OUR SCHOOL
Our Vision & Commitment
Welcome to P.S. 596X! We are a New York City Public School serving students on the autism spectrum and other special needs from Pre-K through age 11.
Through this website, you will be able to step into our classrooms and hallways to get an idea of the wide variety of creative programs and practices in which students participate on a daily basis.
Our commitment is to provide the highest quality, state of the art instructional programs to our students, and to offer parents workshops and activities to equip themselves with the skills to best help their child. Through hands-on learning and fun-filled opportunities, our students make tremendous gains in social skills, language, and academics.
From reading, writing, math, science, social studies to social skills, technology skills, vocational skills to art, music and dance, students have a rich educational experience at school.
Enrichment programs such as a partnership with the Disney Organization, school chorus, salsa band, soccer club, Olympics, assembly performances, to name a few, all enhance our multitude of academic programs. Step into P.S. 596X, you’ll love what you see!
Our Mission
P.S. 596X is a highly collaborative and positive school community, where all stakeholders come together to celebrate students for their many strengths. We are committed to providing an interactive, hands on curriculum, that uses state of the art instructional programs and methodologies that meet the individual needs of our diverse learners.
Our fundamental belief is that children are children first and that they are children with special needs second; therefore deserving the same rigor and quality of instruction, professionalism and creativity in their programming, as any other student in NYC does. Through our partnership with families, community agencies and an appreciation for the arts, our students flourish in a safe, nurturing and fun environment.
Our Goals
The goal of the educational program at P.S. 596X is to equip students with as many skills as possible to enable them to be independent, productive, contributing members of their families, their communities and society at large. Towards that end, we offer students a variety of programs and options designed to meet each student’s individual needs.
At P.S. 596X, we believe that all of our students have the potential to learn, grow, and achieve, in a nurturing, supportive environment, tailored to meet their individual needs. We know that as a team, with parents as our partners, and with continuous communication, our students can be successful.
We place strong emphasis on parent advocacy. We have an active PTA (Parent Teacher Association) and Parent Support Group that conducts monthly workshops for parents on a variety of topics utilizing both our experienced P.S. 596X staff and outside consultants.
Our SLT (School Leadership Team) meets regularly to develop and implement the school plan. Committee members are made up of 50% parents.
P.S. 596X is a school that services students on the autism spectrum disorder in 6:1:1, 8:1:1, 12:1:1 ratios and inclusion. Autism is characterized by deficits in communicative, behavioral, social and sometimes cognitive functioning. Our instructional programs place major emphasis on these areas.
We are located in three community schools: P.S. 178,
P.S. 153, and P.S. 498. P.S. 596X students are assigned to schools based on their chronological age with older students attending our sister school for autism, P.S. 176X or a similar program.
School Comprehensive Educational Plan Goals
2025 - 2026
Priority Area 1: All Students will learn to read well
By June 2026, literacy for 6:1:1 Students with Disabilities (SWD) performing in the lowest ⅓ across Cooperation and Reinforcement (Domain A) will increase by 5 percentage points, from 34% to 39%, as measured by the ABLLS Assessment.
By June 2026, lowercase letter identification for Students with Disabilities (SWD) in the 8:1:1 and 12:1:1, K-2 classrooms will increase by 5 percentage points, from 74% to 79%, as measured by the SANDI Assessment Reading: Item #46.
By June 2026, blending and segmenting sounds for Students with Disabilities (SWD) in 8:1:1 3rd-5th grade, will increase by 5 percentage points, from 36% to 41%, as measured by the Fundations Phonemic Awareness Check-In Assessment.
Priority Area 2: All students are physically and emotionally safe
By June 2026, 6:1:1 Students with Disabilities (SWD) will improve initiation of greetings to peers, as measured by a 15 percentage point increase, from 40% to 55%, on the ABLLS assessment in Social Interaction (Domain L) Item #21.
By June 2026, initiating interactions with peers for Students with Disabilities (SWD) in 8:1:1 & 12:1:1 will increase by 5 percentage points, from 65% to 70%, as measured by the SANDI Assessment Social Emotional/Behavioral: Item #29.
Priority Area 3: All students have a high-quality academic experience
By June 2026, foundational mathematics skills for Students with Disabilities (SWD) in the 6:1:1 classrooms will increase by 5 percentage points, from 11% to 16%, as measured by Attainment Math Data.
By June 2026, the SANDI Subtest of Numbers & Operations in Base 10 will increase 5 percentage points from 69% to 74%, for 8:1:1 and 12:1:1 Students with Disabilities (SWD).
Priority Area 4: All students graduate college and career ready and have a strong plan and pathway to economic security
By June 2026, there will be a 7% decrease in the number of Behavior Support Special Transportation Paraprofessionals for Students with Disabilities (SWD) from 41 to 38 as measured by bus incident data, ABC data and Program Service data.
Priority Area 5: All districts and schools are more inclusive and responsive for parents and families, including having more families choose NYC Public Schools
By June 2026, there will be a 1% increase of new families attending each monthly Family Learning League and Parent Engagement activities, as measured by attendance reports.
Additional Information on our CEP Goals
STAFF DIRECTORY
Please use the contact information below to reach our school staff. Classroom teachers are listed by unit and can be found on our Contact Your Child's Teacher Page.
Mr. John Siracuse
PRINCIPAL
718-904-5750
Ms. Rebecca
Miles
178 UNIT
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
718-904-5750
Ms. Alyssa
Rigg
178 UNIT
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
718-904-5750
Ms. Danielle
Machado
153 UNIT
COORDINATOR
718-904-5758
Ms. Dawn
Harney
PARENT COORDINATOR
718-904-5779
Ms. Erin Ploetz
498 UNIT
COORDINATOR
718-409-3150
Ms. Erica
Wilson
153 UNIT
SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST
Ms. Venera
Celentano
PUPIL ACCOUNTING
SECRETARY
718-904-5758
718-904-5750
Mr. Rafael
Montoya
153 UNIT
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
718-904-5758
Mr. Timothy
Currie
498 UNIT
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
718-409-3150
Ms. Camille
Blake
IEP COMPLIANCE COORDINATOR
718-904-5750
Ms. Toni Rodriguez
SOCIAL WORKER
718-904-5750
Ms. Kelly
Alexander
178 UNIT
COORDINATOR
718-904-5750
Ms. Kanetha
Brown-Sampson
178/498 UNIT
SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST
718-904-5750
Mr. Steven
Sobol
TECHNOLOGY
COORDINATOR
Ms. Maritza
Febres
FAMILY
WORKER
718-904-5750
718-904-5750