Washington Market School-Duane

I cannot think of a better nursery school experience than what The Washington Market School provides! Not only do the children love it, but the teachers and administration make parenting easier. One example was that my daughter has always been very talkative but her teachers quickly realized that she was having trouble communicating and so they suggested that we enroll Eloise in speech therapy. They also assisted us find an amazing speech therapist and regularly spoke to Eloise’s speech therapist to make sure they were continuing speech lessons in the classroom. Since then, Eloise’s pronunciation has drastically improved and she loves conversing with adults! So that is all to say thank you The Washington Market School for being so incredible!

Poor entrance system, crowding for an hour+ in the afternoon

I am constantly in awe and continually impressed by The Washington Market School’s level of thoughtfulness, attention to detail, and care toward its children, families and community. Everyone from the teachers to the administrators and staff really cares about each child, and each child is embraced and celebrated for what makes them uniquely them. I think when someone cares about what they do, it really shows and is very much felt. The sense of warmth, kindness, and belonging is what immediately drew us to WMS and can be instantly felt upon walking into the school and classrooms. We have experienced firsthand the positive and powerful impact this environment has had on our daughter. At two years old, she loves to tell us her favorite day is Monday because she gets to go to school. The Washington Market School has not only instilled in her a love of learning, but also more joy, curiosity, compassion, and confidence. We could not have asked for a better preschool experience than the one at The Washington Market School.

My daughter attended The Washington Market School before we relocated to London for my husband’s job, and we would have undoubtedly extended her stay to the full three years had our circumstances allowed. As a parent and an experienced educator with over 12 years in the field, I can confidently say that our experience at WMS was nothing short of exceptional. From the very first day, it was evident that WMS was more than just an educational institution. It was a place where our daughter felt not only loved but truly seen by all of her teachers. The dedication and passion of the teaching staff were palpable, and it made every drop-off and pick-up a heartwarming experience. The caring atmosphere that enveloped the school contributed immensely to her overall happiness and enthusiasm for learning. One of the standout qualities of WMS is its ability to foster a sense of community among families. We were fortunate to find ourselves on a seemingly endless stream of playdates with other families in our daughter's class. These playdates blossomed into genuine friendships with other parents, creating a strong support network that extended beyond the classroom. The school's knack for uniting families is truly commendable and made us feel like we were part of something special. The school consistently brought in authors, psychologists, and other experts to address topics relevant to our children's development. This not only enriched our understanding but also created a valuable platform for discussions and shared experiences among parents. For me, it was a testament to the school's commitment to the holistic well-being of our kiddos. Leaving New York City was a bittersweet experience for us, primarily because of how deeply we had fallen in love with WMS. In just one year, we witnessed remarkable growth in our daughter. She emerged from her first year more social, independent, and confident. Every interaction I witnessed between my daughter and her teachers/administrators was incredibly nurturing and empowering. We will forever cherish our time there, and we're immensely grateful for the lasting impact it has had on our family. If circumstances ever bring us back to New York City in time for our second daughter's nursery school years, there is no doubt in our minds that we will enthusiastically choose WMS once again. NOTE: We sent our daughters to another Montessori school nearby for camp before moving to London because WMS was not taking 2 year olds this summer and the experience made me appreciate WMS even more. I was reminded of the special place WMS is -- every WMS teacher and administrator is warm and cares deeply about every kid.

I love the community of the Washington Market School. My son is in his second year at the school - having experienced the Duane Street and Hudson Street locations - and we love the school more and more each year. The teachers are all incredible and warm and we have created a wonderful group friends. We look forward to sending our daughter there when she turns 2!