P.S. 170

Public elementary schools shape the rhythm of a Bronx block. P.S. 170 sits where Townsend Avenue meets the quiet side streets near Claremont Park, a fixture in the neighborhood since the days when the elevated train still rattled overhead.

Kids from kindergarten through fifth grade fill the classrooms here, following a standard New York City curriculum—math, reading, science, and social studies—alongside art, music, and physical education. The school also runs after-school programs and special education services, keeping the building busy well past the final bell. Townsend Ave itself is a mix of pre-war walk-ups and newer low-rises, the kind of street where parents still chat on the stoop while waiting for dismissal.

Enrollment follows the usual Department of Education process, with priority given to students in the zoned area. Families moving into the 10452 zip code often check the school’s boundaries first, since proximity can make all the difference in a crowded system. The address—1598 Townsend Ave—is easy enough to spot, a brick building that blends into the block like it’s always been there.

Questions about registration or programs usually start with a call to (718) 583-0662. For anyone new to the area, the school’s map listing offers the quickest route: directions here.