The Process

Thank you for your interest in our school.

An appointment for a tour for the upcoming school year, for grades Kindergarten through 5, can be made by calling 212 222-1450. Applications for the Lower School are distributed at our tours. Applicants for MSC's Upper School, grades 6 through 8, must refer to Community School District 3 Middle School Directory, which is distributed to all fifth graders.

The application process requires the completion of four steps. Please carefully note the steps and deadlines:

1. A PARENT TOUR OF MSC. We have scheduled tours starting in mid October. Upper School Tours are given on Mondays at 9:00am. Upper School tours continue until the November 22nd. Lower School Tours take place on Wednesdays at 9:00am and continue until December 22nd. Please call 212 222-1450 to reserve your place on a tour.


2. SUBMISSION OF A COMPLETED APPLICATION, which includes the application itself, a copy of your child's birth certificate and proof of your home address (e.g., a recent utility bill), and a report from your child's current school (if any). Have your child's school send its report directly to MSC. We encourage you to submit these materials as soon as possible; however, we must receive them by January 6th, 2006. Siblings of current MSC students must complete the entire admission process.


3. ATTENDANCE AT THE JANUARY PARENTS MEETING - to be held on January 12th, 2006


4. AN AFTER-SCHOOL VISIT. On one of several dates during the last week of January and the first week of February, your child will visit a classroom with other applicants in his or her age group.

Each year, MSC receives many more applications than it can accept. We will consider only completed applications, as outlined above. Admissions decisions will be made in late February, and we anticipate making notification, by letter, during the first week in March.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to apply?
Children entering kindergarten through eighth grade may apply. Kindergarten applicants must be five years old within the calendar year 2005. Admissions preference is given to residents of Manhattan Community School District 3.

How can families apply?
If you are interested in having your child attend the Manhattan School for Children Lower School, call to schedule an appointment for a school tour. At that time we can give you information about our application process. Applications for the Lower School are given out at our tours. If you are interested in applying to the Manhattan School for Children Upper School, complete the District 3 Choice Application and submit it to the District Office.

How will children be selected?
Because we believe all children have unique interests and talents, with unique contributions to make, we do not test for admission. Children will be admitted based the completion the school application process and on parent interest in the school and a match between the family and school philosophy. Entrance to the Upper School is guided through the District 3 Choice Process..

Where is the school located?
MSC is located, on the third, fourth, fifth and sixth floors of the former Joan of Arc High School, 154 W. 93rd St. between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues.

What special programs exist in the School?
All teaching staff of MSC have been trained to work within an integrated curriculum which balances inquiry based learning with skills acquisition. The staff works within grade level teams, often breaking dasses into smaller groups and theme based activities. The Manhattan School for Children has been a Federal Magnet School for six years, successfully completing all educational and social goals of that program The school is now an Annenberg Challenge School and an Annenberg New York City Partnership for the Arts School. Our partners are Columbia University's Eiffel Project, The Lucy Moses School and The Lincoln Center Institute. The school's extensive and fully integrated technology and arts programs are sponsored through these grants. The school is a member of the New Victory Theater. In addition to the challenging core curriculum, each child has daily experiences with visual arts, dance, drama, music, and computer technology. Each site has a working art studio, dance studio, technology center, library/reading room and LAN computer network

Our Philosophy

Children learn by doing. They learn by handling materials, exploring environments, discussing and planning projects, and conducting experiments. The curriculum encourages learning through discovery.

Children learn at different rates, using different strengths and different learning styles. The curriculum responds to each child's own level of development.

Children learn about the world in an integrated way. The curriculum integrates the disciplines of math, reading, writing, science, social studies, and the arts. The children's lives are the context for learning basic skills.

Children learn when they feel good about themselves. The curriculum fosters appreciation and respect for the individual, and for cultural and racial diversity.

Children learn when they are encouraged to recognize their own worth and potential. The curriculum is built on the belief that each child has the desire and ability to learn and excel.

Children learn when their teachers are supported and empowered. Teachers participate with the children in the excitement and wonder of the learning process.

Children learn when their parents are active participants in their school and education. Parent involvement is a key ingredient in the success of the school; indeed, each family is expected to choose from a wide array of opportunities to serve the school community.

Our Page in the District 3 Middle School Catalogue

PRINCIPAL
Susan Rappaport

TRANSPORTATION
Subway - IRT #1, #2, #3, #9; ND B and C
Bus - M5, M7, M10, Mu, M104

DESCRIPTION
The Manhattan School for Children middle school is dedicated to community and excellence for all children. The middle school is an extension of the Manhattan School for Children elementary school on West 93rd Street. Fifth graders currently enrolled at the elementary school are guaranteed acceptance if they select the middle school as their first choice. The remaining seats will then become available to other 5th grade students in District Three.

As a magnet school with "community" as its theme, the Manhattan School enjoys multiple partnerships with neighborhood institutions. Students at the Manhattan School are part of a community of life-long learners in a non-competitive educational setting. Each classroom is equipped with computers, networked within the school and connected to the Internet. The fundamental premise of the Manhattan School is that children learn by doing. Each child is able to develop according to his/her abilities and styles of learning. Curriculum requirements are woven into learning activities. Research projects permit children to "discover" concepts and ideas. A focus on practical problem-solving from the perspective of several disciplines enables students to use ideas in a way parallel to real research, while acquiring skills and information.

SPECIAL FEATURES

• Annenberg Challenge School Columbia University:
• Institute for Learning Technology
• The Dalton School New Technology Lab
• The Riverside Park Fund
• The Cultural Geography Project
• Regents Science and Mathematics Curriculum

• Annenberg II Cultural Arts Planning School
• The Lucy Moses School:
• Dance, Dalcroze, Theater Arts, and Music Program
• Lincoln Center Institute
• The New Victory Theatre

• Math Club
• Reading Workshop
• American Chess Foundation Chess Club
• Community Service Club
• Barrier-free accessible facility

• Ability to work well in small groups and on individual projects
• Ability or potential to handle challenging school work
• Interest in community-based programs
• Student commitment to the mission of the school

• Teacher recommendation that indicates student fulfills the admission requirements
• Student tour of the school
• Student interview and writing sample
• The school is committed to maintain heterogeneity in the student body.