P.S. 20 Anna Silver
P.S. 20 Anna Silver, at 166 Essex Street, is a District 1 public elementary school where every class is dual language, in Mandarin and English or Spanish and English.
| Address | 166 Essex Street (at Houston and Stanton), New York, NY 10002 |
|---|---|
| Grades | Pre-K to 5 |
| School day | Monday to Friday, 8:20 am – 2:40 pm |
| Students | 321 (2024–25) |
| District | District 1 (unzoned, school of choice) |
| Main office | (212) 254-9577 |
| Principal | Sarah Pinto |
| Website | ps20m.org |
Key dates
- Early December 2026 (expected)Kindergarten applications for fall 2027 open on MySchools, for children born in 2022. They usually close in mid-January.
- Early January 2027 (expected)3-K and pre-K applications for fall 2027 usually open, closing in late February.
- Now through the fallSchool tours for next year's families. Book through the school (see below).
About the school
One of the few unzoned elementary schools in the city with dual language in every class: families choose the Mandarin-English or Spanish-English program. The school also offers language classes for parents, a strong arts program and 42 pre-K seats. Community Board 3 holds its monthly full board meetings in the building.
After school
Henry Street Settlement runs the after-school program at P.S. 20 for grades K to 5: homework help, recreation and visual arts, plus projects in dance, architecture, storytelling, music and theater led by teaching artists. For hours, cost and enrollment, call Henry Street at 212-254-3100 ext. 3263 or see Henry Street's P.S. 20 page.
PTA
The PTA runs a participatory budgeting process, where families propose and vote on how to spend up to $10,000, and sells school merchandise. Contact the PTA through the school's website or main office.
Tours and admissions
Tours for new families are booked through "Book a Tour" on ps20m.org; a virtual tour is also on the site.
All District 1 elementary schools are unzoned "schools of choice": you rank the schools you want on MySchools, and District 1 residents get priority. Children enter kindergarten in the calendar year they turn 5. See NYC Public Schools' kindergarten page and pre-K page for the official timeline, which is announced each fall.
Comparing schools
To compare schools, read the independent review on InsideSchools and the school's profile on MySchools. The best way to judge fit is a tour: watch a class, ask about class size, homework and how the school communicates with families.
For Grand Street co-op residents
The school is on Essex Street, near Seward Park.
Questions parents ask
Is every class at P.S. 20 dual language?
Yes. P.S. 20 offers schoolwide dual language in Mandarin-English and Spanish-English.
What are P.S. 20's school hours?
Monday to Friday, 8:20 am to 2:40 pm.
Who runs after-school at P.S. 20?
Henry Street Settlement, for grades K to 5. Call 212-254-3100 ext. 3263.
Is P.S. 20 zoned?
No. It is an unzoned District 1 school; apply through MySchools.
Official links
Last checked October 15, 2026. We re-check this page every week against P.S. 20 Anna Silver's own website and NYC sources. Details change, so confirm anything important directly. Something to add or correct? Tell us.