IN THE CLASSROOM
Gaining a strong academic foundation at Manhattan Country School has prepared hundreds of our students to move on to prestigious high schools and universities, such as The Bronx High School of Science, The Dalton School, Phillips Andover Academy, Stuyvesant High School, Harvard University, SUNY Binghamton, University of Chicago, and Wesleyan University.
Our Educational Philosophy
We value how children learn as well as what they learn. For example, 9 and 10-year-olds study immigration not just by reading, but by interviewing immigrants whom they know, visiting Ellis Island, and writing plays about immigrant experiences. We strive to support each child's strengths, encouraging the process of questioning, reflection, and verification of ideas. As a result, we graduate students who are confident and competent, academically and socially, and who have a natural curiosity about the world.
Our coursework reflects the identities of our diverse student body and current events going on in the world. As children grow, increasing scope and complexity are built into the curriculum. The richness of our academic program emphasizes multiple perspectives that help children find confident answers to recurring questions like: Who am I? and What are my relationships to others?
Building on our teachings around community and diversity, we also place a significant emphasis on activism and social justice. Our MLK Walk, Activism Week, and everyday classroom activities are designed to teach children the importance of being aware of current issues in the world and the urgent need to speak out against injustice.
The Lower and Upper Schools
Our school is divided into the Lower School, for pre-kindergarten through 4th grade, and the Upper School, for 5th through 8th grades.
The Lower School consists of six mixed-age classrooms, each with overlapping groups of 4-5 year-olds through 9-10 year-olds. The normal age span in a classroom is 18 months. These groupings (4-5s, 5-6s, and so on) allow for maximum flexibility in meeting the individual developmental needs of children and provide a broad base for social interaction.
The Upper School, comprised of 5th through 8th grades, is designed to prepare students for high school. Faculty advisors help students navigate the varied academic and social expectations, modeled on those found in high schools.
Classes generally have 18-20 students, with a ratio of teachers to pupils that allows for much individual attention. For older students, specialist instructors often break classes into even smaller groups.
Primary Subject Areas
Social Studies the core of each class, focusing on how contemporary society has evolved over the centuries
Language Arts building a love of reading and writing alike, with a focus on self-expression, identity, and social issues
Spanish balancing language acquisition with experiences of Latin American and Spanish culture
Math encouraging critical thinking and preparing students for high-school math
Science cultivating curiosity, first in nature, and later using curriculum in biology, chemistry, earth science, and physics
Computers emphasizing Internet research and writing, and later desktop publishing, graphic and website design
Arts helping students appreciate and express themselves through music, visual arts, drama, and woodworking
Library creating an informative, joyful place for students to read, research, and listen to our series of visiting authors
Movement and Physical Education taking advantage of Central Parks meadow and playgrounds and a local gym to give students a solid physical education
Click here to download a PDF of our Curriculum Guide.
Click here to download a PDF of our Curriculum Guide. 