The Studio School

117 West 95th Street

New York, NY 10025

46 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on February 01, 2025

Why Studio? At Studio, emotional grounding is the basis for academic development. We did not understand this until our now 9 y/o joined Studio in 2022. In fact, we did not fully comprehend the meaning of Studio’s motto “an education from the inside out,” which is intrinsic to its curriculum, until our son started to manifest his academic strengths and weaknesses. The latter in particular have been the most exciting to witness, for it is because of the emotional grounding and academic support that Studio provides that our son has been able to take on academic challenges with calm resolve. But it’s perhaps Ms. Rotter’s (Head of School) remarkable understanding of child academic development and psychology that Studio has turned into such an integral part of our family and of the way we now approach learning. Unlike other Heads of School, Ms. Rotter knows every single one of the students (and parents) at Studio and, with her team of outstanding educators, develops individualized and highly effective learning strategies and objectives for the family. Each kid learns differently. This fact meets a thriving context at Studio. Moreover, Ms. Mabey’s (Head of Teaching & Learning) curriculum expertise seals academic rigor at Studio. At Parent/Teacher meetings, she teams up with Head Teachers to augment our understanding of our child’s development and to identify strategies to contribute to this development at home. At Studio, we are all developing together. Studio’s curriculum also shines for its interdisciplinarity, combining language (Spanish and English), math, science and history all in “One World.” Children can learn US history along with math principles. Studio’s mathematics curriculum is extremely efficient. Math is not taught as just a set of numbers, but as a language reflected in everyday life. Studio offers a complete education, making connections from the school to home and everywhere in between. Now that we have seen our kid grow older at Studio, we see someone who enjoys learning, who understands his weaknesses and is unafraid to work on them, and someone who understands his strengths and actively works on maintaining them. This is a clear outcome of Studio’s education “from the inside out” approach. This is why we continue to choose Studio.
Submitted by parent on January 29, 2025

The Studio School is a wonderful school in a lovely setting on the Upper West Side in New York.The faculty is amazing, taking the time to know and understand each student, both academically and personally. This allows for individualized learning programs, while still building a strong sense of class / group dynamic.The Studio School embraces their small school structure to foster a truly mixed-age approach to the community - all the kids know each other and interact across classes, which builds confidence for both younger and older children.While our kids are currently in 4th and 6th grade, one of the greatest testaments to The Studio School is the eighth grade classes - I have never met more mature, self-assured, polite, and engaging 8th graders anywhere else!Lastly, and importantly for our family, The Studio School has a truly diverse student (and faculty) population, capturing the melting pot of New York in a natural way like no other school we've seen.Highly recommended!
Submitted by parent on December 13, 2024

One of the things I value most about Studio is its incredible sense of community. The relationships my daughter has built with her teachers and peers have been invaluable. Studio goes beyond academics by helping students explore who they are as individuals and how they fit into the larger world. This focus on emotional intelligence and self-awareness has shaped her into a compassionate, patient, and tolerant young person. She’s learned how to collaborate, communicate, and grow as a member of a group.What I love about Studio is that the learning doesn’t stop in the classroom—it stays with the students and becomes a part of who they are. The teachers create an environment that balances instruction and exploration, and they really take the time to guide each child to discover their unique strengths. I’ve seen my daughter thrive in this setting, and I’m so grateful for the way Studio has nurtured her potential.
Submitted by parent on December 09, 2024

We joined The Studio School this fall, and our entire family absolutely loves it! Last year, while searching for a school for our daughter, we had a strong feeling that this was the right place—and we were absolutely right.The Studio School places a remarkable emphasis on each individual child. The faculty and teachers make a genuine effort to see and understand every student, embracing their unique personalities, learning styles, interests, and even family backgrounds. Their holistic approach treats each child as a responsible individual, empowering them with age-appropriate responsibilities. Meanwhile, the school’s close-knit community and warm environment provide a supportive space where children can confidently express their abilities.As a mother, I’m especially delighted that the school provides healthy, freshly prepared lunches and snacks made right in their kitchen. My daughter often shares how the children actively participate in the meal process—preparing, serving, passing dishes, and even cleaning up afterward. These small but meaningful tasks foster teamwork and a sense of contribution to the community.We also love how connected the students are across grade levels. It’s heartwarming to see that my daughter knows the names of so many older and younger students—and they know hers. This highlights the school’s emphasis on multi-grade interactions through shared activities, fostering a strong sense of community.We couldn’t be happier with our decision and are so excited to see our daughter continue to thrive in this incredible environment.
Submitted by other on July 19, 2023

I wouldn’t recommend this school to anyone, no matter what your circumstance may be. I barely learned anything in my years at Studio. They made the children do chores at school instead of learning like they should be. There is no steady curriculum and they would stop our academic classes during the year to work on various projects of theirs such as: the play, the annual gala, multicultural festival, Virginia O’Hanlon event, etc. Attending this school for several years was one of the most dreadful and emotionally harmful experiences of my life. I regret it deeply.
Submitted by other on October 28, 2020

As a Studio alumnus, looking back to when I was a student, I felt welcomed by peers and staff throughout my nine years of learning at Studio. I was able to master how to get my thoughts and ideas out there. I was trained to learn how to be responsible, organized, and independent with my work. Preparing for high school was nerve-racking for me because I was about to go somewhere new, but it was a smooth transition thanks to the support and guidance from Studio. I knew I wanted to focus on the arts in high school and the staff helped tremendously by suggesting perfect art schools. I was given guidance by the art teacher, Ms. Bell, on creating a great art portfolio for auditions. I am now a sophomore at Gramercy Arts High School and thanks to Studio, I’m able to express my creativity and ideas freely.
Submitted by parent on October 28, 2020

What we want most for our children is for them to love to learn. Everyday our daughters wake up eager to attend school. They excitedly anticipate what experiments they might conduct each day or how they can improve upon projects from the previous day. The studio school creates an environment that fosters and celebrates inquiry, critical thinking and collaborative learning. As parents , we view teachers, administrators and the larger community of parents as part of our team to create well rounded children from the inside out.
Submitted by parent on October 28, 2020

Five starts for many reasons! The Studio School nurtures our daughter's gift for storytelling by giving her ample opportunity to explore tone, voice, themes, and other aspects of the craft of writing across multiple genres. While at Studio, students read from a diverse body of literature and are also presented with ample opportunity to write themselves. A particular highlight for our daughter is helping to write the Studio Players original play each year. She has found her voice as an essayist and fiction writer, and she has tried her hand at poetry too. Young poets, essayists, playwrights, and fiction writers are all nurtured by the English and writing programs at Studio.
Submitted by parent on November 14, 2019

We LOVE Studio because #It feels like a home rather than a school - in fact, it was Virginia O'Hanlon's home. Her spirit lives on here because Studio believes, like the Little Prince, only with the heart can we truly see; what’s important is not visible to the eye. #There’s a dog named Bruno that our son loves to pet every day. Bruno doesn't like his tail pulled. Our son is learning to perceive others' feelings, even animals'. #At Studio our son can be himself because Studio wants children to be themselves ("Studio education is inside out"). Studio teachers and parents believe children learn best when children are in charge of their learning. #Parents and Ms. Rotter (Head of School) get together regularly to share thoughts about parenting. Studio parenting consists in helping children act from the inside. We believe in Studio parenting, but oh, how much to learn even for us believers! #It's a small school where all the teachers and all the children (2-year-olds to 14) know each other. A wonderful 110-children family lives at the home that is The Studio School. #When he turns 6, our son will get to be on a team that cooks lunch for the whole Studio family. At Studio everyone knows everyone’s food sensitivities/allergies because everyone takes turns cooking. #When he’s 7, he’ll start having weekly classes called Tutorial with Ms. Rotter, who will give open-ended assignments through which he’ll begin to discover himself. No judging or commenting in Tutorial; only sharing and understanding yourself and one another. #At Studio every emotion, good or bad, is acknowledged. Emotional connection is the foundation on which teachers help students learn and grow. Not only is this good for learning; we believe this is how life must be lived! #Teachers are patient. Yes, there’re limits (e.g., no hurting others), but we're impressed by how far the boundary of what's permitted is. #Most importantly, our son LOVES Studio! He barges into teachers' offices looking for Bruno and is never stopped. He likes to paint with white; so his classroom is now stocked with a lot of white paint. He likes to water the plants in the yard; so his teachers supply him with all the water he needs. So much space for our son and his friends to run around in the bright sun-lit gym! If he’s not ready to move on to the class’ next activity, his teachers will wait for him. Any wonder he loves school?
Submitted by parent on October 02, 2019

Our son joined Studio’s toddler program when he was 2 ½ years old, and is currently enrolled in the early childhood program. Our daughter recently enrolled in Studio’s toddler program. Both of our children have grown leaps and bounds under the nurturing environment at Studio. They both look forward to school where they learn through exploration. In a short period of time, both of them have developed valuable social skills, such as how to work in a group setting. We are also impressed by the attention that Studio pays to each student, and in particular, their active communication with the parents to make sure that the approach the school and the parents takes on educating a child at each stage of development is in line. Studio is truly special and we cannot recommend the school highly enough!
Submitted by parent on January 17, 2019

We have seen our 6-year-old daughter blossom in many wonderful ways since beginning at The Studio School. In just a few short months, she has transformed into a confident and enthusiastic explorer of new topics such as reading and writing. We see a noticeable difference in how clearly she communicates her wants and needs with both adults and her friends. The individualized attention, nurturing, and guidance that she receives from her teachers, provide her with the tools and perspective to relate to her world with unprecedented zeal and curiosity. As parents we have also benefited from the guidance and attention of The Studio School staff and administrators. Twice a month the School offers parents the opportunity to attend parent development meetings, facilitated by the Head of School. Each meeting has left us better equipped as parents and relieved in the knowledge that we are not alone in facing the many parenting challenges of today’s world. We could not be happier to be part of The Studio School community and look forward to continuing our family's experience.
Submitted by parent on November 15, 2017

The Studio School was just the right choice to send our daughter to. She will graduate this year and enter high school a calm, caring, and thoughtful young lady., qualities attributed to the caring staff and pedagogy of the school. She is well-prepared for her next educational step. We know The Studio School gently guided her on so many ways for we are so grateful.
Submitted by parent on November 13, 2017

Our son has attended Studio for 7 plus years. A lot of schools talk about individualized learning, but at Studio it is far more than just talk--it is what they do.The school emphasizes strong academics in Reading and Writing, Science, Math, and One world. The teachers at Studio are caring and dedicated and are always accessible to students and their families.
Submitted by parent on November 13, 2017

My husband and I have 2 children ages 8 and 10 in their 6th year at Studio. We could not be happier with the education they are receiving there. My 10 year old daughter is filled with enthusiasm about Reading and Writing. The children are writing their own stories, and learning grammar, punctuation, vocabulary, spelling, and story telling in the process. She is excited about all of her assignments and classwork, and comes home from school ready to dive in to her homework. My son is excited about math. The teachers give the children a lot of individual attention which allows the kids to work at a pace that suits them. My son is working on decimals and fractions, and can't wait every night to show me where he is in his math workbook and what new skill he is working on. Studio's homework philosophy is also invaluable. Staff will tell you right away that homework is between the teacher and the student and you should not be involved in ensuring that your child does his/her homework or checking the homework. I was skeptical at first, but my kids do their homework without any reminders or pressure from me at all. They tell me that they have to get home early enough to have time for homework, or they ask me to wake them early so they can finish an assignment. They are learning academically, they are becoming responsible for themselves and their work, and they love going to school. We can't recommend Studio School highly enough.
Submitted by parent on November 06, 2017

I searched NYC for a school that would provide a calm, structured environment for my children where their well-being and education would be the top priority. (And not scores on standardized tests). At last I found this haven at Studio, and my children have been thriving here for several years. Among my favorite parts: the well-roundedness of the education (which includes Kitchen Sciences, so the children learn to cook and communally clean-up); the flexibility of the program (so students with different abilities are allowed to progress as best-suited); the diversity (such that we don't ever talk about diversity; instead families of all different backgrounds and persuasions work collectively on all our children's well-being); and the teachers, who develop close relationships with each child and devote themselves tirelessly to helping them grow. A gem of a school.
Submitted by parent on April 17, 2017

Studio is a special place that is focused on the whole development of a child - not just the academic. Our son is thriving in the Early Childhood program and is thriving there.
Submitted by parent on March 10, 2017

Our daughter entered The Studio School this year. She is so excited about going to school each day. She feels at home. We have noticed that she is constantly making things out of cardboard and clay. She is working on all of these independent projects around our apartment. We certainly must give Studio School credit. The teachers encourage children to explore. It's a critical part of the school's philosophy and culture. My husband and I wish we had the freedom to explore when we were her age. The Studio School is also an intimate and supportive community for our entire family. Community matters to Studio. It matters to our family, particularly in New York City.
Submitted by parent on February 17, 2017

Our world is a beautifully diverse place – one which must be celebrated on every level. The beauty of the Studio School (one of many) is that diversity is inherent, not only in its make up but in its philosophy. It doesn’t try to be diverse in its teachings – it just simply is. They don’t compare themselves. It is simply part of the natural order.Diversity, of course, by its very definition, comes in all forms, shapes and sizes. Diversity is economic, racial, religious, social and familial to name just a few. We should be so lucky to live in a world that is completely open to full diversity. Unlike many of us who grew up in a different time and place, the wonderful thing for our children at Studio is that there is no other way. They grow and learn without anyone telling them that any part of their lives is wrong or any part of their colleague’s lives are wrong. Therefore, everyone’s lives are right.Promoting this is the fact that the school is just small enough that everyone knows everyone. The kindergarten student knows the 8th grader, the 8th grader knows the kitchen staff, the kitchen staff knows the 3rd grade teacher, so on and so on. Actually knowing each other breaks down any mysterious barrier that could exist somewhere else. It certainly doesn’t hurt that underlying all of this is a staff of unbelievably supportive, intelligent, funny and open individuals.
Submitted by parent on February 16, 2017

I have a son in his second year at Studio School (Middle School). When we looked for an Independent School for our son, after making a meditated decision to switch from the public school system, we knew it had to be one in which the curriculum and teachers' approach would emphasize critical and independent thinking, creativity, and self-reliance (over testing, assessments, and competition among students). I work in the private sector, at an advertising agency in midtown Manhattan, and I have interviewed and hired enough interns and full time employees to realize that what matters the most in the current (and future) economy is the kind of skills that are fostered at Studio School: problem solving, ability to work independently but also as a positive member of a team, solid writing and thinking skills, cultural sensitivity, and a creative mind. Those are skills that, regardless what happens to our economy, will never be outsourced. That is the kind of individual that I would want to have under my team, and one of the many reasons why we appreciate Studio's approach so much.
Submitted by parent on February 16, 2017

Our daughter is a student in the early childhood program, and we couldn't be happier. I could go on and on discussing what a special place this is. First of all, children are "allowed" to be children. From basic tasks such as tiding up after playing, to getting ready for school without having to remind the child what needs to be done, teachers and administrators work closely with the children to meet them where they are and develop a sense of responsibility and independence, and helping the child understand their own emotional responses to routine situations. On a different note, something that I really like about the school is its approach to the use of computers. I am a software engineer in Manhattan, and I dread when I see schools falling into the fad of having an iPad or computer indiscriminately used in the classroom. At Studio, they have a wonderful computer lab fully equipped with Mac computers. However, students do not rely on laptops to get their work done on a regular basis. Instead, it is mostly in the upper grades, and in a way that makes sense: for specific projects, such as research papers and layout designs (students learn to use programs like Adobe Indesign and Photoshop, for instance). I have seen how the older kids are not obsessed with screens, and I know this is thanks to Studio's approach to a great extent: screens are one tool among many, and the student's critical mind learns to know how much is good for them at home.