About MCS

Our Campus

On Tuesday, September 13, 2016, Manhattan Country School opened the doors to its new home at 150 West 85th Street. It was an event several years in the making.

While our beloved home at 7 East 96th Street served us well for nearly 50 years, it did not offer room to expand. Accommodating our planned growth required a larger facility that was better aligned with our current and future program needs. The neighborhood has a long progressive history, consistent with the MCS mission. Proximity to Central Park and Riverside Park, as well as buses and subways, is a great fit for our educational community.

We are currently still in the renovation process. When all phases of renovation are complete, our new home will have:

two classrooms for every grade from pre-K to eighth
a multipurpose space for assemblies, physical education and athletic competitions
much-improved classrooms for science, art and other programs essential to our progressive education curriculum
program and administrative offices under one roof

Our New Home

Manhattan Country School has collaborated with architectural firm ABA Studio to design a building that serves our expanding community and allows us to advance our programmatic offerings.

Community is a core value of MCS and is supported by deliberate design features of our building. The vertical ascending placement of classrooms from youngest to oldest students is familiar, as is the marble staircase and fire escape students use to get from one floor to another.

When the three phases of renovation are complete, the building will feature two classrooms for every grade from pre-K to eighth grade; a multipurpose space for assemblies, physical education and athletic competitions; and improved facilities for science, art and other programs essential to our progressive education curriculum.

The 533-square-foot, four-story courtyard is another central design feature that reflects the value MCS places on community-building. New classroom pairs, situated around the uncovered courtyard, receive the kind of light and air now recognized as conducive for learning. The courtyard also serves as an outdoor teaching and meeting space for our community.

The interlocking 5-6s classrooms are located on separate floors, but are light-filled and connected both visually and by a nearby staircase. They are just one example of the unique educational spaces that exist in our new building.

Just as the Music Room in our former building served as an important gathering space, the 2,760-square-foot assembly space accommodates our growing community and serves as a venue for physical education classes and athletic competitions, performances and meetings.

Upper West Side History

A History of Diversity

Our new home is in close proximity to a section of Central Park particularly rich in history. Seneca Village, located from 81st to 89th streets between Seventh and Eighth avenues, is believed to have been Manhattan’s first stable community of African-American property owners.

Vibrant Neighborhood Details

Within easy walking distance, one can find Riverside Park, the American Museum of Natural History, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, Ballet Hispanico and the New York Historical Society.

One block away from Central Park and just next door to MCS’ new home is:

The Brandeis High School Campus
The Urban Assembly School for Green Careers
The Innovation Diploma Plus High School
The Global Learning Collaborative
The K-4 Upper West location of Success Academy Charter School.

— Written by Tom Hastings, MCS Parent

Interested in renting space at MCS for a weekend or evening event? Inquire here.

Manhattan Country School

150 West 85th Street, New York, NY 10024 | (212) 348-0952
3536 New Kingston Mountain Road, Roxbury, NY 12474 | (607) 326-7049