Mandell School. Long regarded as one of Manhattan’s most sought-after nursery schools, the Mandell School currently comprises pre-nursery through second grade, and will launch grades 5 and 6 in September. Head of school Gabriella Rowe intends for the growing institution to continue to operate under the philosophy with which it was founded in 1939: If a school provides structure, stimulation and a safe environment where children feel loved, kids can achieve anything. The school will eventually house junior kindergarten through eighth grade. “Middle schoolers will gain not only a greater consciousness about the world around them, but they’ll also be able to study the science of it, the math of it and the socio-economic impact of it,” Rowe says. 128 West 95th Street, 212-222-2925, mandellschool.org.
Speyer Legacy School. The Speyer Legacy School was designed specifically with the needs of gifted learners in mind. Open since September 2009, the school offers kindergarten and a combined first and second grade class, and plans to grow through eighth grade. The mission of the school is to provide a nurturing environment enabling precocious learners to realize their full potential alongside classmates and teachers who share their passion for learning. “Our plan is to create this program around the children rather than create the program and bring the children to it,” explains head of school Connie Williams Coulianos. The school emphasizes social and emotional as well as intellectual development. 211 West 61st Street, 212-581-4000, speyerlegacyschool.org.
Blue School. Open since September 2008, Blue School was founded by Matt Goldman, Phil Stanton and Chris Wink—the original three members of the Blue Man Group. The school offers programs for children from age 2 through second grade, and hopes to expand to include classes through fifth grade. “Blue School is an educational program where creativity is cherished and children are encouraged to fall in love with the joy of curiosity and learning,” says Goldman. Students learn through exploration, self expression, open communication, active play and group collaboration. 1 Avenue B, 646-602-7066, theblueschool.org.
The Goddard School. The Goddard School, a private preschool for children ages 6 weeks to 6 years, plans to open a facility in Chelsea later this year. Operating 360 schools in 39 states, Goddard is known throughout the country for its focus on each individual child, as well as its wide range of enrichment activities de signed to build each child’s emotional, social, cognitive and physical skills. “Goddard offers families the benefit of on-site owners and education directors who provide dependable management and open communication,” says media supervisor Brian DeLong. 124 West 24th Street, 800-GODDARD, goddardschool.com.
Bilingual Buds. This well-regarded Mandarin Chinese immersion program for children ages 1 to10 will be expanding to a new location on the Upper West Side. Mommy and me, preschool and afterschool programs immerse children in Mandarin, taking advantage of this age group’s exceptional capacity for learning. “Our program focuses on making children culturally aware, linguistically capable, and intellectually curious,” says Chief Administrative Officer Bill Hicks. 180 Riverside Blvd., 212-787-8088, bilingualbudsnyc.com.
World Class Learning Group. Though the details aren’t yet finalized, the World Class Learning Group, based in London and known for building highly-competitive educational institutions across the globe, is opening a new school in Manhattan this fall for grades Pre-K to 5. It will be the latest addition to the WCL Group’s British Schools of America, which include schools in Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Houston and Washington, DC, as well as abroad. The school will use the National Curriculum for England and the International Primary Curriculum, which is taught in 800 private and public schools in 58 countries around the world and is gaining in popularity as more educators learn of its success. “The new school will fulfill a niche in Manhattan for a top-quality education that really challenges children in what they can learn,” says Dana Haddad, a New York City educational consultant who will be the school’s Parent and School Coordinator. Visit wclgroup.com for more information.%uFFFD
