A school made just for young children
At Corlears School, kids build core values like compassion, responsibility, and empathy in an environment centered on social and emotional development.
OUR APPROACH
About Corlears School
Corlears School is a nonprofit, independent, progressive elementary school located in Chelsea, New York. In our five decades of experience, we’ve come to understand that these early years are the most crucial formative years for every child. We specialize in guiding this age group because we believe the start of your child’s academic life should be nothing short of exceptional!
DIVERSITY
We celebrate each child’s talents, learning styles, and identities in an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect.
CURIOSITY
Project-based learning experiences encourage young minds to keep asking questions.
COMMUNITY
Our close-knit community is driven to make the world a better place — starting in our own backyard.
GROWTH
We’re cultivating considerate, ever-evolving thinkers, ready to make a difference in their world.
WHAT WE OFFER
Program Overview
Literacy, quantitative reasoning, scientific inquiry, problem-solving, artistic expression, social and emotional learning, and social justice are incorporated into every child’s course of study, at every age.
TOUCH
16–24 Months
Roots
16–24 MonthsRootsThe Roots program focuses on the growth of toddlers who are building confidence within new environments. The main goals of our Roots class are for your child to feel a sense of comfort, belonging, and independence in their first school environment.
TOUCH
Ages 2–3
Seedlings
Ages 2–3SeedlingsThe Seedlings nursery program fosters the natural wonder and curiosity of 2- and 3-year-olds. Through play-based learning and social interaction, we guide children to make discoveries about themselves, their classmates, the school community, and the world.
TOUCH
Age 4
PreK
Age 4PreKIn PreK, 4s students practice articulating their thinking and understanding in their own words as they embark on developing literacy and math skills. Children are positioned to ask questions and think deeply about one another and the world while literacy, math, art, and science are woven throughout classroom investigations.
TOUCH
Age 5
Kindergarten
Age 5KindergartenKindergartners are bubbling with new thoughts and ideas, and our teachers integrate social studies, science, math, art, and technology to foster a growing understanding of how everything in our world is interconnected.
TOUCH
First–Fifth Grade
Elementary
First–Fifth GradeElementaryThe Elementary program leverages decades of experience in early years education to provide space for children in first through fifth grade to develop into young leaders ready to make a difference in their community.
TOUCH
Beyond Corlears
Middle School Outplacement
Beyond CorlearsMiddle School OutplacementCorlears offers a comprehensive outplacement process that provides individualized support for all graduates, including test and interview prep, application review, and more. Plus: An innovative new partnership with The Calhoun School guarantees a pathway to 12th grade for all Corlears graduates.
AFFORDING CORLEARS
In the 2022–23 school year, Corlears introduced the Tuition Equity and Accessibility Model (TEAM), changing the paradigm from financial aid to equitable tuition level setting for all families. The TEAM is one of the many ways Corlears School demonstrates its commitment to DEIB, ensuring equity in our school all the way down to the tuition-setting structure.
Tuition Equity and Accessibility Model (TEAM)
Corlears is a leader in the prioritization of socioeconomic diversity and removing barriers to entry for the diverse community of young children in NYC, consistently dedicating 25–30% of gross tuition revenue toward what we used to refer to as financial aid; this is well above the independent school norm, especially for the early childhood and elementary years.In the 2022–23 school year, Corlears introduced the Tuition Equity and Accessibility Model (TEAM), changing the paradigm from financial aid to equitable tuition level setting for all families. The TEAM is one of the many ways Corlears School demonstrates its commitment to DEIB, ensuring equity in our school all the way down to the tuition-setting structure.
