List of Schools
Welcome to Gay Parent Magazine's listing of infant classes, preschools, and private day and boarding schools. Select the state for the schools in your area.
Avenues The World School
(Grades 6–9 in fall 2022, age 2–grade 10 in fall 2023)
550 Meridian Avenue
San Jose, CA 95126
www.avenues.org/sv
Avenues Silicon Valley is the newest campus of Avenues The World School, conveniently located in San Jose. Serving toddler–12th grade, Avenues is one school with many campuses around the world, including New York, São Paulo, Shenzhen, and Online. A core attribute of the Avenues community is inclusivity. Highlights of their innovative curriculum include language immersion in Chinese or Spanish, project-based learning, interdisciplinary study, and the Mastery Program.
Starting in the 2022–23 academic school year, they will serve students from 6th–9th grade, expanding to toddler–10th grade in 2023.
BASIS INDEPENDENT FREMONT | TK–12
3300 Kearney Street, Fremont, California 94538 (TK–Grade 5)
39706 Mission Boulevard, Fremont, California 94539 (Grades 6–12)
(510) 573-3435 (TK–Grade 5)
(510) 738-6003 (Grades 6–9)
fremont.basisindependent.com
BASIS Independent Fremont is a TK–12 private schools where students discover their passions as they learn at the highest international levels. The world-acclaimed BASIS Curriculum is a blend of the best practices found in top education systems around the world, led by passionate Subject Expert Teachers who bring classrooms to life and foster a love of learning in every student. The curriculum and teachers unite to empower students’ natural curiosity, ingenuity, and independence from their first day in TK and all the way through senior year.
Students participate in a well-rounded, advanced liberal arts program with STEM offerings that are designed to inspire mastery and excellence across a diverse course load, including Mandarin, engineering, performing arts, physics, economics, chemistry, humanities, and more. BASIS Independent Fremont fosters a joyful learning culture where hard work is celebrated and intellectual pursuits result in extraordinary outcomes.
BASIS INDEPENDENT SILICON VALLEY | TK–Grade 12
1500 Partridge Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94087 (TK–Grade 5; Coming fall 2022)
1290 Parkmoor Ave San Jose, CA 95126 (Grades 6–12)
(408) 291-0907
siliconvalley.basisindependent.com
At BASIS Independent Silicon Valley, a grades 5–12 private school, students perform at the top 1% of their U.S. peers in math, reading, and science. Students and Subject Expert Teachers engage in a spiraling, globally bench-marked curriculum designed to inspire mastery and excellence. Rooted in STEM and the liberal arts, our program calls for the mastery of diverse content across disciplines—from logic, economics, and concurrent sciences in middle school to college-level capstone courses and independent research in high school.
We believe in setting a higher standard and promoting self-reliance and accountability in an environment where learning is encouraged and celebrated. Our world-class educators are subject experts in their discipline who help students develop the knowledge, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills needed to enter and excel in the world’s top colleges and universities.
BENTLEY SCHOOL
Belong to a Community. Become Your Best Self. Bentley is a distinctive independent K-12 day school founded in 1920 with two beautiful campuses in Oakland (K-8) and Lafayette (9-12).
Exacting academics, caring teachers and peers, and an inclusive community prepare students for lives of purpose and success in and beyond college.
Learn more at www.bentleyschool.org
BRENTWOOD SCHOOL
East Campus (Grades 6-12)
100 South Barrington Pl., Los Angeles, CA 90049
310-476-4087
West Campus (Grades K-5)
12001 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90049
310-889-2812
Brentwood School is an independent K-12 coed day school with two campuses, located four blocks apart on Sunset Boulevard, in the Brentwood neighborhood of West Los Angeles.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Brentwood School inspires every student to:
Think critically and creatively.
Act ethically.
Shape a future with meaning.
CORE VALUES:
Trust • Respect • Responsibility • Honesty • Caring • Diversity • Community
DIVERSITY MISSION STATEMENT:
The Brentwood School community actively seeks diverse perspectives and embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion as essential. We create an environment that fosters openness and appreciation of multiple dimensions of culture and identity. We aim to engage mindfully in open and frequent dialogues to ensure that each member is valued, included, and respected. Diversity is in the fabric of who we are.
COW HOLLOW SCHOOL
65 Funston Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94129
415-921-2328
www.cowhollowschool.org
Cow Hollow School, a beautiful little school nestled in the Presidio in San Francisco, offers parent participation, part-day, and summer programs for children ages 2-5.
Our approach to education comes directly from an absolute love of children and childhood. We believe that every child is capable and competent. We observe, document, and interpret children’s thinking and learning in order to understand, support, and extend the children’s meaning-making experiences.
As a school community, we value process, play, inquiry, stewardship for the earth, relationships, and creativity. Within the context of meaningful experiences and reciprocal relationships among participants, it is our goal to inspire dispositions for lifelong learning.
The following principles guide and define our approach to learning and teaching:
- Every child is capable and competent
- Children learn through play, investigation, inquiry, and exploration
- Children and adults learn and play in reciprocal relationships with peers, family members, and teachers
- Adults recognize the many ways in which children approach learning and relationships, express themselves, and represent what they are coming to know
- The process is valued, acknowledged, supported, nurtured, and studied
- Documentation of learning processes acts like memory, assessment, and advocacy
- The indoor and outdoor environments, and natural spaces, transform, inform, and provoke thinking and learning
- A school is a place grounded in the pursuit of social justice, social responsibility, human dignity, and respect for all.
CRESTVIEW PREPARATORY SCHOOL
140 Foothill Blvd
La Canada, CA 91011
818-952-0925
www.crestviewprep.org
We are a student-centered school with a focus on preserving childhood throughout the elementary educational experience. We offer both nurture and structure and allow students to feel confident and secure to learn both by solving problems and by actively doing. While teaching methodologies change, and new tools are introduced each year, our approach to educating the whole child with appropriate multi-disciplined strategies remains constant.
This year, we will continue to bridge the learning inside the classroom to our learning spaces around the campus. Our edible garden is one example of science integration into the curriculum. We also expanded our Library/ThinkLab, by installing a green screen for video production and editing and the addition of a 3D printer. e selected this model as it allows younger students to design and build with materials such as Play-Doh, wood, and bamboo, as well as traditional filaments.
For more information and to visit our campus, please go to www.crestviewprep.org and schedule a tour!
THE CROWDEN SCHOOL
https://www.crowden.org/the-crowden-school
The Crowden School is unlike any other school in the country, a 3rd–8th-grade day school with chamber music at its heart. Since 1983, our ensemble-based curriculum has instilled in our students the creative, collaborative, and critical-thinking skills to succeed in life. The study of music alongside a challenging academic curriculum offers our students a unique educational experience with transformative results. In our small classes, you will find students who are actively engaged with learning, whether they are making music or discussing books, solving equations, or playing soccer. The cooperative and emphatic communication skills our students learn while playing music together, and the fun they have in doing it, carries over to all aspects of their lives. Crowden School students are lively, curious, and confident learners. Our alumni are well-rounded leaders, ready to meet the artistic and intellectual challenges of the high school years and beyond—whether they go on to careers in microbiology or music.
For children who love music, Crowden offers a supportive home and community for engaged learning and growth. At The Crowden School, the music changes everything.
EF ACADEMY PASADENA
1539 E Howard St., Pasadena, CA 91104
https://www.efacademy.org/pasadena/
(914) 495-6056
EF Academy's mission is to open the world through education. At our international, private high school welcoming day and boarding students from 75+ countries, students will engage in a learning experience that asks them to explore diverse perspectives through a process of collaboration, analysis, and reflection aimed at developing the skills necessary to respond to the challenges and opportunities facing their generation. Here, we foster true global citizenship through our multicultural learning community. Our school promises to provide a superior education, thorough preparation for university, and a future that knows no borders.
Our California campus, EF Academy Pasadena, is located on a brand new 16-acre campus in greater Los Angeles County, 30-minutes from L.A., and is committed to empowering students to become confident, resilient, and responsible global citizens. EF Academy embraces the spirit of a collaborative international perspective on a community-focused campus. We offer a range of programs so that all our students master a key set of global competencies in multilingualism, leadership, and travel enhanced by a broad array of clubs, activities, and competitions. With 30+ after-school clubs and activities, students have the opportunity to discover their true passions. EF Academy encourages students to develop the confidence and independence that will serve them well in college and the real world after.
EF Academy also has locations in Westchester, New York, and Oxford, England.
GERMAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF SILICON VALLEY
650 254 0748
www.gissv.org
admissions@gissv.org
Mountain View Campus
Preschool-Grade 12
310 Easy Street
San Francisco Campus
Preschool-Grade 8
117 Diamond St. (Castro)
The German International School of Silicon Valley (GISSV) is an independent bilingual immersion school focused on nurturing students using a stimulating project-based learning system that fosters critical, independent and imaginative thinking.
We feature a strong science program and are a recognized MINT (the German equivalent to STEM) school. Our Teachers are at the heart of the GISSV experience. We pride ourselves on our caring, highly qualified, experienced, and international faculty, most of whom have gone through Germany’s rigorous teacher training and hold an advanced German degree (Master's equivalent).
Our unique homeroom teacher system allows students to stay with the same teacher for several years, forging a strong bond, and for students joining us with little or no knowledge of either German or English, we offer individualized language learning support.
GISSV is accredited by WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) and is recognized as the only official German School Abroad (DAS) in California. This enables our students to graduate with dual diplomas, the California High School Diploma, and the German International Abitur offering worldwide opportunities.
Schedule a tour with our Admissions Director and discover more about GISSV.
THE HARKER SCHOOL
500 Saratoga Ave.
San Jose, CA 95129
408-249-2510
communications@harker.org
www.harker.org
An inspiring and supportive community: The Harker School
The Harker School, established in 1893, is a kindergarten-grade 12 private school in Silicon Valley that has earned international recognition for its top academics, quality teachers and student achievements. Educating more than 2,000 students, Harker is the largest independent school of its kind in California with each division on its own San Jose campus.
Harker blends strong college-prep academics with rich and extensive offerings in STEM, business, athletics, and the arts. Harker evaluates the course placement that will best challenge and inspire each student to academic excellence, ensuring a motivating and exciting learning environment. Outstanding faculty, many with advanced degrees, and small class sizes are paramount at Harker. Our comprehensive, innovative curriculum features outstanding teaching techniques, diverse educational experiences, and broad rich, extracurricular activities.
Kindness, respect, honesty, integrity, and personal accountability have been in the school’s DNA since its founding. Community service, character development curriculum, and our honor code all encourage, develop and reinforce these important qualities.
Harker is an inspiring, supportive and lively community where parents, faculty, staff, students, and alumni form a close-knit community through events, traditions, and our common mission. Our students leave Harker uncommonly prepared for college and ready to make a difference in the world. For more information visit www.harker.org.
HEAD-ROYCE SCHOOL
Head-Royce is a nationally recognized K-12 independent school situated in the hills of Oakland, California. Our mission is to inspire a lifelong love of learning with a focus on scholarship, diversity, and citizenship.
Upon visiting our campus, you will see a dynamic and vibrant learning center in action. From innovation centers, internships, and integrated technology, to life skills classes, service learning, cross-divisional buddies, and small advising groups, we are equally dedicated to educational excellence and social-emotional learning.
At our heart, we are a community of passionate educators and learners, all sharing a deep commitment to creating lifelong learners who will be prepared to lead with joy and compassion. Our faculty is world-class, bringing unique perspectives from a wide range of experiences. Their diversity of thought, coupled with their subject matter mastery, uniquely positions them to provide transformative experiences to every student across our K-12 setting. Our families come to us from a variety of backgrounds and cultures and we are proud to reflect the fabric of the Bay Area.
We enroll a diverse student body of approximately 875 talented and ambitious learners. Our admissions are open to all students regardless of race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, nationality, or ethnic origin.
HILLBROOK SCHOOL
300 Marchmont Drive
Los Gatos, CA 95032
(408) 356-6116
admission@hillbrook.org
www.hillbrook.org
Be Kind, Be Curious, Take Risks, Be Your Best: these are the core values of Hillbrook, an independent JK-8 school in the hills of Los Gatos, California—14 rolling acres where students can play, and dream, and explore. At Hillbrook, children will find a close, welcoming community of friends, parents, and educators, a place where every child is known, loved and encouraged to be exactly who they are. In addition to strong academic programs in math, science, the arts, history, languages, and more, Hillbrook students are invited to explore their passions and curiosities and reach beyond themselves to make a difference. At The Scott Center for Social Entrepreneurship, students are encouraged to transform their ideas into impact, explore their passions and curiosities, and see themselves as part of the world. As a school, we move into the future with intention—diversity, equity, and inclusion is woven into our academic curriculum, preparing students to see the world as it is, imagine what it might be, and develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to build a better future.
To learn more, book a tour, and apply, please visit www.hillbrook.org.
LIVE OAK SCHOOL
1555 Mariposa Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 861-8840
https://www.liveoaksf.org
PARK DAY SCHOOL
Oakland, CA
510-653-0317
parkdayschool.org
Park Day School is a progressive K-8 co-ed school located in Oakland, California. Park Day provides a strong academic foundation where students learn by doing and are encouraged to follow their own curiosity.
With a focus on developing intrinsic motivation, Park Day’s robust interdisciplinary academic program includes an emphasis on social justice and social-emotional learning. Classes are designed to prepare students to be informed, courageous, and compassionate people who shape a more equitable and sustainable world, while nurturing a love of learning that propels them their entire lives.
Take a virtual tour of campus or sign up to visit Park Day School in person at parkdayschool.org.
PILGRIM SCHOOL
540 So. Commonwealth Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90020
213-385-7351
www.pilgrim-school.org
Early Education- 12th Grade
Located between Downtown LA and Hancock Park on the corner of 6th and Commonwealth, Pilgrim School was established in 1958.
Pilgrim’s close-knit community includes students in toddler, preschool, and junior kindergarten programs, elementary school (K-5), middle school (6-8), and high school (9-12). Small class sizes ensure that every student receives the individual attention she or he requires throughout their education, including invaluable personal guidance through the complex college admissions process. In addition, Pilgrim has Mayflower House, a dormitory for high school students (both domestic and international).
Visitors notice the beauty of the historic campus, but also the poise and friendliness of the students, and the genuine sense of community and warmth. An integral part of the school’s identity is that the Pilgrim community is made up of a vibrant range of families and students who mirror the ethnic, family profile, and socioeconomic mix that defines Los Angeles.
Pilgrim School provides a personalized education in a nurturing environment based on a “no cut/everybody plays” model in the arts, academics, and physical and outdoor education. Pilgrim offers both before-and after-school care and enrichment programs, a wonderful convenience for parents that also offers students the opportunity to participate in additional organized activities.
PS1 PLURALISTIC SCHOOL
1225 Broadway
Santa Monica, CA 90404
310-394-1313
www.psone.org
PS1 Pluralistic School is an independent, co-ed elementary school for grades K-6. Located in Santa Monica, CA, PS1 was founded in 1971 by current school heads Joel Pelcyger and Eleanor Coben in order to provide excellence in academics coupled with joyful learning and a sense of community.
At PS1, we recognize that every child is unique, so we built a school that nurtures individual talents and learning styles. That’s how children become the best versions of themselves, in a school where fitting in is about being yourself.
Through the acquisition of strong academic and interpersonal skills, we seek to strengthen in the young the image they have of their best selves. By helping children develop successful strategies for learning and guiding them to feel proud of their accomplishments, our students expand their images of themselves as competent individuals open to life-long learning. Our aim is to show that learning is a process of living and not just a preparation for future life.
Stratford School - When Students are Inspired by a Robust Curriculum…The Extraordinary Happens!
STRATFORD SCHOOL
Campuses Located Throughout Northern and Southern California
Find out more @ www.stratfordschools.com
Stratford School provides an unparalleled education where children are inspired to be creative problem-solvers, imaginative innovators, and insightful, confident leaders. These 21st-century qualities provide children with the knowledge, confidence, and ingenuity to help them excel in future careers. Stratford’s accelerated curriculum from Preschool through 8th Grade emphasizes STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics) while incorporating music, physical education, foreign language, and social skills development.
By combining a safe and nurturing learning environment, Stratford teachers ensure a stimulating and well-rounded program while cultivating a child’s natural joy in learning. All students are encouraged to participate actively in leadership, community service, and extracurricular activities. Stratford’s goal is to prepare and mentor students for admission to competitive high schools and colleges.
Personalized tours can be scheduled by appointment and students are welcomed to enroll throughout the school year, as long as there is space available in the desired program and the child is grade-level ready. Find out more at www.stratfordschools.com and discover a school where the extraordinary happens.
WESTSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL
WNS, a preschool – an 8th-grade private independent school located in Los Angeles, embraces a positive, child-centered approach to education that strives to fully develop the potential of each student intellectually, socially, emotionally, and physically. Our high academic and ethical standards encourage students to take responsibility for their learning and their behavior. Propelled by curiosity, WNS students are learners, doers, and makers. We provide students with a platform to become entrepreneurs by nurturing their intrinsic ability to innovate. Our program is designed to engage students in a project-based, active-learning curriculum that challenges all students to grow. We provide an environment steeped in a growth mindset where each child is able to experience success, embrace mistakes as a part of the journey, be confident in taking intellectual risks, and where individuals feel valued in their differences and value the differences in others.
We strive to be a community of lifelong learners, where academic excellence, creativity, sense of humor, independence, self-discipline, and high moral standards are valued.
For more information about WNS, please visit wns-la.org or contact by phone: at 310-574-8650 or Email: admissions@wns-la.org.
WINSTON PREPARATORY SCHOOL
Winston Preparatory School is a network of campuses offering students with learning differences a highly individualized, holistic, and responsive education. Our unique model serves students through grade 12, along with a multifaceted gap year program for students who are not yet ready for college or the workplace. At Winston Prep, faculty carry out ongoing, in-depth assessments to cultivate a deep understanding of students, helping them to advance at a meaningful pace and giving them the tools to continue independently learning and growing.
All of our campuses provide intense skill remediation while fostering independence, resilience, responsibility, and self-awareness. They include two sites in New York City and one each in New Jersey, Connecticut, on Long Island, and our newest campus in the San Francisco Bay Area. Last year, we also launched Winston Online Learning, an innovative, individualized program that allows students to participate from anywhere in the country. To learn more about Winston Prep, visit www.winstonprep.edu.
Dawson School
10455 Dawson Dr.
Lafayette, CO 80026
303-665-6679
www.dawsonschool.org
Dawson School is the Boulder County region’s leading independent, college-preparatory school for students in grades K-12. Dawson offers challenging academics, robust arts and athletics programs, and renowned outdoor and experiential education. Emphasizing respect, compassion, courage, and integrity, Dawson prioritizes the social-emotional wellbeing of our community. Dawson graduates are young men and women who achieve their individual potential, savor life, and meet the challenges of the world.
- Student: Faculty ratio 7:1
- Average class size of 15
- 100% graduation rate
- 7 bus routes daily; multiple, convenient stops
- 48 sports teams; post-season play typical
- 20 arts program options
- Over $6M college scholarships yearly
- Study abroad options
- 107-acre campus
- Integrated technology; K-12 coding
- 10 hours of specials weekly in Lower School
- Hot lunch prepared daily, included
- Leadership, public speaking, character education
- Two full gyms; playing fields; tennis courts
- Challenge course; two learning gardens; orchard
- Involved parent community
THE DAWSON DIFFERENCE: For over 50 years, Dawson has been meeting each student where they are, and developing them into the world’s leaders, thinkers, and creators. Students experience relevant, real-world learning, discover passions, and cultivate the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in college and beyond -- all in a supportive environment that recognizes them as individuals. Please visit our community of students, faculty, staff, and families who value, and share a commitment to, leading-edge education.
HOUSATONIC VALLEY WALDORF SCHOOL
40 Dodgingtown Rd.
Newtown, CT 06470
203-364-1113
www.waldorfct.org
Parent-Child Classes, Mixed-Age Kindergarten, 1-8th Grades, Summer Camp
Wisdom begins with wonder. Housatonic Valley Waldorf® School, the only Waldorf grade school in Connecticut, is located in Newtown, about 75 miles from NYC. We offer authentic, accredited Waldorf education programs for children from Parent-Child Classes through Grade 8, as well as extended-care, Summer Camp, and many lectures and special events for the whole family. At the core of the Waldorf philosophy is a profound understanding of the human spirit and human development and the conviction that education is an artistic process, and knowledge is best learned experientially. With over 900 schools in 83 countries, Waldorf Education is the fastest growing independent educational movement in the world.
HVWS Mission Statement:
To provide a lasting education that cultivates resilient and creative human beings who are capable of free thinking, confident action, and deep connections with others and the world.
WINSTON PREPARATORY SCHOOL
Winston Preparatory School is a network of campuses offering students with learning differences a highly individualized, holistic, and responsive education. Our unique model serves students through grade 12, along with a multifaceted gap year program for students who are not yet ready for college or the workplace. At Winston Prep, faculty carry out ongoing, in-depth assessments to cultivate a deep understanding of students, helping them to advance at a meaningful pace and giving them the tools to continue independently learning and growing.
All of our campuses provide intense skill remediation while fostering independence, resilience, responsibility, and self-awareness. They include two sites in New York City and one each in New Jersey, Connecticut, on Long Island, and our newest campus in the San Francisco Bay Area. Last year, we also launched Winston Online Learning, an innovative, individualized program that allows students to participate from anywhere in the country. To learn more about Winston Prep, visit www.winstonprep.edu.
BAKER DEMONSTRATION SCHOOL
201 Sheridan Rd., Wilmette, IL 60091
847-425-5800
www.bakerdemschool.org
Preschool – 8th grade
AN EDUCATION THAT PUTS CHILDREN IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT. Our child-centered approach to learning ensures that each child, from preschool to middle school, is uniquely valued, supported and nurtured throughout their educational journey — creating expressive, compassionate students that are eager to help shape the world. Located on the border of Evanston and Wilmette, Baker Demonstration School is nationally recognized for excellence in progressive education.
Learn more about Baker and arrange an admissions chat by visiting www.bakerdemschool.org.
BENNETT DAY SCHOOL
955 W. Grand Ave
Chicago, IL 60642
312-236-6388
www.bennettday.org
Bennett Day School is an independent, PK-12 school in Chicago that is committed to advancing creativity, innovation, and the development of lifelong learners and leaders. At Bennett, students learn by doing through dynamic project-based learning (PBL) experiences. Our mission is to provide a collaborative culture that nurtures our innate sense of inquiry and curiosity.
Our teachers don’t see students as empty vessels waiting to be filled with information, but rather thinkers, doers, and inventors who are co-collaborators in the learning process. Bennett Day School’s emergent and responsive curriculum empowers students to be curious, think critically, and take ownership of their education. Small class sizes ensure every child’s voice is heard and valued.
NOW ENROLLING! Register for an Open House or schedule an admissions chat: https://bennettday.org/visitus/
FRANCIS W. PARKER SCHOOL
330 West Webster Ave., Chicago, Illinois 60614
773-797-5107
Serving students in Junior Kindergarten through 12th Grade
www.fwparker.org
www.facebook.com/parkerchicago
www.twitter.com/fwparker
Apply online at fwparker.org/apply
Francis W. Parker is a school where inspired teachers, a dynamic curriculum, and a diverse community of learners thrive. Parker students are provided with an exceptional educational opportunity in an inclusive community, where diversity in every form provides a global perspective. It is a unique and special place where enduring values and new ideas benefit individual and collective growth.
Guided for over 100 years by a profound educational philosophy, Parker School strives to cultivate students who have the curiosity, self-discipline, independence of mind, and collaborative spirit necessary to apply their values, skills, knowledge, and ideas to challenges. At Parker, students learn to connect reflection with action, insight with innovation, deeds with consequences, and character with citizenship.
Its small class sizes and interdisciplinary approach to teaching set the stage for a challenging and meaningful educational experience. Students learn and grow within a diverse community of passionate teachers, parents, and peers. As the only independent school in Chicago where students from 14 grades share one building, the school offers collaborative opportunities among grade levels as part of the curriculum.
Academic programs include math, science, history/social studies, and English. Exposure to foreign languages and world cultures begins in the early grades and is part of formal studies starting in sixth grade. In addition to academic curricula, students have physical education, visual arts, drama, and music classes. Upper School students have a large number of elective courses available in addition to the required core of courses. Elective choices are offered in all departments and include approved independent studies, computer programming, and advanced literature studies in foreign languages. To learn more or to register for an open house, visit fwparker.org/openhouse.
URBAN PRAIRIE WALDORF SCHOOL
SCATTERGOOD FRIENDS SCHOOL
1951 Delta Avenue
West Branch Iowa 52358
scattergood.org | (319) 519-1860
Scattergood Friends School is a brave space, an all-gender, inclusive, small school with small classes. Scattergood is a place where you can be who you are.
Located just 15 minutes from bustling Iowa City and three hours from Chicago on a 126-acre organic farm, Scattergood is an independent boarding and day school for grades 6-12 founded in 1890 (boarding for grades 9-12 only). Committed to environmental education and stewardship, students take college-preparatory courses with experiential, hands-on learning, and more individualized, self-reflective assessment, utilizing the school’s farm, pond, and restored prairie as outdoor classrooms. All students must be accepted to a four-year college to graduate.
Scattergood students come from all over the United States and around the globe. Staff and students work together to care for our home, from gathering produce to preparing our meals to keep campus grounds pristine. Instilled with the Quaker values of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship- and the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion- Scattergood students are set to grow not just academically, but to thrive personally, with many adventures along their dynamic journey.
To learn more about this safe, inclusive, affordable, and open-minded day and boarding school, contact admissions@scattergood.org.
BARRIE SCHOOL
13500 Layhill Road
Silver Spring, MD 20906
John Wilson
Director of Admission
admission@barrie.org
301-576-2800
www.barrie.org
Barrie School is a progressive independent school, serving students from 12 months to Grade 12, that inspires excellence, intrinsic motivation, and responsibility through innovation in learning. Our intentional educational throughline—from Montessori (12 months to Grade 5) to Project-Based Learning (Grade 6 to Grade 12)—cultivates learning that lasts, offering challenging educational experiences that unlock intrinsic motivation and innovation in both students and faculty.
Our community fosters a deep sense of belonging and empowers and honors student voice and responsibility, coming together in our truly diverse student body of engaged citizens confident to be themselves, bringing diverse and inclusive worldviews. Located in Silver Spring, Maryland, Barrie School provides an extraordinary learning environment integrating local, national, and global educational opportunities. Our 45-acre campus is home to the world-renowned Barrie Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies— one of the largest school-based teacher training programs in the country— and Barrie Camp, a Washington, D.C. area tradition since the 1950s.
McDONOGH SCHOOL
Owings Mills, Maryland
https://www.mcdonogh.org
McDonogh is a welcoming community dedicated to providing a learning environment based on mutual respect, understanding, and kindness. It is a place where joy is ever-present and opportunities abound for deep thinking, innovating, collaborating, and discovering passions. Under the guidance of talented and caring teachers, students in prekindergarten through twelfth grade are empowered to be self-reliant, critical thinkers who can form, test, and revise their ideas—for themselves, and in the service of others.
In addition to state-of-the-art academic, art, and athletic facilities, McDonogh’s 800-acre campus provides countless opportunities for exploration. Learning also takes place at Roots, the school’s 10-acre farm, where students care for chickens, tend crops, and harvest produce for the dining hall and local food pantries.
With a fleet of 27 buses that make stops in Baltimore City and surrounding counties, McDonogh is right around the corner! Upper School students also have the option of participating in our five-day boarding program that allows them to live on campus during the school week and become further immersed in campus life.
THE NORA SCHOOL
955 Sligo Ave.
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Marcia Miller
Director of Admissions
Marcia@nora-school.org
301-495-6672
http://www.nora-school.org
Think differently. At The Nora School, these are words we take to heart. This intentionally small, inclusive, and personal college preparatory high school works to bring out the best in bright students with ADHD, executive function issues, or anxiety – and for those simply wanting something more individualized. Students turn to us because they’ve become frustrated in large, impersonal institutions, while others seek a richer, more engaging education without the emphasis on standardized testing. In our discussion-based classrooms, we inspire a critical world view, and students find their voice in an intellectually rigorous, accepting, nurturing environment. With a thought-provoking curriculum, inclusive sports and arts programs, Intersession, mindfulness and more, The Nora School helps students find their unique paths and prepare for college, work, and life. Building deep connections between the faculty and students, we encourage responsibility and build confidence and excitement about learning.
We’ve expanded, offering more curriculum choices and openings for more students! Discover the essence of our school. Call us to find out more, or RSVP for an Open House. Come see how our students thrive. Celebrating the same mission for over 50 years. Think Differently.
NORWOOD SCHOOL
Located in Bethesda, MD, Norwood School develops students in grades PK-8 into confident lifelong learners who have the academic, character, and leadership skills to succeed in high school and beyond. Recognizing that children are multi-faceted, Norwood provides many opportunities for safe risk-taking, exploration, discovery, and growth in a nurturing, supportive, and inclusive school community.
CAMBRIDGE FRIENDS SCHOOL
5 Cadbury Rd
Cambridge, MA 02140
(617) 354-388
https://www.cfsmass.org
Cambridge Friends School is a co-ed elementary and middle school (pre-K - grade 8) established in 1961 under the care of Friends Meeting at Cambridge, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).
It is the mission of Cambridge Friends School to provide an outstanding education. Guided by Quaker principles, we engage students in meaningful academic learning within a caring community strongly committed to social justice. We expect all students to develop their intellectual, physical, creative, and spiritual potential and, through the example of their lives, to challenge oppression and to contribute to justice and understanding in the world.
As part of Cambridge Friends School's commitment to social justice, we are engaged in building an antiracist, antihomophobic community, and we actively seek students and staff from a diverse range of family structures and racial, cultural, socioeconomic, and religious backgrounds. Our community tries to go beyond mere tolerance to more deeply address issues of bias and privilege.
DEDHAM COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL
www.DedhamCountryDay.org
781-329-0850
At DCD, we believe that balance matters—in learning and life. We combine academic challenge with support; pedagogical tradition with innovation. Strong scholastics combined with outstanding arts and athletics create a program that is balanced and whole. Here, a premium is placed on both academic and emotional intelligence. Children learn who they are as diverse individuals and how to be part of something bigger. Acceptance is a given, and children find encouragement in every connection they make. It’s a community that nurtures, nudges, and gives. That’s how we grow “whole” children—and, ultimately, adults who will thrive with the intellectual and emotional capacity to contribute to their world and enjoy meaningful lives.
While our “campus and classrooms” may look a bit different this year as we’ve reconfigured our school to maintain the health and safety of our community, our ability to deliver an education that is challenging, inclusive, and engaging, reflective of our mission, remains unchanged. From Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 8, DCD students tackle hands-on projects, collaborate, take risks, solve problems—and, most of all, enjoy and engage deeply in their experience.
Explore DCD through a series of virtual admissions events and personal connections with our admissions staff. An up-to-date schedule will be available on our website in September.
Far Brook School
52 Great Hills Road
Short Hills, NJ 07078
973-379-3442
www.farbrook.org
Emi Ithen Director of Enrollment Management
admissions@farbrook.org
Discover an inspired education at Far Brook School, an independent, coeducational day school for 220 students from Nursery through Eighth Grade in Short Hills, NJ. Our progressive approach builds a strong educational foundation, integrating liberal arts and sciences with the skills and habits of mind needed for success in high school and life. Classrooms are open to the outdoors, encouraging exploration with nature and our Schoolyard Wetlands Habitat. Each Far Brook student is honored as an important part of our inclusive and diverse community and develops self-assurance, intrinsic motivation, a sense of social justice, and leadership skills. Far Brook graduates attend local independent and public high schools as well as prestigious boarding schools around the country. It is our desire to touch the lives of children so that they may live life wisely and with great joy. Visit our beautiful 9-acre campus and discover if Far Brook is a good fit for your child. www.farbrook.org.
FLEXSCHOOL
New Jersey Campus
34 Russo Place
Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922
Phone: (908) 322-0554
https://www.flexschool.net/campuses/berkeley-heights-nj
New York Campus
171 White Plains Road
Bronxville, NY 10708
Phone: (914) 704-3334
https://www.flexschool.net/campuses/bronxville-ny
Cloud Campus
A live, interactive virtual school experience for remote learners in grades 1-12 and post-grad
Phone: (908) 322-0554
https://www.flexschool.net/campuses/virtual-cloud-classroom
FlexSchool is the learning community for gifted and twice-exceptional learners in grades 5 through 12, with a curriculum for post-graduate students as well. If traditional school environments have not been a good fit for your student, please join us to learn about our philosophy of embracing differences and meeting students where they are. We accept students gifted in one or more areas, including those who have challenges ranging from dyslexia to ADHD to ASD to social anxiety. We are a strength-based program, focused on helping students develop their gifts and talents with the assistance of our expert educators. We offer rolling admissions because we understand school fit issues don’t always conveniently line up with application season. FlexSchool team of highly trained experts works with students to create a plan that removes barriers to their learning and allows them to soar. Teachers receive ongoing professional development throughout the year, and each campus has learning specialists who work with students and teachers to promote a successful classroom experience. 1:1 courses are also available for classes that are not regularly offered or for students who require more assistance.
Montclair Cooperative School
65 Chestnut Street Montclair, NJ 07044
973-783-4955
www.montclaircoop.org
Marissa Hairston, Director of Enrollment Management
admissions@montclaircoop.org
About Montclair Cooperative School:
From early ages through 8th grade, the Co-op keeps children at the center of school life, engages parents in their children’s education, safeguards play and childhood, allows for exploration, and supports students towards their own personal excellence. Since 1963, the heart of our progressive approach is the belief that children thrive in an environment that honors individuality and community, self and others.The unique value of a cooperative school lies in the partnership between students, families, and teachers, contributing to the life of the school in ways that benefit all who enter.
Visit Montclair Cooperative School:
Start the conversation by visiting our website, joining us for a virtual information session or an in-person open house. We look forward to telling you more about our diverse, inclusive community of families and our engaging, progressive academic programs.
WINSTON PREPARATORY SCHOOL
Winston Preparatory School is a network of campuses offering students with learning differences a highly individualized, holistic, and responsive education. Our unique model serves students through grade 12, along with a multifaceted gap year program for students who are not yet ready for college or the workplace. At Winston Prep, faculty carry out ongoing, in-depth assessments to cultivate a deep understanding of students, helping them to advance at a meaningful pace and giving them the tools to continue independently learning and growing.
All of our campuses provide intense skill remediation while fostering independence, resilience, responsibility, and self-awareness. They include two sites in New York City and one each in New Jersey, Connecticut, on Long Island, and our newest campus in the San Francisco Bay Area. Last year, we also launched Winston Online Learning, an innovative, individualized program that allows students to participate from anywhere in the country. To learn more about Winston Prep, visit www.winstonprep.edu.
LONG ISLAND
THE GREEN VALE SCHOOL
250 Valentine’s Lane
Old Brookville, NY 11545
www.greenvaleschool.org
Green Vale is a coed elementary school for Pre-Nursery through 8th Grade, drawing families from all over Long Island. Since 1923, a program of exceptional academics and small class sizes is combined with emphasis on social-emotional learning and character development at every grade level. After a culminating experience in the middle school years (6th-8th Grades), GVS graduates go on to excel at independent, public, and boarding secondary schools.
ROSS SCHOOL
Nursery–Grade 12, post-graduate
18 Goodfriend Drive, East Hampton, NY 11937
631-907-5400
Ross School’s mission is to change the way education meets the future; to foster interdisciplinary, integrated thinking and innovative leadership; to engage fully in the global community; and to facilitate lifelong learning.
Ross School is a co-educational boarding (Grades 6–12, PG) and day school (N-Grade 12, PG)located on a beautiful campus in East Hampton, about two hours east of New York City. Serving approximately 400 students and attracting a world-class faculty, the School offers a global, integrated curriculum with engaging courses in science, math, arts, humanities, and wellness, with opportunities for independent study, competitive athletics, extracurricular activities, and travel.
The Ross educational experience aims to impart to young people a 21st century skill set and the inspiration that will motivate them to keep their minds actively engaged in learning. The School stresses direct personal experiences, inquiry through primary sources, and hands-on interpretation and analysis of information.
Ross School has a successful college placement program, with 100% of applicants receiving acceptances at competitive colleges and universities.
WINSTON PREPARATORY SCHOOL
Winston Preparatory School is a network of campuses offering students with learning differences a highly individualized, holistic, and responsive education. Our unique model serves students through grade 12, along with a multifaceted gap year program for students who are not yet ready for college or the workplace. At Winston Prep, faculty carry out ongoing, in-depth assessments to cultivate a deep understanding of students, helping them to advance at a meaningful pace and giving them the tools to continue independently learning and growing.
All of our campuses provide intense skill remediation while fostering independence, resilience, responsibility, and self-awareness. They include two sites in New York City and one each in New Jersey, Connecticut, on Long Island, and our newest campus in the San Francisco Bay Area. Last year, we also launched Winston Online Learning, an innovative, individualized program that allows students to participate from anywhere in the country. To learn more about Winston Prep, visit www.winstonprep.edu.
WESTCHESTER & UPSTATE
EF ACADEMY NEW YORK
582 Columbus Ave., Thornwood, NY 10594
www.efacademy.org/new-york
(914) 495-6056
EF Academy's mission is to open the world through education. At our international, private high school welcoming day and boarding students from 75+ countries, students will engage in a learning experience that asks them to explore diverse perspectives through a process of collaboration, analysis, and reflection aimed at developing the skills necessary to respond to the challenges and opportunities facing their generation. Here, we foster true global citizenship through our multicultural learning community. Our school promises to provide a superior education, thorough preparation for university, and a future that knows no borders.
Our flagship campus, EF Academy New York, is located on 98-acres in suburban Westchester County (under an hour north of Manhattan) and is dedicated to educating worldly students ready to seize a future of opportunities. Home to 400 students from 50+ different countries, EF Academy embraces the spirit of collaborative international perspective — in no small part through our IB Diploma program. Beyond that, we offer a range of programs so that all our students master a key set of global competencies in multilingualism, leadership, and travel enhanced by a broad array of clubs, activities, and competitions. With everything from Model U.N. to soccer, coding to fine arts, students have the opportunity to discover their true passions. EF Academy encourages students to develop the confidence and independence that will serve them well in college and the real world after.
EF Academy also has locations in Oxford, England, and a new west coast campus opening in Pasadena for Fall 2022.
FLEXSCHOOL
New Jersey Campus
34 Russo Place
Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922
Phone: (908) 322-0554
https://www.flexschool.net/campuses/berkeley-heights-nj
New York Campus
171 White Plains Road
Bronxville, NY 10708
Phone: (914) 704-3334
https://www.flexschool.net/campuses/bronxville-ny
Cloud Campus
A live, interactive virtual school experience for remote learners in grades 1-12 and post-grad
Phone: (908) 322-0554
https://www.flexschool.net/campuses/virtual-cloud-classroom
FlexSchool is the learning community for gifted and twice-exceptional learners in grades 5 through 12, with a curriculum for post-graduate students as well. If traditional school environments have not been a good fit for your student, please join us to learn about our philosophy of embracing differences and meeting students where they are. We accept students gifted in one or more areas, including those who have challenges ranging from dyslexia to ADHD to ASD to social anxiety. We are a strength-based program, focused on helping students develop their gifts and talents with the assistance of our expert educators. We offer rolling admissions because we understand school fit issues don’t always conveniently line up with application season. FlexSchool team of highly trained experts works with students to create a plan that removes barriers to their learning and allows them to soar. Teachers receive ongoing professional development throughout the year, and each campus has learning specialists who work with students and teachers to promote a successful classroom experience. 1:1 courses are also available for classes that are not regularly offered or for students who require more assistance.
FRENCH-AMERICAN SCHOOL OF NEW YORK
Pre & Lower School: 111 Larchmont Ave, Larchmont, NY 10538
Middle School: 145 New Street, Mamaroneck, NY 10543
High School: 320 East Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck, NY 10543
Contact us at 914-250-0401 or admissions@fasny.org
Founded in 1980 as a one-classroom preschool, FASNY has evolved to become an international and bilingual N-12 day school educating more than 700 students on three campuses in Mamaroneck and Larchmont, New York. It is the only school in the New York metropolitan area accredited to offer both the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma and the French baccalaureate. All students also graduate with a New York State high school diploma. New in September 2020: an International Program for grades 1-8, no previous French required.
Teachers are committed to creating an environment that is nurturing yet challenging, one that encourages students to flourish intellectually, emotionally, and ethically. A combination of French and American traditions are hallmarks of school life, as are the arts, music, athletics, and community service; local and international trips; and 20+ club offerings. College acceptances represent a wide range of schools in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and other European nations. To learn more visit fasny.org.
THE GOW SCHOOL
2491 Emery Road
South Wales NY, 14139
www.gow.org
GREEN MEADOW WALDORF SCHOOL
307 Hungry Hollow Rd.
Chestnut Ridge, NY 10977
845-356-2514
www.gmws.org
Nursery – 12th grade
Green Meadow Waldorf School offers programs for babies and toddlers from birth to age three, serves children from Nursery through 12th grade, and runs popular summer programs. Founded in 1950, we are one of the oldest, largest Waldorf schools in the US, with almost 225 students. Benefiting from discovery and play in our Early Childhood program, skill-building in our Lower School, and rigorous intellectual challenges in the High School, Green Meadow students go on to top colleges, fulfilling careers, and are known for their resilience and creativity. Come to an admissions event or call us to learn more about how we are transforming education. We also have a strong commitment to serving a diverse range of children, and we welcome LGBTQ and gender-fluid families. We invite you to read about our commitment to diversity at www.gmws.org/diversity.
Hackley School
293 Benedict Ave
Tarrytown, NY 10591
www.hackleyschool.org
A member of both the Ivy Preparatory League and the international schools consortium Round Square, Hackley has a 285-acre woodland campus in Tarrytown with extensive facilities to support our K-12 educational program, including a science building, geothermal library, competition cross-country trail system, eight athletics fields, and a new 110,000-sq ft Center for Health and Wellness. Through ongoing effort to increase socioeconomic diversity, Hackley now draws from over 70 communities, from Cold Spring to Manhattan, from Ridgefield, CT to Franklin Lakes, NJ and all points in between.
Hackley’s mission “challenges students go grow in character, scholarship, and accomplishment, to offer unreserved effort, and to learn from the varying perspectives and backgrounds in our community and the world.” Hackley students discover themselves through relationships with others—in classrooms, on stage, in arts studios, through community service, and on playing fields. Committed to international understanding, diversity, environmental stewardship, adventure, leadership, and service, Hackley prepares students to think and act with care and effectiveness both at school and in their broader communities.
Welcomed by the motto, “Enter here to be and find a friend,” Hackley honors strength of character, offering students a warm, supportive community that enables both challenge and nurture, giving them the means to set high personal goals and attain them. Through this strong ethos and the quality of its faculty and students, Hackley has achieved distinction as an educational force shaping the lives of generations.
OAKWOOD FRIENDS SCHOOL
Oakwood Friends School is offering a full 5-day program of in-person programming, academic and extracurricular, with advanced health protocols meeting and exceeding all NYS guidelines, on a 55-acre campus for room to spread for the safety of all. See a Virtual Campus Tour and come join our Virtual Open Houses on Sundays April 10th and May 2nd, at 10:00AM – details and RSVP at www.OakwoodFriends.org.
RYE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL
Cedar St., Rye, NY 10580
914-925-4513
www.ryecountryday.org
PreK - 12th grade
Rye Country Day School is a coeducational, college preparatory school in Rye, New York, dedicated to providing students from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 with an excellent education using both traditional and innovative approaches. In a nurturing and supportive environment, we offer a challenging program that stimulates individuals to achieve their maximum potential through academic, athletic, creative and social endeavors. We are actively committed to diversity. We expect and promote moral responsibility, and strive to develop strength of character within a respectful school community. Our goal is to foster a lifelong passion for learning, understanding, and service in an ever-changing world.
New York City
AVENUES THE WORLD SCHOOL
259 10th Ave.
New York, NY 10001
www.avenues.org
Avenues The World School is located in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City. Serving toddlers–12th grade, Avenues is one school with many campuses around the world. A core attribute of the Avenues community is inclusivity. Highlights of their innovative curriculum include language immersion in Chinese or Spanish, project-based learning, interdisciplinary study, and the Mastery Program.
BASIS INDEPENDENT BROOKLYN | PreK–Grade 12
405 Gold St., Brooklyn, NY 11201 (PreK–Grade 2)
556 Columbia St., Brooklyn, NY 11231 (Grades 3–12)
(917) 473-1615
brooklyn.basisindependent.com
BASIS Independent Brooklyn is a PreK–12 private schools featuring the world-acclaimed BASIS Curriculum, a globally inspired program rooted in the liberal arts and sciences. Students engage in engineering and Mandarin starting in PreK, work toward independent research in high school, and have a vibrant array of elective and extracurricular offerings to choose from. Led by Subject Expert Teachers who bring classrooms to life through their deep expertise, students build the knowledge and tools to be successful in every endeavor.
The school puts students at the center of their educational journey, nurturing a joyful learning culture where hard work is celebrated and intellectual pursuits result in extraordinary outcomes. As a result, BASIS Independent Brooklyn students learn to be self-advocates and proactively engage with their education—they are provided avenues to create programs and make sure their voices are clearly heard in shaping the school culture. Respect is the unifying value at BASIS Independent Brooklyn; respect for yourself, for the classroom, for friendships, for learning, and for the community.
BASIS INDEPENDENT MANHATTAN | PreK–12
795 Columbus Ave., New York, NY 10025 (PreK–Grade 5)
556 W. 22nd St. New York, NY 10011 (Grades 6–12)
(347) 305-4960
manhattan.basisindependent.com
BASIS Independent Manhattan is a PreK–12 private school that educates students to the highest international levels through a spiraling liberal arts curriculum featuring STEM, Mandarin, logic, humanities, economics, and more. Subject Expert Teachers are at the helm of every classroom—with a unique two-teacher model in the Early Learning and Primary Programs that supports differentiation—who encourage students to take risks academically while providing consistent, individualized support.
With a clear focus on readying students for the skills they need to excel in their future pursuits, BASIS Independent Manhattan takes the guesswork out of what good education looks like, providing an unparalleled foundation in all academic disciplines, along with critical skills like collaborative problem-solving and self-advocacy. The school’s culture is shaped by the pillars of citizenship, confidence, courage, compassion, and creativity, creating a community that is as vibrant and diverse as its students.
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS SYNAGOGUE PRESCHOOL
131 Remsen Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
www.bhsbrooklyn.org
Our inclusive, caring community has been nurturing young learners and their families since the fall of 2002. Our ongoing focus is on creating a warm, child-centered, inquiry-based school setting. An emergent curriculum and exceptional child/teacher ratio allow us to focus on children’s interests – exploring aspects of their lives, imaginations, and community in an atmosphere of fun and play. We are a Reform Jewish school and teachers introduce the Jewish holidays to children in much the same way they approach curriculum, by making it relevant, meaningful, and accessible to young learners. Stories, symbols, songs, and even the tastes of holidays allow our students to begin an exploration of Jewish traditions and values.
Our current admissions process has been adapted to be safe and healthy during the pandemic. Schedule a remote tour and apply now. In order to apply to our Preschool, children must have turned two by July 31, 2021.
CHELSEA DAY SCHOOL
319 Fifth Ave, 2nd Fl.
New York NY 10016
www.chelseadayschool.org
BROOKLYN MUSIC SCHOOL
(718) 638-5660
126 St. Felix Street
Brooklyn, NY 11217
www.brooklynmusicschool.org
The Brooklyn Music School is a community arts organization that has been changing lives through music for more than a century. We are proud to offer an expansive range of programming for all ages and disciplines, both online and in person. We believe in providing our students with opportunities to learn, connect and perform. Our programming reflects our commitment to our mission of increasing the accessibility of high-quality Music Education. We cater classes and lessons to all skill levels and everything we offer is available at an affordable cost with some Financial Aid available.
At BMS, you can explore: Private Lessons for all instruments, Group Classes, Outreach, Summer, Program, Early Childhood Music, Musical Theatre, Music Ensembles, Music Therapy, Mentor Program, Opera, Artist Certificate, Rehearsal Room Rentals, Theatre Practice Rentals, Performance Opportunities, Arts Reaching Youth, After School ProgramDance, and the Homeschool Program.
Learn more today about filling your or your child’s life with the joy of music by visiting www.brooklynmusicschool.org!
CITY AND COUNTRY SCHOOL
146 West 13th Street
New York, NY 10011
Director of Admissions: Elise Bauer
Admissions Associates: Erika Greenberg and Nick Smart
https://www.cityandcountry.org
City and Country School, for ages two – eighth grade, is a historically significant progressive school founded in 1914 by pioneer educator Caroline Pratt. Housed in seven brownstones in the West Village, its buildings and courtyards are filled with character and natural light.
Early childhood classrooms follow a simple-by-design philosophy. Children use basic materials including paint, clay, wood, water, and Pratt’s creation: wooden unit blocks, now used the world over. These open-ended materials, along with expert teachers, inspire creativity and collaboration while promoting attention span and cognition.
Young children also use another of Pratt’s innovative designs: outdoor blocks. Children invent play structures using wooden boxes, blocks, boards, and sawhorses. Older groups use the School’s gym facility; the team sports program is introduced at the age of 10.
Older children engage in sophisticated historical studies of our diverse world, incorporating themes of social justice. Art, Technology, Music, Science, Woodshop, Rhythms, and Spanish complement their studies of history and culture. A hallmark is the Jobs Program: each group performs a job for the School (for example, school supply store). Through their jobs, children solidify skills in context and develop authentic confidence, responsibility, and resourcefulness.
Students are accepted to an impressive range of high schools, most attending their top choice.
COLLEGIATE SCHOOL
301 Freedom Place South
New York, NY 10069
https://www.collegiateschool.org/
CORLEARS SCHOOL
324 West 15th Street, New York, NY 10011
212-741-2800
www.corlearsschool.org
Preschool - 4th grade
In 1968, Corlears School was founded as a nursery/kindergarten school by Irene Neurath and a group of New York City teachers and parents. It was originally located on Grand Street near Corlears Hook on the lower east side of Manhattan. As the school grew, the school moved to its present Chelsea area site in 1971. Corlears School focuses on early childhood and elementary years, up to and including the fourth grade. Class sizes are kept small and offer its young students extra attention. Nursery students are introduced to reading and language skills and are encouraged to communicate their needs and experiences. Letter and word sounds, and rhyming and rhythms are taught using literature and music. Time, spatial relationships, temperature, and weight are used to explore mathematical ideas. In addition to typical toddler creative activities, science is introduced to develop skills of observation and the ability to draw conclusions. Students, kindergarten-through-fourth grade, begin acquiring the basic skills and knowledge for future academic development. The social studies curriculum integrates language arts, math, geography, history, science, and the visual and performing arts. The dance and drama program combines modern dance techniques and creative movement with improvisation and dramatic acting.
THE ÉCOLE
Pre-Nursery to 8th Grade
111 East 22nd Street
New York, NY 10010
+1 646 410 2238
www.theecole.org
Located in New York’s vibrant Flatiron District, our intimate and independent French-American school cultivates an internationally-minded community of students. At The École, we believe that the goal of education is to develop well-informed, well-rounded, responsible, and compassionate—in a word, “enlightened”—students who can create and connect to a world filled with possibilities. This belief is at the heart of our uniquely-designed bilingual program, in which students learn to not just speak, read, and write in two languages, but also to think, feel, and act in ways that are informed by two cultures. To always see, explore, and understand the world around them from two perspectives is the gift of the deeply bi-literate student, succinctly captured in our school’s motto, “Light through language”.
Artfully blending the curriculum requirements and pedagogical approaches of the French and American systems, our faculty creates rich academic environments for a diverse, international student body. From Maternelle through Middle School, students at The École are guided through the core language arts, social studies, math, and sciences content, as well as character and cultural enrichment, in both French and English. In our intimate classroom settings, our teachers aspire to provide bilingual learning opportunities that engage, challenge, inspire—and illuminate.
82ND STREET ACADEMICS
Parents choose 82nd Street Academics because the parent-teacher conferences are collaborations that give peace of mind. The portfolio-based assessment measures 80 age-appropriate skills and parents see how much their child has accomplished.
Parents choose 82nd Street Academics because diversity is celebrated instead of tolerated.
And kids choose 82nd Street Academics because they study the life sciences in the attached garden and visit daily the child-sized playground where work becomes play.
We promise parents and kids:
• A joyful inviting experience in the 1st month or we refund your tuition
• Moments to create family memories
• Curiosity based learning
82nd Street Academics is located in the historic district of Jackson Heights. It's a learning system that starts at age 2 and offers Summer Academics and AfterSchool through 10th grade. Call 718 457 0429 and arrange a visit!
www.82ndst.com
ETHICAL CULTURE FIELDSTON SCHOOL
33 Central Park West, New York, NY 10023
212-712-6220
3901 Fieldston Rd., Bronx, NY 10471
718-329-7300
www.ecfs.org
Pre-K -12th grade
The Ethical Culture Fieldston School was established in 1878 by the visionary Felix Adler, educator, social reformer, and founder of the New York Society for Ethical Culture. Committed to academic excellence, progressive education, and ethical learning, ECFS today serves about 1,700 students from Pre-K through 12th grade on two campuses, one in Manhattan and the other on 18 acres in the Riverdale section of the Bronx. Our two lower schools, Ethical Culture and Fieldston Lower teach Pre-K through grade 5; Fieldston Middle, grades 6 through 8; Fieldston Upper, grades 9 through 12. With a diverse community and a longstanding commitment to social justice, the school offers a rich and challenging curriculum in the arts, sciences, and humanities. ECFS also has one of the largest financial aid programs of any independent day school in the country. Find out more at www.ecfs.org.
FRIENDS SEMINARY
222 East 16th Street, New York, NY 10003
212-979-5030
www.friendsseminary.org
Kindergarten - 12th grade
Founded in 1786 and grounded in Quaker values and a rich educational legacy, our mission aims to prepare students for the world that is and to help them bring about the world that ought to be.
Optimism is the operative word at Friends. Within the walls of our re-imagined campus opened in 2019, the combination of challenge and support creates a learning environment in which children feel valued for their unique selves and safe to take intellectual risks. We strive to build a school community representative of the city at large to open minds and enrich learning. Unique to Quaker schools, time is set aside for Meeting —a moment when students and faculty gather in the School’s landmarked Meetinghouse for quiet reflection.
Friends offer a K-12 balanced and robust academic program including over 120 courses in the Upper School alone. Through our Center for Peace, Equity, and Justice, service-learning supports the School’s mission to help students understand the importance of respect, compassion, and social responsibility. Our Global Education program provides opportunities for domestic and international study programs for students to experience stewardship firsthand.
Friends welcome and encourage children of all races, ethnicities, religions, nationalities, socioeconomic backgrounds, and sexual orientations to apply for admissions. A substantial aid program is available for families requiring financial assistance.
GARDEN SCHOOL
33-16 79th Street
Jackson Heights, NY 11372
718-335-6363
www.gardenschool.org
admissions@gardenschool.org
@gardenschoolnyc
Garden School was founded in 1923 to meet the need for a high-quality, individualized, and independent school in Jackson Heights, Queens. The core of this neighborhood school’s early vision remains the same as the faculty and administration combine the wisdom of tradition with the science of pedagogical research to offer every student the finest education that maximizes academic and personal potential, in a partnership atmosphere where individual, family, and community goals are valued and nurtured. We believe every child has potential and where we believe it is a school’s job to spark, acknowledge, and promote the passions and interests of children.
Garden is a tight-knit family where we help our students develop and mature by tapping into their curiosity and teaching them to see one another as members of a global community. It is that sense of being part of something larger than oneself—a culture of caring for and reaching out to others—that makes Garden School a home away from home for our students.
Register for one of our weekly Virtual Information Sessions or schedule a private family tour of our campus.
GRACE CHURCH SCHOOL
86 Fourth Avenue, New York, NY 10003
212-475-5609
www.gcschool.org
Junior Kindergarten - 8th grade
Grace Church School (GCS) was founded in 1894 by Grace Church as the first choir boarding school in New York City. From the original sixteen choristers, it has grown to its current enrollment of over 380 boys and girls drawn from a wide variety of ethnic, socioeconomic, and religious backgrounds. GCS's curriculum encourages children to appreciate diversity whether the difference is grounded in race, class, cultural tradition, religion, gender, nationality, or personal style. The School is divided into three divisions. Early Childhood Division (Jr. Kindergarten and Kindergarten), Lower School (grades one through four), and Upper School (grades five through eight). GCS's structured curriculum includes Spanish, Latin, and French, and extensive computer and religious views of the community. The opportunity for responsibility and personal expression is enhanced through student council, community service, expanded sports and arts programs, and social activities such as dances and extended trips.
THE IDEAL SCHOOL OF MANHATTAN
314 West 91st Street
270 West 89th Street
New York, NY 10024
212-769-1699
https://www.theidealschool.org/
A Small School That’s Big on Inclusion
The IDEAL School of Manhattan is New York’s only K-12+ independent inclusion school. Our mission is to affirm and accept the full identities of all people while inspiring academic excellence, creative leadership, and a desire to build a more just and equitable world.
The school’s core principles are built into its name: Inclusion, Diversity, Excellence, Acceptance, and Leadership. Every aspect of the IDEAL experience--instruction, assessment, program, enrichment--reflects a research-based commitment to inclusion education.
At IDEAL, we believe that differentiated learning is the key to academic excellence. We offer a supportive environment where all identities and abilities are celebrated. Our diverse and nurturing community thrives in a robust academic program, where students recognize their potential to effect change and gain the tools to do so, seeking out the difference, and understanding that only in the community are we IDEAL.
IDEAL’s curriculum and programs are multicultural by design, and social justice and anti-bias instruction are built-in and given dedicated instructional time. Immersion in the arts and a differentiated athletic program as well as service-learning opportunities round out the IDEAL experience.
Schedule a visit to learn more about New York’s only K-12+ independent inclusion school, including our post-secondary Next Steps Transition Program for students aged 18-21.
THE KEW-FOREST SCHOOL
119-17 Union Turnpike
Forest Hills, NY 11375
(718) 268-4667
www.kewforest.org
LITTLE RED SCHOOL HOUSE/ELISABETH IRWIN HIGH SCHOOL
Lower and Middle School
272 Sixth Avenue, New York, NY 10014
212-477-5316
High School
40 Charlton Street, New York, NY 10014
212-477-5316
www.lrei.org
Preschool - 12th Grade
New York City's Little Red School Little Red House/Elisabeth Irwin High School (LREI) has numerous gay-positive attributes. Founder, Elisabeth Irwin, was a model of lesbian leadership. She and her partner, Katharine Anthony, were adoptive parents. A lesbian-and-gay-issues committee of faculty, parents, and administration is an active voice in the school. The committee and the school co-sponsor the "Love Makes a Family; Living in Lesbian and Gay Families" photo-text exhibit which is attended by all students and faculty. "It's Elementary", a documentary about the importance of including lesbian and gay voices and themes in the elementary curriculum, was viewed by the faculty and parents. Lesbian and Gay Pride Month is celebrated each October through assemblies and class discussions. Lower School teachers have devised an inclusive family curriculum, which recognizes gay and lesbian parents. The Middle School Adolescent Issues program deals with a wide range of matters, including sexuality and discrimination, with a focus on developing decision-making skills. LREI's library collection includes books for children of gays and lesbians and books which address sexuality.
MANHATTAN COUNTRY SCHOOL
150 W. 85th St.
New York, NY 10024
212-348-0952
www.manhattancountryschool.org
PreK - 8th grade
Manhattan Country School is a pre-K through eighth-grade co-ed elementary school where children are members of a collaborative learning community. A recognized leader in progressive education, Manhattan Country School offers a cohesive, challenging academic program--one in which teachers rely on experiential learning and creative pursuits to stimulate the intellect. In addition to being well-trained in the academic disciplines, students acquire a deep understanding of activism and social justice and develop the strength and resources to effect change and pursue their goals. The student body reflects the diversity of New York City, with no racial group accounting for more than 50 percent. This diversity is supported by an innovative sliding-scale tuition program that enables every family to pay according to its means. A unique feature of the school is the award-winning MCS Farm in the Catskill Mountains. The farm program engages students with the natural processes that support life and provides an unparalleled experience of social growth. Manhattan Country School students graduate with highly developed critical-thinking skills, a sense of purpose, and a deep understanding of our multicultural world. They go on to attend a variety of highly selective independent, public and parochial high schools, and boarding schools.
MARY McDOWELL FRIENDS SCHOOL
Mary McDowell Friends School is a K-12 college preparatory program dedicated to the success of students with learning disabilities. Grounded in the Quaker values of equality, integrity, and social responsibility, we cultivate a diverse and anti-racist community in which all students can reach their full potential. Our specialized teaching methodologies and challenging curricula empower students to become academic achievers, creative thinkers, advocates for equity, and contributing members of a global society.
We support our students in their academic journey with structured, multisensory curricula; differentiated instruction; small class sizes; and an engaging approach to learning, empowering them to be their own best advocates at school and beyond. We believe that all of our students can learn when given the attention and specialized resources they need. Our efforts extend beyond the classroom, incorporating the visual and performing arts, athletic teams, field studies programs, cross-cultural travel, and service-learning. Our college preparatory program is rich, supportive, and academically-rigorous.
The school has three campuses in Brooklyn: a newly renovated lower school in Boerum Hill, a middle school in Carroll Gardens, and an upper school in Brooklyn Heights. new.marymcdowell.org.
METROPOLITAN MONTESSORI SCHOOL
325 West 85th St.
New York, NY 10024
https://mmsny.org
Metropolitan Montessori School serves children between the ages of 2 and 14 years. Based on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and founded in 1964, the school is guided by the philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori. We focus on building honest and open relationships between teachers, students, and parents that guide each child toward reaching their fullest potential.
Metropolitan Montessori champions a modern Montessori education that puts the child at the center of our work and the guide to our purpose. We emphasize individualized learning, positive social-emotional development, and rigorous academics. The dynamic partnership of child, parent, and teacher creates a consistent Montessori framework offering “An Education for Life.”
Montclare Children’s School
747 Amsterdam, Ave.,
New York, NY 10025
www.montclareschool.org
Nestled in a beautiful landmark building on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, Montclare Children’s School’s community reflects our international and culturally diverse neighborhood. Our enriched, balanced curriculum and primarily teacher-guided approach promote the highest levels of cognitive, social, emotional, physical, and ethical development, in a secure, stimulating, playful learning environment.
Our teachers scaffold opportunities for our students to problem solve, learn conflict resolution, and manage frustration and expectations, and our supportive preschool setting encourages kindergarten readiness.
Learning to transition, follow routines, and engage in cooperative play, children build confidence and independence. Our teachers encourage meaningful interactions and friendships, further boosting a child’s secure sense of self. Students also explore open-ended process art in our luminous art studio in addition to enjoying many opportunities throughout the day to engage in unstructured, imaginative play.
Through inquiry, discussion, and exploration our program fosters reflective thinking and abstract reasoning. Our curriculum promotes logical thinking by introducing skills in context and providing concrete materials. The acquisition of knowledge bolsters self-esteem and learning with others greatly enhances social intelligence.
Montclare’s dedicated teachers and administrators work together and with our children and their families to create the best possible educational environment for all of our students.
The Montessori Schools in Flatiron and SoHo
212-633-0600
For admissions questions, please email us at admissions@themontessori.org
For general information, please email us at info@themontessori.org
https://www.themontessorischools.org/
The Montessori Schools provide an engaging early child-care education program in Downtown NYC built upon the classical methods of Maria Montessori. Our school puts children on a path that embraces creativity, builds self-awareness, and helps develop the academic skills, emotional intelligence, and personal confidence necessary for lifelong success.
We are committed to teaching your children in a supportive, wholesome, and state-of-the-art environment. We recognize our profound responsibility to make the most of these formative years and inculcate a love of learning that will serve your children for the rest of their lives.
Our SoHo campus serves children ages 18 months-6 years. Our Flatiron school serves children ages 2 years-6 years. To learn more about our admissions process, visit https://www.themontessorischools.org/admissions-exmissions.
MORNINGSIDE MONTESSORI SCHOOL
251 W 100th Street, 6th Floor
New York, NY, 10025
(212) 316-1555
morningsidemontessori.org
A warm, welcoming preschool on Manhattan's Upper West Side, Morningside Montessori School combines Montessori principles with contemporary research-based approaches. Our early childhood programs are carefully designed to meet each child’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive needs, and are led by dedicated teachers who delight in helping children grow. In partnership with our close-knit family community, we cultivate each child's curiosity, joy, compassion, and independence, laying the foundation for a lifelong love of learning.
Our Twos Program is designed to gently introduce two-year-olds to the experience and community of a school environment. Our Early Childhood Program, for children aged three to six years old, aims to provide children with a sense of order, continuity, and community. All programs feature flexible scheduling to meet the needs of every family.
We invite you to explore our programs on our website, view our virtual open house, and contact us at admissions@morningsidemontessori.org with any questions.
NEW AMSTERDAM SCHOOL
62 Ave B, New York, NY 10009
212-533-1820
www.newamsterdamschool.org
Early Childhood - 5th Grade
New Amsterdam School is a community founded on a reverence for both nature and childhood. The philosophy of the school is built on the study of human development and combines an engaging academic curriculum with deep social-emotional learning, outdoor education, and artistic skills in order to meet the whole child as they unfold. The community of parents, teachers, and alumni is diverse in thought, background, and experience. They form a warm, loving circle in which each child can safely and joyfully grow into their best self.
Our school prioritizes inclusivity and aims for our community to truly reflect the multifaceted city, and the world, in which we live. Our classrooms are vibrant communities of diverse ethnicities, genders, races, sexual identities, socio-economics, physical and mental abilities, political opinions, religions, and nationalities.
Founded in 2006, New Amsterdam School began as a grassroots alliance of educators, parents, and community leaders determined to bring the benefits of Waldorf education to Lower Manhattan. We now serve early childhood through fourth grade and will add a fifth grade in the fall of 2022. We are a member of WECAN (Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America) and an Associate Member of AWSNA (Association of Waldorf Schools of North America).
PUSTEBLUME INTERNATIONAL PRESCHOOL
244 West 14th Street, NYC
212-206-1137
info@pusteblumenyc.org
www.pusteblumenyc.org
Pusteblume International Preschool is NYC’s only non-profit, fully licensed, independent preschool offering German and Spanish language immersion. Some of our children participate in both language programs on a weekly rotation.
We combine the best of international and American teaching methods in a nurturing setting, that cultivates the growth and development of your child. Our unique, NY State-approved curriculum is built around inquiry and exploration in the classroom, the school community, and the vibrant city that surrounds us. Our licensed, native-speaking faculty teaches music, movement, mathematical concepts, literacy, and visual arts in a fun and warm learning environment.
Pusteblume’s beautifully appointed, light-filled facility features a large playroom that allows children to move freely even when the weather does not cooperate. We are conveniently located near multiple playgrounds and parks and are only steps away from various major transportation options.
Our preschool program admits children 2 to 5 years of age; the activity-based after-school/enrichment programs welcome children up to 12 years old and are open to students from other schools.
At Pusteblume we have created a multilingual, multicultural environment that prepares your child to participate and succeed in our international world.
RIVERDALE COUNTRY SCHOOL
5250 Fieldston Rd., Riverdale, NY 10471
718-549-8810, 718-549-7780
www.riverdale.edu
PreK - 12 grade
Over the years, since the founding of Riverdale Country School in 1907, Riverdale has sought to equip students to “change the world for good.” Our students, in pre-kindergarten through grade 12, seek to understand the world around them, clarify their thinking, take action and reflect on what they have learned. We educate students based on guiding principles in three areas: mind, character, and community. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) are at the core of the anti-racist, anti-bias, and transformational work of Riverdale. Approximately 42% of our students and 25% of our faculty and staff identify as people of color. This commitment is reflected in the pillars of student life here at Riverdale, which promotes curiosity, purpose, and belonging.
MIND
High standards and innovative approaches encourage students to explore a wide range of subjects in the humanities, arts, and sciences. Riverdale provides both a strong educational foundation and a rich variety of experiential, interdisciplinary, and service-learning experiences. Riverdale students are intellectually curious, and the school community provides thoughtful support for emotional growth as well as support for their success as independent learners.
CHARACTER
We encourage honesty, self-discipline, resilience, and perseverance in all students. We provide an active support system, a culture of building each other up, and the development of character to sustain students throughout their lives.
COMMUNITY
The Riverdale campuses, the largest in New York City, are the setting for an active community of learners. This is a “high-challenge, high-support” environment, where students can stretch and grow. Students also expand their view of community beyond our campuses; they are encouraged to view themselves as citizens of this city and the world at large, with all the joy and responsibility that implies.
ST. LUKE'S SCHOOL
487 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
212-924-5960
www.stlukeschool.org
Junior Kindergarten - 8th grade
Founded in 1945, St. Luke's School is located in the West Village of New York City. It is a coeducational Episcopal day school with two hundred students of all faiths from Junior-Kindergarten through Grade eight Since its inception, St. Luke's School has encouraged diversity by seeking both students and teachers of varying backgrounds. The school's unique 2-acre campus includes three outdoor playgrounds. St. Luke's Garden is filled with quiet paths, flowers, lawns, benches, and trees. Facilities include spacious and sunny classrooms, a gymnasium, an art studio, a small theater, an 18,000 volume library, a media center, computer, and foreign language rooms. Chapel services and special programs are held in The Church of St. Luke in the Fields, a landmark building, constructed in 1822 and rebuilt in 1985.
Lower School Junior-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students' days are tilled with the "work" of play-paints, blocks, dress-ups, sand, water, cooking, and regular outdoor activities in the playground. As children become ready, reading, writing, and math skills are introduced. In Grades 1 through 4, the focus is on developing proficiency in reading, writing, mathematics, and critical thinking.
The Upper School program. Grades 5 through 8, continue to build upon the base of academic skills and concentrate on study habits, time management, and independence to prepare students for high school. All students learn and participate in community service, and St. Luke's Partners Program pairs older and younger children for projects and activities.
THE TOWN SCHOOL
540 East 76th St., New York, NY 10021
212-288-4383
www.thetownschool.org
The Town School is committed to elementary co-education, serving students in Nursery through Eighth grade. As we embrace high academic and ethical standards for each student, we are guided by our school motto, “let there be joy in learning.”
Town’s program balances the traditional and the innovative, emphasizing excellence in academics and thorough exposure to the arts and physical education. We teach children to think creatively, read critically, and reason logically, stressing the value of both individual learning and collaboration. We are committed to diversity, teaching students to be inclusive and to respect themselves and others.
We believe that the process of learning is as important as the result. Town builds on children’s natural curiosity and creativity, helping them to discover and celebrate their strengths. In our nurturing and supportive environment, we challenge each student to take risks and persevere. The program enables students to experience success, increase self-confidence and develop individuality. Faculty and parents collaborate in support of each child’s growth.
UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL (UNIS)
A Pre-K-to-12th grade, coeducational school, the United Nations International School (UNIS) was established in 1947 by some UN parents to provide an international education for children from both UN and non-UN families while preserving their cultural heritage. The school's board of trustees reports directly to the Secretary-General, and UN issues and other international topics are woven through its classes. The school is well known for its wide-ranging diversity, and its students come from 123 countries and speak 99 languages at home, while the faculty comes from 69 countries. The spacious Manhattan campus overlooks the East River. A founding school of the International Baccalaureate (IB), UNIS has a comprehensive Pre-K-12 curriculum. Given the school's truly international nature, the study of languages to fluency is central: the main language of instruction is English and all students study French or Spanish beginning in prekindergarten, with Mandarin offered as an additional language. In Middle School, students add another language, and those include Arabic, German, Italian, Japanese and Russian. Additional languages may be studied after school, starting in the Junior School. Overall, UNIS aims to educate and inspire its students to become an active force in shaping a better world. For further information, please contact admissions@unis.org.
VILLAGE COMMUNITY SCHOOL
272-278 West 10th Street, New York, NY 10014
212-691-5146
www.vcsnyc.org
Co-ed, Kindergarten – 8th grade
Admissions Director: Esther Lee
Associate Director of Admissions: Barbara Binswanger Charlton
Village Community School develops self-motivated students who value the challenging and rewarding process of learning as an integral part of life. We choose to be a diverse community where equity, creativity, and critical thinking are essential to the rigorous education we provide. Our graduates are skilled and confident, able to advocate for themselves and others. They are well prepared for high school and for their futures in an increasingly complex and dynamic world.
VCS provides a culture of achievement where students radiate intellectual vitality – reaching and advancing beyond traditional notions of what K-8 students can accomplish. VCS students live their learning through active experiences that delve deeply into the subject matter and make connections between disciplines.
WETHERBY-PEMBRIDGE SCHOOL
7 E 96th Street
New York, NY 10128
646-213-3400
www.wetherby-pembridge.org
Director of Admissions - Jean Monaco - jean.monaco@wetherbypembridge.org
Wetherby-Pembridge is a unique independent school for boys and girls ages 2 - 14 (Nursery 2- Grade 8) that holds sacred its core values of Respect, Resilience, and Responsibility. The curriculum is based on the rigorous English National Curriculum and is enriched by NYC’s cultural experiences. Children are inspired to achieve personal confidence and success with integrity, kindness, respect, and manners.
Wetherby-Pembridge partners with families to provide an academically challenging but also a bespoke program that works to supply all children with the tools to create in the world. Our unique community is both educationally engaging and family-focused.
WINSTON PREPARATORY SCHOOL
Winston Preparatory School is a network of campuses offering students with learning differences a highly individualized, holistic, and responsive education. Our unique model serves students through grade 12, along with a multifaceted gap year program for students who are not yet ready for college or the workplace. At Winston Prep, faculty carry out ongoing, in-depth assessments to cultivate a deep understanding of students, helping them to advance at a meaningful pace and giving them the tools to continue independently learning and growing.
All of our campuses provide intense skill remediation while fostering independence, resilience, responsibility, and self-awareness. They include two sites in New York City and one each in New Jersey, Connecticut, on Long Island, and our newest campus in the San Francisco Bay Area. Last year, we also launched Winston Online Learning, an innovative, individualized program that allows students to participate from anywhere in the country. To learn more about Winston Prep, visit www.winstonprep.edu.
YORK PREP
40 West 68th St.
New York, NY 10023
www.yorkprep.org
York Prep is a New York City independent school committed to creating a nurturing environment that challenges and supports each student in a diverse and inclusive setting. Compassionate educators guide students through a traditional and rigorous curriculum while employing a range of innovative techniques to cultivate each individual student’s skills, abilities, and interests. York strives to support all students as they grow into lifelong learners and responsible citizens.
Their program offers an unparalleled Jump Start Program with one on one personalized attention, along with Honors courses, AP classes, and a world-class Scholars Program. The thorough and student-centered college counseling program provides guidance tailored to each student’s particular needs and interests.
York has built a community based on a fundamental principle. As founder and headmaster, Ronald Stewart loves to say, “Character trumps Algebra.” While the curriculum is challenging and prepares students to succeed academically in top schools, York prepares them to do much more than just earn good grades. York prepares them to be confident people of character.
“My daughter’s success is due to all the dedicated staff and faculty at York. I am proud of my daughter's achievements but if she were a beautiful flower, York would be the sun and the rain."
-York Prep Parent
THE AGNES IRWIN SCHOOL
610-525-8400
www.agnesirwin.org
The Agnes Irwin School is a nationally recognized all-girls' independent college preparatory school for PreK-Grade 12 that has provided outstanding liberal arts education since 1869. We offer a rigorous academic program, coupled with competitive sports and diverse visual and performing arts, and combine current educational thinking with well-established teaching practices that serve girls best.
Agnes Irwin is a place where students take chances, discover their strengths, and excel across a wide range of academic subjects, athletic endeavors and extracurricular pursuits. We’re a place that’s small enough to feel like a real community, but big enough to inspire a sense of adventure. A place where girls are confident, engaged and excited about what lies ahead.
Our girls not only embrace learning, they immerse themselves in it. Whether bringing original ideas to life in the Kindergarten Invention Convention, designing unique civilizations during Culture Week in Middle School, or delivering a powerful speech in Senior Assembly, our girls eagerly embrace challenges, freely speak their minds, and learn to follow their curiosity wherever it leads – which might be somewhere completely unexpected. With top-notch educators and a diverse 660+ student body, The Agnes Irwin School empowers girls to learn, to lead, and to live a legacy. Find out more! Visit www.agnesirwin.org.
THE CREFELD SCHOOL
8836 Crefeld Street
Philadelphia, PA 19118
215-242-5545
www.crefeld.org
7th - 12th grade
A gender inclusive school, serving students in grades 7 through 12, The Crefeld School's mission is to graduate self-aware, empathetic, lifelong learners, who possess an appreciation for diverse perspectives, their role in society, and their ability to act as agents of change. Located in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, Crefeld provides an intentionally different college preparatory program to help students become their best selves.
Values
• Trust-based system: Everyone at Crefeld is a member of the community. As members of this community, trust is essential to our functioning.
• Commitment to social justice: We believe it is our responsibility to do what we can to eliminate bias based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, political affiliation, national origin, or disability.
• Diversity, equity and inclusion: Crefeld is committed to building a culture that respects and embraces diversity, inclusion, and equity, believing that these values are critical for advancing knowledge, sparking innovation, and creating sustainable communities.
• Strength-based approach: At Crefeld, we celebrate what students do well every day and help develop compensation strategies for areas of growth.
• Embrace individuality: Through the advisory system, each student is recognized as an individual and has a well-supported designated advocate monitoring their education at Crefeld.
DELAWARE VALLEY FRIENDS SCHOOL
19 E. Central Ave.,
Paoli, PA 19301
www.dvfriends.org
DVFriends is one of the nation’s best schools for bright students who learn differently. We welcome students in grades 1 to 12 with reading (dyslexia), writing (dysgraphia), math (dyscalculia), memory (long-term and working), processing speed, ADHD and executive functioning challenges. Our purposeful Quaker culture recognizes and honors the inherent worth of all students while nurturing a community that is diverse and inclusive in every way.
This philosophy underlies all we do to help students discover and grow their strengths and celebrate their differences. We have an exceptional track record of preparing students to succeed in college and beyond. A high percentage (98%) of DVFriends graduates apply and choose to attend a broad range of higher education programs, including 4-year colleges and universities, top art and culinary schools, community colleges, and technical institutes. Our faculty develops authentic partnerships with students and their families to build trust that fosters accountability and yields achievement. Our research-based, multisensory teaching techniques empower students to develop tools for their unique learning styles. Applying innovation and deep expertise, DVFriends teachers guide students to embrace the courage to try, establish the confidence to reach farther, and build resilience to succeed in school and beyond.
Learn more at www.dvfriends.org.
Friends' Central School
1101 City Avenue
Wynnewood, PA 19096
610-649-7440
www.friendscentral.org
Nursery - Grade 12
Friends’ Central School is an independent, Quaker, co-educational, college-preparatory day school for students in Nursery through grade 12, located on 41 acres across two campuses in Wynnewood, Pa. Guided by Quaker values since 1845, Friends’ Central cultivates the intellectual, spiritual, and ethical promise of students.
Friends' Central is committed to building and maintaining an inclusive, diverse community. A basic tenet of Quakerism is the belief that there is a divine spark in everyone, recognizing the spiritual equality of all persons. All constituencies are responsible for an awareness of and ongoing dialogue around equity issues of race and ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, privilege, religion, physical ability, and family structure. We honor each perspective and life experience, and through an intentional curriculum and differentiated methods of teaching, we seek to empower and engage all groups.
Friends’ Central is committed to education that is challenging, thoughtful, and dynamic. Our faculty set increasingly high standards, encouraging students to approach new ideas with an open mind and unreserved respect for one another. Our students participate in a process designed to foster creative, critical, independent, and flexible thinking, and our graduates are prepared to succeed in college and the world beyond.
At Friends’ Central, we go further. We grow stronger through collaboration, dig deeper for new knowledge, and aim higher in the pursuit of intellectual promise.
To learn more, check out our website!
LANSDOWNE FRIENDS SCHOOL
110 N. Lansdowne Ave., Lansdowne, PA 19050
610-623-2548
www.lansdownefriendsschool.org
Pre-K through 6th grade
Lansdowne Friends School (Pre-K through 6th grade), located fifteen minutes from University City, engages children as they develop academically, socially and spiritually. Grounded in Quaker values, our challenging program builds on the natural curiosity our children have for their immediate surroundings. Our green campus within the walkable community of Lansdowne supports the exploration of our students’ ever-changing world. Our goals for children include growth in academic skills; cultivation of an inner discipline and a strong sense of self and community; enjoyment of learning; and development of respect, compassion and care for others.
MEDIA-PROVIDENCE FRIENDS SCHOOL
Founded in 1876, Media-Providence Friends School is a co-ed Quaker day school for students in age 2 through grade 8 located in downtown Media, Delaware County, Pennsylvania.
MPFS is committed to fostering positive identities (racial, gender, religion, sexuality, family structure, class & ability) in our students, staff, families, and trustees, and encourage their personal development by:
• Raising awareness and building literacy by engaging in explicit conversations about our identities
• Honoring the intersectionality that exists within ourselves and members of our community, thus increasing our capacity for empathy
• Encouraging our community to take action when they see injustice, prejudice, and bigotry in the world.
We understand this work is dynamic and ongoing, and will require us to continue to learn and grow. A close-knit learning community, MPFS offers students big views of the world ahead. Here, in small classes, under the caring tutelage of early childhood, elementary school and adolescent experts who love what they do, students from different backgrounds and faiths grow up together, immersed in an academic environment that speaks to all the aspects of their beings: intellectual, emotional, physical and spiritual.
Every day, students at Friends are engaged in the processes of learning and discovery in contexts that honor the values of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality and service. As they reflect upon what they hear, see and feel, make connections between lessons and life, construct knowledge and act upon their convictions, they learn that learning itself is a lifetime pursuit.
We encourage all prospective families to RSVP to a Virtual Open House at mpfs.org/rsvp. Please contact Angela DiMaria, Assistant Head of School and Director of Admissions & Program, with any questions at adimaria@mpfs.org or 610-565-1960 ext. 104.
THE PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL
Philadelphia, PA
215-545-5323
http://www.tpschool.org
The Philadelphia School educates children for a future that is impossible to know but not impossible to shape. Learn here. Go anywhere.
The Philadelphia School’s progressive approach to learning and teaching has deep thinking, innovation, and agency as its guiding values. We encourage children to explore and push the boundaries of possibility to fulfill their intellectual, social, and civic potential. We approach learning through inquiry, projects, and community. Core values and new research inform the school’s program and pedagogical practices. Our interdisciplinary, theme-based approach prepares students to build a stronger and more inclusive school, community, and society for today and tomorrow.
As an urban, preschool–8th grade school, we address specifically how young students develop intellectually, creatively, emotionally, socially, and physically. Through our commitment to diversity, we seek to nurture each student’s moral compass, sense of personal integrity, and respect for individuality. Learning in the city, country, and classroom affirms our founders’ goal of educating children to become responsible and active stewards of the urban and natural environments.
BASIS INDEPENDENT MCLEAN | Age 2–Grade 12
8000 Jones Branch Dr.
McLean, Virginia 22102
(703) 854-1253
mclean.basisindependent.com
BASIS Independent McLean is an age 2–grade 12 private school in Northern Virginia that is educating tomorrow’s artists, engineers, scientists, and leaders. The world-acclaimed BASIS Curriculum is benchmarked to the highest international levels, featuring unique courses in STEM, Mandarin, logic, humanities, economics, and more. Subject Expert Teachers lead each subject area—with a two-teacher model in the Early Learning and Primary Programs that supports differentiation—and encourage students to take risks academically while providing consistent, individualized support.
Students and teachers alike center themselves around their school values: show respect, take responsibility, and make improvements. These ensure students build the empathy, independence, and confidence to take control of their education while also learning to be good friends. At BASIS Independent McLean, students ultimately learn to become active participants—not spectators—in their school and the larger community.
CONGRESSIONAL SCHOOL
3229 Sleepy Hollow Road
Falls Church, VA 22042
www.congressionalschool.org
A co-ed independent day school for infants to eighth-graders in Falls Church, VA. Congressional School prepares young learners for future success, inspiring them to question, collaborate, create, and lead.
ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES SCHOOL
St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School is a college preparatory Episcopal Church School in the Diocese of Virginia that educates boys and girls from ages 3 through grade 12. SSSAS serves students from across Northern Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. We have three distinct campuses, each uniquely tailored to meet the needs of the students within. We live our mission every single day. To help our students succeed in a complex and changing world, we seek to inspire a passion for learning, an enthusiasm for athletic and artistic endeavor, a striving for excellence, a celebration of diversity, and a commitment to service. Our mission is to pursue goodness as well as knowledge and to honor the unique value of each of our members as a child of God in a caring community.
Our students are respected and celebrated for their gifts and talents. Through all the learning, exploring, and dreaming big, students develop a confidence in themselves because they are known, supported, challenged, and inspired to succeed. The opportunities are endless, and the relationships last a lifetime.
Every aspect of your school experience contributes an essential ingredient to who you will become. As you consider what you want in a school, keep these points in mind:
• Values that affirm the worth of each member of the school community create the conditions for your success.
• Teachers who nurture your curiosity inspire you to realize your academic best.
• Hands-on learning experiences, whether field trips, service projects, or cross-cultural travel build your understanding of the wider world.
• Opportunities for you to innovate stimulate your imagination and creativity.
• Clubs, activities, and athletics are proving grounds for building friendships, developing leadership skills, and shaping your character.
• A school with a well-defined sense of purpose will help you to define yourself to BECOME READY.
WESTMINSTER SCHOOL
3819 Gallows Road
Annandale, VA
(703) 256-3620
www.westminsterschool.com
Westminster School provides to students in preschool-8th grade a well-rounded education steeped in the classics, whose fundamental goals are a disciplined and well-informed mind, strength of character, dedication to learning, generosity of spirit, creativity, and joy in the possibilities of life. Accelerated curriculum includes the core subjects, as well as Junior Great Books, French, Latin, Art, Music, Penmanship, Drama, Dance, and daily PE. Extracurricular activities such as sports, chorus, orchestra, chess, French club, Builder’s Club, MathCounts, and multiple field trips per year enhance students’ rich experience. Extended care, door-to-door bus service, enrichment classes, and camp programs are also available.
Call us today to schedule a virtual tour or register for one of our upcoming virtual Open Houses on October 26 or December 14, 2021!
BASIS INDEPENDENT BELLEVUE | Grades 3–7 (Coming fall 2022)
15749 NE 4th St., Bellevue, WA 98008
(425) 229-1277
bellevue.basisindependent.com
BASIS Independent Bellevue is changing the face of private school education! Opening fall 2022, Bellevue families will discover a learning community where intellectual curiosity drives student success, where interdisciplinary instruction meets experiential learning, and where students are inspired to learn at the highest international levels. Students will engage in a content-rich curriculum rooted in the liberal arts and STEM—including Mandarin, art, humanities, advanced mathematics, and more—all led by Subject Expert Teachers who empower students’ full potential. The BASIS Curriculum combines top education practices from around the world and is designed to ensure students gain the content knowledge, critical thinking skills, and independence needed to succeed.
The school will open with grades 3–7 to start, with plans to expand to a full middle and high school.
THE LITTLE SCHOOL
2812 116th Ave NE Bellevue, WA 98004
www.thelittleschool.org/explore
425-827-8708
Preschool-5th Grade
At The Little School, we cultivate curiosity, creativity, and joy. We offer an innovative, project-based program informed by over 60 years of experience.
• Preschool through fifth grade in Bellevue, WA
• 12.5-acre campus for investigation and discovery
• Blended indoor/outdoor learning
• Small student-to-teacher ratio
Students are known by our whole community, allowing them to develop strong relationships with adults and peers through collaboration and play. We invite you to do a virtual tour of The Little School and schedule a visit to our campus on Ravenna, our online application portal. Have questions? Email us at admissions@thelitthelschool.org.
THE MERIDIAN SCHOOL
4649 Sunnyside Ave N, Suite 242
Seattle, WA 98103
206-632-7154
www.meridianschool.edu
The Meridian School is an independent, K-5 school (200 students) committed to shaping globally responsible citizens who are empowered to inquire, investigate, innovate and impact their communities. Guided by a belief in the power of a wide range of human potential, we approach each child’s learning flexibly and responsively. Our inclusive approach serves a diverse community of learners through a combination of instructional differentiation and small group intervention or extension. Our unique location in Wallingford’s historic Good Shepherd Center situates us in an 11-acre park and surrounds us with nonprofit organizations such as the Tilth Alliance, Washington Green Schools, and the Wallingford Senior Center. Academics take place inside the classroom and out in the park, and lessons in the community begin by simply walking in the door.
Our Mission: The Meridian School promotes a balance of mind and heart, of contemplation and action, individuality, and a commitment to the community.
Our Beliefs:
The curriculum should challenge, engage and inspire students. At Meridian, we provide an excellent academic education in which the joy of childhood infuses the excitement of learning.
Character is built upon integrity, compassion, and responsibility. At Meridian, students are guided toward self-discipline and thoughtful decisions, mindful of themselves, others and their environment.
Community is the heart of a school. At Meridian, all students, staff, and families are known and valued. We strive to create an equitable and inclusive culture. Our connections are strengthened through close student-teacher relationships, strong parent involvement, and active engagement with our local and global communities.
Programmatic Highlights: A learning approach that is flexible, responsive, and customized, Place-based Education, Service Learning, Global Competency.
NEW DISCOVERY SCHOOL
New Discovery School is a play-based preschool that nurtures the whole child. We foster confident, joyful learners by building a strong and inclusive community of children, families, and teachers.
NDS was founded in 1985 with the mission to provide young children with an emotionally supportive environment where they can learn and grow through play. Play is the heart of our curriculum.
Children explore and discover both on their own and with peers and teachers, learning through a balance of planned and spontaneous activities that engage and challenge, while also providing opportunities to experience success and self-discovery.
Our focus on social-emotional learning empowers children- giving them the skills to self-regulate, listen respectfully, resolve conflicts, enter play, welcome others, and feel confident navigating the social arena. We believe it is essential to teach children how to be valued members of a group, and we welcome all types of families to be a part of our community.
The arts play a key role in our program. We start each day singing together, encourage creativity, and have a skilled team of teachers actively promoting creative expression through many forms including music, sign language, movement, theater, dance, and sculpture. Children leave NDS confident and ready to continue learning.
PUGET SOUND COMMUNITY SCHOOL
660 South Dearborn St.
Seattle, WA 98134
206-324-4350
www.pscs.org
6th – 12th grade
"Puget Sound Community School: Celebrating 28 years helping kids turn passion into achievement.
PSCS is a community-oriented middle and high school whose first focus is not limited to an academic program but is to recognize the full range of human development. PSCS provides a safe, loving, nurturing environment in which the curriculum is based on responsibility and the goal for graduates is maturity. The school is dedicated to surrounding all students with talented people of high character who help them find out what they’re passionate about, and then help them DO something with that passion.
PSCS’ academic program is delivered to students by highly committed teaching staff and a network of volunteers and is a natural by-product of a compassionate environment. The program is gleaned from a philosophy grounded in first-hand observation of how kids learn and grow. PSCS asks students to dedicate themselves to three simple core commitments: Practice Integrity. Engage the Community. Act with Courage
SOUNDVIEW SCHOOL
6515 196th St. SW
Lynnwood, WA 98036
(425) 778-8572
www.soundview.org
At Soundview School, we know that every child deserves a school that is ethical, rigorous, and compassionate. That is what Soundview School provides. That’s how we can help your child be ready for this world.
Soundview is a small, independent, International Baccalaureate school in Lynnwood, Washington serving children aged three through eighth grade.
Learn about our mission and our school at www.soundview.org or (425) 778-8572.
We are ready to talk about your child’s education.
WHIDBEY ISLAND WALDORF SCHOOL
6335 Old Pietila Road, Clinton, WA 98236
360-341-5686
www.wiws.org
A Foundation of Free & Innovative Thought
Celebrating 36 years. Nursery to Grade 6.
Whidbey Island Waldorf School has provided a comprehensive, whole-person, arts-integrated education on south Whidbey Island, Washington since 1985. We are blessed to be situated in the midst of a 100-acre forest preserve.
What We Believe
The world is changing. What today’s children need in order to thrive, both now and in the future, is based on creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration, not memorization, testing, and competition. At Whidbey Island Waldorf School, our students learn to work with others to develop knowledge and wisdom. They learn to express themselves and their ideas clearly, confidently, and creatively. They learn who they are and how to use their strong moral character and will to positively impact the world. They learn to learn, and they love to learn.
Who We Are
Our extraordinary faculty brings decades of combined teaching experience, vast knowledge of child development, and deep commitment both to their craft and to the children in their care. Whidbey Island Waldorf School is a pedagogically-established school that draws Waldorf families and teachers from across the country and the world.
BEAUVOIR, THE NATIONAL CATHEDRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
202-537-6493
www.beauvoirschool.org
Beauvoir, located on the grounds of the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC, is a coeducational independent elementary school that serves approximately 400 students in Pre-Kindergarten through Third Grade. Beauvoir’s mission is to provide an extraordinary early childhood education in a diverse community that values every individual. Its program encourages creative, courageous learners and builds an enduring foundation for a lifelong spirit of inquiry and joy in learning. As an Episcopal School, Beauvoir welcomes students and families of all faiths and backgrounds to celebrate their individual stories and collective experiences. The School aligns its practices and decisions with its goal to be a child-centered, safe, and deeply engaged learning community.
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