Full-Day & Half-Day Preschool in Manhattan, NYC

The Brownstone School and Daycare Center, Manhattan:
The Brownstone School and Daycare Center is a preschool located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, at 128 West 80th Street between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues, half a block from the Museum of Natural History. We were founded in 1963 and chartered by the New York State Board of Regents in 1983. Most of our families live or work on Manhattan's Upper West Side. However, the school has always been strongly committed to families from a variety of cultural, ethnic and economic backgrounds that reflect our diverse society, so families from all over the city have always been a part of The Brownstone.

Education Programs:
Approximately 110 preschool children attend The Brownstone School. We offer a flexible schedule for your child - either half days, 9:00 AM -12:30 PM (AM Session) or 1:30-4:30 PM (PM Session); full day, 9 00 AM - 3:30 PM; or an extended day program from 8:00 AM - 5:45 PM .The school closes promptly at 5:45 p.m. Parents may choose to enroll their child from 2 to 5 days per week.

Tuition is comparable to that of other NYC independent, early childhood schools. Children must be 2 years of age, by May 31st to be enrolled at the school. Those who meet eligibility requirements may apply for placements, available through the New York City's Agency of Child Development.

The Brownstone School has six preschool classes. Each group is identified by color and, except for the young two's, have an entire floor to themselves. Classrooms are air-conditioned, bright, spacious, and equipped with age-appropriate areas that promote both child and teacher-directed activities. Routines and daily schedules are maintained but not strictly followed to allow for flexibility and spontaneity. A newly renovated backyard equipped with a double slide, climbing apparatus, a short tunnel, tricycles, child-size basketball hoop, and metal "VW beetle" is available for all to use. The Upper West Side has lots of fun places for children to visit, so Brownstone students often make trips. They visit Central Park, The Museum of Natural History, Riverside Parks, and others. The children also have music and movement classes.

Red Room:
Class Size - 12 children daily

Children entering the red room must be two-years-old by May 31st of the school year It is not necessary for children to be potty-trained before they begin. However, bottles and pacifiers are prohibited while in school. For many young 2s, the Red Room is the first group experience without their parent and/or caretaker. The adjustment period includes a home visit the week before school starts. Gradual separation follows for the first two weeks and may continue for up to a month.

Red Room focuses on social and expressive language skills. Children learn to interact with their peers through sharing, waiting their turn, cooperating, and negotiating. They also learn to develop warm and trusting relationships with caring adults outside their immediate family. Each child is encouraged to "use their words" to express their needs, feelings, and ideas. Teachers model and provide basic phrases that children can use with each other during their daily interactions.

Self-help skills are taught to help foster independence and self-esteem. Basic concepts are introduced through the use of art and music. The classroom is equipped with a sand/water table, an easel, housekeeping area, cardboard blocks, a reading corner, and age-appropriate puzzles, games, and manipulatives. Children are read to on a daily basis.

Blue Room:
Class Size - 16 to 17 children daily

Blue Room is an old twos/young three's class. Children are not required to be toilet trained before they begin. New children have a home visit a few days before school starts and go through a gradual separation process that lasts for two to three weeks.

In the Blue Room, children learn to make choices for themselves. Each day, they are presented with an array of activities from which to choose.. Every activity helps to advance a specific area of development, i.e., fine motor ability, visual perception, creativity, etc. Teachers help facilitate choices by working alongside each child.

Small group activities are planned daily. They help to promote cooperation, to extend attention span, foster expressive language skills, and enable teachers to focus on individual strengths. Concept building is usually introduced in this format. Activities are fun, hands-on, and non-competitive.

Green Room - Morning:
Class Size - 17-18 children daily

The children in these rooms are three, turning four during the course of the year. By this level, children tend to be more independent and are able to navigate through classroom activities on their own. They learn to focus on individual tasks and attempt to work towards completion. Responsibility is further enhanced by assigning specific jobs to each child in rotation.

Green Room and Yellow Room are considered "Junior Pre-K" classes, so some of their children are beginning to work on their pre-reading, pre-math and writing skills. The letters and their phonemic sounds are introduced and reinforced throughout the year. There is more concentration on laying a firm foundation to help prepare for formal academics in the future. Mastery of fine motor skills and basic concepts are given more attention.

In addition to the typical early childhood curriculum, special themes are covered during the school year, including health; community, and a very popular theme revolving around cultural diversity. Children are introduced to different cultures, starting with their own teachers. Parents are encouraged to participate. Presentations include food, native dress, currency, language, films, books and music, to name a few.

Some children move on to kindergarten in a public school or a Pre-K program in a private school after they complete this class.

Yellow Room (afternoon):
Class Size - 14 children daily

Students in this age group work on pre-reading and pre-math skills. Some of these children may move on to public school kindergarten or an independent school pre-k program

The children in these rooms are three, turning four during the course of the year. By this level, children tend to be more independent and are able to navigate through classroom activities on their own. They learn to focus on individual tasks and attempt to work towards completion. Responsibility is further enhanced by assigning specific jobs to each child in rotation.

Green Room and Yellow Room are considered "Junior Pre-K" classes, so the children are beginning to work on their pre-reading, pre-math and writing skills. The letters and their phonemic sounds are introduced and reinforced throughout the year. There is more concentration on laying a firm foundation to help prepare for formal academics in the future. Mastery of fine motor skills and basic concepts are given more attention.

In addition to the typical early childhood curriculum, special themes are covered during the school year, including health; community, and a very popular theme revolving around cultural diversity. Children are introduced to different cultures, starting with their own teachers. Parents are encouraged to participate. Presentations include food, native dress, currency, language, films, books and music, to name a few.

Some children move on to Kindergarten in a public school or a Pre-K program in a private school after they complete this class.

Lilac Room (morning):
Class Size - 17 to 18 children daily

The children will turn five during the school year. "Spanish Day" is once a week. Stories are read, songs are sung and conversations take place in Spanish.Children develop the skills to work independently on pre-reading, math and writing skills. Emotional and social development is equally important.

Children turn five during their year in this class. Classroom activities continue to offer a variety of choices that help to foster independence, self-confidence, respect for others, enthusiasm for learning, and growth in all areas of development. In addition, pre-reading and pre-math skills are further enhanced.

Daily "journal" writing helps to develop the skill of using a writing implement and, for some, penmanship skills. Children's journal pages are sent home monthly. Spanish is introduced once a week through songs, children's literature, and simple words and phrases throughout the day. Parents are invited to read to the class. Cooking /baking activities are done frequently.

Orange Room (afternoon):
Class Size - 14 children daily

Children turn five during their year in this class. Classroom activities continue to offer a variety of choices that help to foster independence, & self-confidence, respect for others, enthusiasm for learning, and growth in all areas of development. In addition, pre-reading and pre-math skills are further enhanced.

Daily "journal" writing helps to develop the skill of using a writing implement and, for some, penmanship skills. Children's journal pages are sent home monthly. Spanish is introduced once a week through songs, children's literature, and simple words and phrases throughout the day. Parents are invited to read to the class. Cooking /baking activities are done frequently.

Rainbow Room:
Rainbow room students turn five between June and December. Cognitive skills are reinforced, together with social and emotional development. Mandarin is introduced.

Small class size, approx 1:6 ratio.

In September 2008, the Brownstone School added a 7th class for those children who would turn 5 during June to December. The room is called the Rainbow Room. This allows summer birthday children, who would like to apply to kindergarten at an independent school, the opportunity to have another year at Brownstone should a family wish to do so.

Following our philosophy, we will continue to focus on the whole child's well being. We will continue to build on the cognitive skills introduced in their previous class so that writing, math and reading skills are reinforced in preparation for either Kindergarten at an independent school or 1st grade at a public school. We may accept a few new children from outside of the Brownstone community, as space allows.