A dual-track early childhood program, the first in New York City, will launch fall 2023
The Calhoun School and Metropolitan Montessori School (MMS) have announced plans to merge in fall 2023.
The merging of Metropolitan Montessori into Calhoun will create a dual-track early childhood program – the first of its kind for a New York City school – that gives greater choice and flexibility to families at a pivotal stage of their child’s development. Families will be able to choose between two different progressive programs for 3 year olds through third grade: Calhoun’s open inquiry curriculum or MMS’s Montessori curriculum. The Montessori program will be called “MMS@Calhoun.” Both tracks will then combine for grades four and on through 12th grade.
“What unifies Calhoun and Metropolitan Montessori is our deep progressive roots. Both schools put children at the center of their learning journey,” explained Steve Solnick, Calhoun’s Head of School. “What’s important to us is to be able to offer more choice to families as their children grow, change, and become ready for different academic experiences.”
The decision has been unanimously approved by both schools’ Boards of Trustees. Both institutions are driven by the same core beliefs – to spark children’s curiosity and autonomy and to foster a lifelong love of learning that prepares students to lead successful, satisfying lives.
“We feel fortunate to have found each other as partners,” said Racheal Adriko, MMS Head of School. “Our Trustees were impressed by the ingenuity of the Calhoun curriculum and the breadth of its extracurricular offerings for older students. We’re excited to maintain the Montessori approach in the early years, while providing students the opportunity to continue at one school, with so much dynamic programming, through graduation.”
The merger of the two schools will take place in two phases. During the 2022-23 academic year, the schools will continue to operate as independent institutions as they plan for their shared future and introduce their respective communities to one another. Starting in the 2023-24 academic year, Metropolitan Montessori’s program will become integrated into The Calhoun School.
About The Calhoun School:
The Calhoun School is a co-educational, progressive independent school on the Upper West Side serving students from preschool through 12th grade. As Manhattan’s open-concept school, Calhoun breaks down barriers and forges instructive connections between students, teachers, and the city and world at large. Its 81st Street campus (corner of 81st and West End Avenue) serves grades 3-12, and its 74th Street campus (74th and Amsterdam) serves preschool through 2nd grade.
About Metropolitan Montessori School:
Metropolitan Montessori School serves children between the ages of 2 and 14 years and is guided by the philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori. The MMS community is multicultural and highly international, and the school’s Montessori pedagogy emphasizes independence, rigor, and individualized learning. The school, which currently serves 150 students, opened in 1964 and is located at 325 85th Street, just a few blocks north of Calhoun’s main campus.
Contact:
The Calhoun School: Michelle Kiefer, Director of Communications, michelle.kiefer@calhoun.org, 212-497-6252
Metropolitan Montessori School: Ruth Samuelson, Director of Strategic Communications, rsamuelson@mmsny.org; 212-579-5525 ext. 128
Apply
Applications for the dual-track early childhood program are now open. Learn more