The Global Learning Collaborative

This is a wonderful school with a great community - especially at the K level. Our son is in his second year at PS009 and loves the school. In fact the school is the only reason we are still living in NY. My son has made amazing friends and has learned so much not just about academics but also about social responsibility and the importance of kindness. Both his K and 1 teachers have been extraordinary and demonstrate that they sincerely care about the children. Unfortunately Mayor Adams has determined education is not a priority in NYC so our class sizes have become rather large (28 in my son's 1st grade class), but fortunately the teachers are qualified to handle these larger class sizes and the school provide small group instruction at least twice a week for every child.

Our family moved from Park Slope (where there are plenty of highly regarded schools) to the Upper West Side specifically so that our son could start Kindergarten at the Geneva School of Manhattan. Geneva School is unique in being the only Preschool through Twelfth Grade classical Christian school in New York City. In a nutshell, this means that God is at the center of the curriculum through an integrated focus on Truth, Goodness, and Beauty across all subjects. As a result, our son is highly engaged with this schoolwork because it is presented in a way that sparks his wonder. For example, the visual nature of Singapore Math appeals to his intuition, and this is usually the favorite part of his homework. He is learning to read through good books and poetry, and he is also developing his penmanship with a goal of eventually being able to write beautifully in cursive. He is beginning to learn the beauty of the French language, and he is also immersed in beauty every week through the study of music theory and piano at the Geneva Conservatory of Music. Our son is also being encouraged to develop virtuous habits at school, and we are delighted that Geneva School is an extension of the education that begins at home.With God at the center, Geneva School is an oasis where ordinary acts are done with extraordinary love. As new parents, we were welcomed with open arms. During our son’s first week of Kindergarten, the Head of School would sometimes walk him into the building at drop-off to help him feel more comfortable with his new beginnings. The Head of the Lower School also checked in with me and my wife a week later to find out how our son was adjusting to his new class. These are just a couple of examples of the many kind gestures that we didn’t expect but were grateful to receive from the school in our first weeks.As new members of this community, we are increasingly convinced that Geneva School is one of the most successful ecumenical endeavors in New York City. The Geneva School community includes Christian families from across the mystical body of Christ, united around the One through whom we are one (John 17:21-23). Geneva School has been an answer to prayer for our family and we very much look forward to both of our children growing in faith, scholarship, and virtue in this school over the years ahead!

I have two kids at Manhattan Country School and am very happy with the school. The teachers are wonderful, the administration is available and responsive, and both of my kids love going to school everyday. I appreciate their commitment to progressive education and values of activism, social justice, diversity, equity and inclusion, and the farm program. I also think the school is unique in that is truly seems to "walk the walk" in regards to these values. The sense of inclusiveness is palpable, and the sliding scale tuition makes for a uniquely diverse community. The school also has a farm in the Catskills where students begin to visit in their 7-8s (2nd grade) year, with visits increasing in frequency and duration each year. At the Farm, kids learn to tend the gardens and animals, cook together, work in the textile workshop, and solidify their sense of being an interdependent community. My kids are truly excited about going to the farm. The school also has an active parent community.

We have two high-energy boys - one in the nursery program and the other in elementary school. What strikes me every time I see the kids at this school, in every situation, is how nice they are to each other, respectful to their teachers, staff, and parents, and genuinely excited about learning. The nursery (through K) and elementary schools are nurturing environments. The teachers know the kids well and they get the support they need. Our elementary classes were each set up with a 14-16 kids, a head teacher, an assistant teacher, and a learning/reading specialist shared among two classes. Teachers go out of their way to bring whatever is needed to the classroom to support individual students and help parents connect with external resources when recommended. The after school program in elementary is robust, especially for a school of this size. They offer early care, after care (homework helper) and optional enrichment classes (these programs are not included in tuition). The nursery school (through K) is at a different location from elementary/middle school, so this can be an inconvenience if you have multiple children at these different ages, but they are close enough to be manageable on a single commute.

MCS is a true gem in NYC, particularly for families of color. The combination of racial literacy, high academic standards, and a vibrant family community makes it an exceptionally special place.For our Black family, the school offers a genuinely safe environment, which is a rarity among NYC private schools. We have been pleased to find a significant presence of Black and brown kids in every class. The parent community is equally dynamic and diverse, which has had a tremendously positive impact on us. We cannot speak highly enough of our kids' teachers, who have all been fantastic. We are thrilled with the quality of their classroom experience thus far. Even during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, we had the opportunity to observe the teachers over Zoom, and we were thoroughly impressed. Witnessing our son and daughter consistently being uplifted and developing a healthy sense of self has been truly rewarding.