future

Wisdom

We learn from experience; we are clever; we are innovative

Excellence

We do everything to the best of our ability; we take pride in our work & actions

Responsibility

We own our successes and our mistakes; we are respectful of ourselves and others; we take care of one another and our space

Source: the school’s Mission Statement, published on its own website.

Mission statement

Choice in how they learn. Voice in what they learn.

At P.S. 194M Countee Cullen Academy, scholars’ will be empowered to have choice in how they learn and voice in what they learn. We will provide innovative, individualized instruction that addresses scholars’ unique learning styles, cultivate independent thought, promote the building of character and enable students to contribute their ideas locally and globally.

The P.S. 194M Countee Cullen Academy experience will guide our scholars as they develop their sense of identity and purpose in this world. We will comprehensively develop citizens who will be decision makers in tomorrow’s society.

The P.S. 194M Countee Cullen Academy scholars will inspire greatness in others, allow their voices to be heard worldwide and create change through their actions and endeavors. By giving our scholars a choice in how they learn and a voice in what they learn, we are building the foundation for critical thinkers that is needed in the best colleges and in the 21st century workplace.

The credo

“We believe we can do all things and become anything we dream. We are responsible for ourselves and our actions. We have compassion for others and we will create a better world. If we believe and work hard, we will achieve.”

Grades: PK, K, 1–5, SE
District Borough Number: 05M194
School Number: M194
Geographic District: 5
Borough: Manhattan
Building: Partially accessible
Space: Shared building
Superintendent: Sean Davenport

A letter to the community

Principal’s message

Reach the principal

“It is a privilege to serve you and your children, so please feel free to call me at (212) 690-5954 or email me at wacevedo@schools.nyc.gov to discuss any concerns, suggestions or ideas to help make this a great year.”

Dear PS 194 Community, welcome to the start of another wonderful school year! Thank you for choosing our school community as your partners to educate your child. We are excited to kick off this school year with you.

The 2025-2026 school year will be a very exciting year for our community. This year, we will continue using restorative justice practices to, holistically, support every child so that they feel safe, valued and have a sense of belonging to a larger community. With the support of Partnerships with Children (PWC), who has been supporting our school community for several years, we can provide a multi-tiered system of supports that include mental health services, trauma-informed counseling, and social-emotional learning programs, along with enrichment programs, wraparound services, and referrals to community resources. In addition, we will be working with new organizations to give our children the quality educational experience they deserve.

We also look forward to working with you, our most essential partners, as you are our children’s first educators. We will create more opportunities so that you can meaningfully engage in your children’s education and have a voice in our school improvement efforts. Your continued support during this upcoming school year is essential for our children. We strongly believe that with excellent communication and a strong partnership, all the children will achieve academic success. We look forward to your participation in school events, celebrations and family meetings.

The Family-Scholar Handbook is meant to be a tool to help you be a full, equitable and equal partner in your child’s educational experience. Please review it carefully with your child as it will be your guide to pertinent policies, schedules, routines and procedures. The education of every child places a great responsibility on parents, teachers and the children, alike. Therefore, it is critical that we enter this school year with clear expectations, explicit roles and responsibilities to ensure each scholar’s success. We value your partnership in the education of our children.

In unity,

Wanda Acevedo Principal — from the Principal’s Message

Book of the Month · Summer Book

What the school is reading

Countee Cullen Academy keeps a book in front of its scholars all year: a Book of the Month during the school year, and a book carried through the summer.

Book cover placeholder The cover of “Harlem at Four” goes here. No image is loaded on this preview.

Summer Book

Harlem at Four

Written by Michael Datcher

A picture book that tells the stories of two Harlems: a four-year-old girl and the Manhattan neighborhood.

Programs & services at 244 West 144th Street

What the building runs

Beyond the school day, P.S. 194 runs a food pantry, an evening and weekend Beacon program, and a social work department staffed by Partnership with Children.

Impression 01 — Fresh Finds

P.S. 194 Food Pantry

The P.S.194 Fresh Finds Pantry is located in District 5 serving 180 families through multifaceted programs and services. In response to the COVID pandemic and the high need of food insecurities in our community we opened a Food Pantry on April 12, 2021 with the intention to provide our community with easy and accessible resources that is convenient for every member of the family.

Fresh Finds is one stop shopping for families at arms reach. We provide an available source of food assistance to low-income students and the community. By working with local community partners, food banks and churches we set up a on-site food pantry that is convenient for students throughout the school year. Our produce is provided from vendors with high quality nutritious options.

Call to schedule an appointment or complete your food request online.
Complete the food request form.
Choose your day and hours.
Pick up your food.
Complete the feedback survey.

Contact: Ms. Camille Gill · Cgill@partnershipwithchildren.org · 212-690-5954
244 W 144th Street, New York, NY 10030. Pantry hours are listed by the school as closed for the summer, to be confirmed.

Impression 02 — Beacon

Beacon Program

Our Beacon program looks to offer enrichment opportunities for our students and the surrounding community. Some of the program offerings are sports and recreation, arts and crafts, civic engagement, life skills, community service, a high school leadership program, adult financial literacy, family movie nights, weekend sports clinics and adult culinary classes. These services will be provided during afterschool, evenings and weekends.

Monday to Friday: 2:40 – 5:45 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Summer, Mon–Fri: 12:30 – 5:30 PM

Interested in joining Beacon programming? Complete the application and drop it off at P.S. 194, 244 W 144 Street, NY, 10030.

Impression 03 — Social work

Social Work Department

Partnership with Children strengthens the emotional, social, and cognitive skills of all students of PS 194. The team successfully conducts individual counseling, group counseling, clubs, arts lessons, crisis interventions and classroom supports. The team hopes to meet the scholars where they are. We are driven to help all of our scholars thrive!

Community School contact: Camille Gill · 347-387-5581 · Cgill@partnershipwithchildren.org

Partnerships

Who we work with

The organisations P.S. 194 lists as its partners, set the way a printer sets type: one line, one slug at a time.

Reminders

Upcoming events

The school’s calendar shows no events to display at the time this preview was prepared. Nothing has been invented to fill the space.

View the full calendar

Photo placeholder The school building on West 144th Street A photograph of the front of the school goes here.

Photo placeholder Scholars at work Classroom photography from the school’s own gallery.

Video placeholder Beacon & Saturday programming A short clip of after-school and weekend activity.

Visit & contact

Come and see the school

P.S. 194M Countee Cullen Academy sits on West 144th Street in Harlem, between Frederick Douglass Boulevard and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard.

Where and how to reach us

Address: 244 W 144th StreetNew York, New York 10030, United States
Telephone: 212-690-5954
Fax: 212-862-5743
Enrollment: Apply through MySchools Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten applications are made on MySchools; general registration forms are published by NYC Public Schools.

Apply on MySchools General registration

Map placeholder 244 West 144th Street An accessible map goes here. The full postal address above is the text equivalent, so no information depends on the map.

Building accessibility. NYC Public Schools rates the building at 244 West 144th Street partially accessible, 2 out of 10: there is general access to most of the ground floor and at least one accessible bathroom on that floor. There are no accessible classrooms on the ground floor. The school shares its building with other schools.

Who to ask for

Principal: Wanda AcevedoReachable directly at 212-690-5954 or wacevedo@schools.nyc.gov.
Parent Coordinator: Clara Pena HiraldoThe first call for school schedules, family meetings and community resources.
Respect for All Liaison: Xiomara RiveraAlso the school’s Sexual Harassment Prevention Liaison.
504 Coordinator: Marilyn Brown
Community School: Camille Gill347-387-5581 · Cgill@partnershipwithchildren.org
District 5 office: Superintendent Sean Davenport 123 Morningside Drive, Manhattan, NY 10027 · 212-222-1395. Family Support Coordinator: Carla Tenorio. Education Council President: Schadell Barnhill, 212-222-1395 x2321.

Meals

Breakfast, lunch and after school meal service is free for all NYC public school students. Breakfast is served from 8:00 to 8:20 AM and lunch from 11:00 to 11:55 AM.

School meals