named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Afternoon Adventures
After-school enrichment program for ages 4-13 offering workshops and activities Monday through Friday
Kitchen-Science
Students ages 4-14 prepare and serve healthy lunches daily using natural, unprocessed ingredients; integrates food education and sustainability through composting
Parent Education
Biweekly parent development meetings to support child well-being and academic growth
Summer@Studio
Summer programs including Sun Fun (ages 2-5), Beyond Imagination (ages 6-9), and Artists in Residence (ages 10-14)
Virginia O’Hanlon Scholarship Fund
Need-based scholarship program for students of merit, honoring Virginia O’Hanlon’s legacy as an educator and advocate for children
activities · 9 groups
What they do
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Early Childhood Education & Development Programs 1 activity
- Deliver early childhood education programsOperates a Toddler Program and the Beginnings Program for children from birth through age four, including play-based learning and parent groups. The toddler classroom includes structured activities with blocks, art materials, stories, songs, and gym, with a program capacity of 8 students.
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High School Placement Support 1 activity
- Facilitate student transitions and family engagementProvides guidance to seventh- and eighth-grade students and their families through the high school application and selection process. Also hosts family picnics, graduations, and community-building events such as galas and auctions to strengthen school-family ties.
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Admissions Outreach and Enrollment Support 1 activity
- Host community and admissions eventsHosts open house events, classroom tours, virtual visits, and admissions interviews from October to April to engage prospective families. Events include interactive classes, presentations, and immersive experiences of the school’s educational approach.
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Project-Based Learning Programs 1 activity
- Implement interdisciplinary curriculaDelivers the Studio School Approach and How-to-Learn Curriculum, along with the interdisciplinary One World curriculum that integrates physical sciences, history, geography, technology, social justice, diversity, and sustainability. The curricula emphasize deep thinking, scholarship, identity integration, and personal authenticity.
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Comprehensive K–8 Academic Curriculum 1 activity
- Operate private elementary and middle schoolProvides private education for students from preschool through 8th grade, serving children ages 2 to 14 with a focus on intellectual, emotional, and character development. The school operates a full middle school program, including grades seven and eight, and offers classroom environments centered on intellectual passion, wonder, and relational learning.
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Comprehensive Student Enrichment Programs 1 activity
- Provide after-school and enrichment workshopsOffers after-school workshops where students engage in filmmaking, cooking, model design, chess, and peer-led pop-up workshops. Also hosts Saturday workshops and family activities to promote creative and educational engagement across generations.
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Youth and Family Cooking Education 1 activity
- Run student-led Kitchen Science programStudents aged 4–14 prepare and serve healthy lunches daily as part of the Kitchen Science program, which integrates nutrition, science, and community responsibility. The program has been featured in national media including ABC’s _The Chew_ and _The New York Times_.
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Financial Aid and Scholarship Access Programs 1 activity
- Support student diversity and financial accessProvides need-based financial aid to 35% of students through the Virginia O’Hanlon Scholarship Fund, supporting access for students of merit. The fund and its legacy have been featured on CBS _Sunday Morning_.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Promote multicultural and inclusive educationEnriches curriculum with diverse representation and facilitates ongoing classroom discussions on race and identity in a safe and inclusive setting. Produces creative works such as the spoken word poetry collection 'Spoken Word Poetry for the Unspoken Voices of History' to amplify marginalized voices.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$4.84M
Contributions & grants$938K19%
Program service revenue$3.81M79%
Investment income$98K2%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$4.83M
Program expenses65%
Admin / overhead32%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$2.20M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$9.14M
Cash$1.24M
Investments$0
Liabilities$11.33M
Net assets$-2.19M
Liquid reserves3.1 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +20.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 4
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JANET ROTTER | HEAD OF SCHOOL | 40 | $178K |
| JULIANNE MABEY | EMPLOYEE | 40 | $120K |
| SHERA SILVER | EMPLOYEE | 40 | $114K |
| CHRISTINE BOCHAR | EMPLOYEE | 40 | $113K |
board members · 8
- BRADLEY SCHLEYER — MEMBER
- CYNTHIA NOE — SECRETARY
- DAWN WEST — MEMBER
- IAN PATRICK — MEMBER
- LAMBERT LEWIS — MEMBER
- SUSAN BRECHER — MEMBER
- SUSAN PORTELLI — TREASURER
- TERENCE DOUGHERTY — PRESIDENT
relationships · 42
Who they work with
- ABC Partner — Featured The Studio School's Kitchen-Science Program on the national show _The Chew_.
- Bank Street College of Education Network — Janet C. Rotter graduated from Bank Street College of Education and later led the development of the Studio School Approach.
- Bard College at Simon’s Rock Partner — High school placement partner where Studio School graduates have been accepted.
- Bard High School Early College, Manhattan Partner — High school placement partner where Studio School graduates have been accepted.
- Bard High School Early College, Queens Partner — High school placement partner where Studio School graduates have been accepted.
- Board of Regents of The University of the State of New York Government — Chartered the Studio School as a 501(c)3 educational corporation.
- Bronx High School of Science Partner — High school placement partner where Studio School graduates have been accepted.
- Brooklyn Latin Partner — High school placement partner where Studio School graduates have been accepted.
- Brooklyn Technical Partner — High school placement partner where Studio School graduates have been accepted.
- CBS Partner — Featured The Studio School's Virginia O’Hanlon legacy on _Sunday Morning_.
- Carol Sedwick Partner — Honorary Trustee supporting the school in an advisory capacity.
- Carole Kunstadt Partner — Honorary Trustee supporting the school in an advisory capacity.
- Clarity Partner — Partner organization through which families apply for financial aid.
- Columbia University Partner — College placement partner where Studio School graduates have been accepted.
- Dawn West Partner — Board Secretary providing governance support.
- Dolores Welber, Ph.D. Partner — Co-Founder of The Studio School.
- Elisabeth Frischauf, M.D. Partner — President Emeritus offering continued governance affiliation.
- Fiorello H. LaGuardia Partner — High school placement partner where Studio School graduates have been accepted.
- Hunter College Partner — High school placement partner where Studio School graduates have been accepted.
- ISAAGNY Network — Follows the ISAAGNY notification and reply timeline for admissions decisions.
- Independent Schools Admissions Association of Greater New York Network — Member of the Independent Schools Admissions Association of Greater New York.
- Janet C. Rotter Partner — Head of School who presents the educational philosophy and vision during open house events.
- Jo Anne Sedwick Partner — Honorary Trustee supporting the school in an advisory capacity.
- Maria Monet Markowitz, Esq. Partner — Honorary Trustee supporting the school in an advisory capacity.
- Munchkin Partner — Featured Head of School Janet C. Rotter in the _Stroller Coaster_ podcast series.
- NPR Partner — Featured The Studio School and Virginia O’Hanlon connection on the podcast _Off the Path From New York to Boston_.
- NYSAIS Network — Member of the New York State Association of Independent Schools.
- National Association of Independent Schools Network — Member of the National Association of Independent Schools.
- New York Times Partner — Reported on The Studio School's Kitchen-Science program and Virginia O’Hanlon legacy.
- New York University Partner — College placement partner where Studio School graduates have been accepted.
+ 12 more
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.
- Inside-Out Holistic Education Modelmethodology: inside-out_educationBy educating from the inside out—integrating students' identities, emotions, and relationships with academic learning—the school fosters holistic development, because identity and emotional connection are foundational to meaningful scholarship and long-term character growth.
- Relational and Reflective Community Modelmethodology: relational_learningBy fostering strong student-teacher relationships, caregiver participation, and ongoing reflection on bias and privilege, the school builds a just and connected learning community, because equitable education emerges from self-aware educators and engaged families.
- Studio School Approach as Integrated Development Frameworkmethodology: studio_school_approachBy combining academic rigor with emotionally connective relationships and a broad curriculum, the Studio School Approach nurtures innate intelligence and creativity, because child development thrives in environments that balance cognitive, emotional, and social growth.