named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Explorers Program
Classroom program for 2-year-olds focusing on social development, autonomy, and transitioning from parallel to collaborative play in a nurturing environment
Extended Day Program
Afternoon program for full-day students combining mixed-age play, outdoor or indoor active play, and art studio time until 6:00 PM
Pathfinders Program
Curriculum for 3-year-olds centered on experimentation, communication, and emergent learning through play, with daily classroom jobs to build responsibility
Specialist Enrichment Classes
Weekly classes in music, art, science, and nature/gardening led by specialist teachers to enhance the core curriculum
Trailblazers Program (Pre-K)
Pre-kindergarten program for 4-year-olds integrating literacy, math concepts, and fine motor skills through play-based learning, storytelling, and student-led activities
activities · 7 groups
What they do
-
Play-Based Early Childhood Education 1 activity
- Early childhood education and childcare for children ages 2 to 5Provides full academic-year early learning programs (September to June) for children aged 2 to 5 in Washington Heights, offering play-based, child-led curricula with structured routines that support social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development. Operates classrooms with enrollment caps of 12–20 children and staff-to-child ratios from 1:4 to 1:6, licensed by the NYC Department of Mental Health and Hygiene and accredited by NAEYC.
-
-
Financial Aid and Scholarship Access Programs 1 activity
- Family financial aid and tuition assistanceOffers need-based financial aid annually to families who apply by deadline, with awards typically covering 10% to 20% of annual tuition costs.
-
-
Family-School Engagement Programs 1 activity
- Parent and family engagement activitiesConducts individual family conferences, parent-teacher conferences, and virtual "Start of School" meetings to support family involvement. Provides individualized guidance during the kindergarten application and admissions process for both public and independent schools.
-
-
Comprehensive Student Enrichment Programs 1 activity
- Specialized curriculum instruction in art, music, science, and languageEnhances the core early childhood curriculum with weekly specialized instruction in Science, Music, Art, Spanish, storytelling, and games & movement. Includes dedicated art studio sessions focused on clay-based and other creative media, drumming with djembes and floor toms for rhythm and patterning, and Handwriting Without Tears® for pre-K writing development.
-
-
Teacher Professional Development 1 activity
- Staff professional development in positive and reflective practicesInvests in ongoing staff capacity building through certification in Positive Discipline and regular professional discussions on Restorative and Reflective Practice in preschool settings to enhance teaching quality and classroom climate.
-
-
Summer Day Camp Programs 1 activity
- Summer enrichment program for children ages 2 to 5Offers a six-week summer program (July to August) featuring water play, science and nature activities, gardening, art, music, and movement on a rooftop playground overlooking the Hudson River; includes morning and afternoon snacks and a daily rest period. The program is led by master teachers and open for weekly registration to accommodate family schedules.
-
-
Special Education Preschool Programs 1 activity
- Support for children with developmental and special education needsProvides inclusive classroom environments for children receiving services from Early Intervention or CPSE, collaborating with speech therapists, occupational therapists, and SEITs to deliver individualized support within mainstream settings.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$986K
Contributions & grants$134K14%
Program service revenue$799K81%
Investment income$47K5%
Other revenue$6K
expenses
Total expenses$929K
Program expenses84%
Admin / overhead16%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$751K
Grants paid out$3K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.36M
Cash$137K
Investments$477K
Liabilities$734K
Net assets$628K
Liquid reserves7.9 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +3.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PATRICIA POOL | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $150K |
board members · 7
- ANN HARTENSTEIN — SECRETARY
- CANDACE J ERICKSON MDMPH — TREASURER
- JANE MAISEL — BOARD MEMBER
- JONATHAN AMIEL MD — BOARD MEMBER
- JORINDA SILVERSTEIN MPA MA — PRESIDENT
- LAUREN HOUGHTON — BOARD MEMBER
- PRUDENCE W FISHER PHD — VICE PRESIDENT
relationships · 20
Who they work with
- Bank Street Partner — MCNS graduates have been accepted to and are attending Bank Street School.
- CPSE Partner — Committee on Preschool Special Education that provides services to children enrolled at MCNS
- Calhoun School Partner — MCNS graduates have been accepted to and are attending Calhoun School.
- Cathedral School at St. John the Divine Partner — MCNS graduates have been accepted to and are attending Cathedral School at St. John the Divine.
- Columbia University Network — Recognized as a Columbia University Affiliated Early Learning Center.
- Columbia University Partner — Established formal affiliation and shares campus location at Haven Avenue.
- Consortium for Worker Education Partner — Participates in the FESP program administered by the Consortium for Worker Education.
- Early Intervention Partner — Program through which children receive therapeutic services supported by MCNS staff
- Facebook Partner — Platform used for connecting with parents, teachers, administrators, and alumni
- Handwriting Without Tears Partner — Uses Handwriting Without Tears® curriculum to support children's writing development.
- Independent Schools Admissions Association of Greater New York Network — Member of ISAAGNY, participating in coordinated admissions practices and professional development.
- Independent Schools Admissions Association of Greater New York Network — Member of ISAAGNY, the Independent Schools Admissions Association of Greater New York.
- Instagram Partner — Platform used for connecting with parents, teachers, administrators, and alumni
- Jazz WaHi Partner — Louise Rogers, MCNS Music Specialist, is a founder of Jazz WaHi and integrates its programming with MCNS music education.
- Louise Rogers Partner — Provides weekly music instruction for children in the nursery school program.
- NY State Board of Regents Government — Granted charter as an independent school in 1963.
- National Association for the Education of Young Children Network — Accrediting body that has regularly accredited the school since 2003
- New York City Department of Mental Health and Hygiene Government — Licensing agency for the nursery school
- Presbyterian Hospital Partner — Founded by the Women’s Auxiliary of the Presbyterian Hospital in New York City in 1955.
- The School at Columbia Partner — MCNS graduates have been accepted to and are attending The School at Columbia.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Emergent, Child-Centered Curriculum Driven by Observation and Relationshipsmethodology: emergent_curriculumBy using teacher observation of children’s play to dynamically adapt the curriculum, the organization aligns learning with each child’s developmental trajectory because children engage more deeply when learning emerges from their authentic interests and social interactions.
- Integrated Training Model for Workforce and Educational Developmentmethodology: training_integrated_service_deliveryBy integrating professional training for medical and graduate PhD students into its nursery school operations, the organization advances early childhood mental health practice because real-time, supervised fieldwork strengthens both service quality and workforce capacity.
- Play-Based Learning as Foundational Development Mechanismmethodology: play_based_learningBy centering education on play-based learning, the organization fosters cognitive, social-emotional, and pre-academic development because children learn most effectively through active, hands-on exploration and sustained, imaginative play.