A legacy etched in brick. That’s Public School 9. This unassuming building on West 84th Street holds a century and a half of stories. Public School 9 wasn’t always here. Its first home was a humble one-story clapboard structure. Built in 1830 it stood on West End Avenue. Fifty children filled its small rooms. But times changed. By 1889 the New York Times described the building as grim. It lacked plaster. Its staircases were dangerously narrow. There were no fire escapes. The Board of Education demolished it the following year. A modern replacement rose in its place between 1894 and 1896. This building too eventually gave way to the current structure.
The current Public School 9 opened in 1965. It cost $2.4 million. Its construction wasn’t without incident. Engineers discovered an underground stream. This delayed construction and added $100,000 to the cost. The architects chose white brick for the building. Blue glazed bricks frame the classroom windows. The three-story wall facing Columbus Avenue is windowless. This is unusual for New York City. Perhaps the architects wanted the building to stand apart. It reflects the stark modernism of its time. The school also features an intriguing 8 x 21 foot glass mosaic. Titled Man In Space it was created in 1965. It reflects the space race. Public School 9 also boasts an antiquated fallout shelter. A relic of the Cold War.
The school’s name is also a story. In 1916 it was named after John Jasper. He served as a teacher and principal. Then in 1981 it was renamed again. This time for Sarah Anderson. A beloved paraprofessional and parent. Public School 9 has even faced challenges. In 1961 it reported a high transient student rate. It was 90 to 99%. This reflects the changing demographics of the Upper West Side. Yet Public School 9 endured. It transformed. It adapted. It is now a thriving school. It stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of public education. A testament to the countless children who walked its halls. A testament to the educators who shaped young minds. Public School 9. More than just a school. It’s a living history.