Muscota New School

My name is Zoe Cole and I am recently in the 8th grade and starting to look for high schools. I now look back and see how much Muscota has taught me, from the warm enviornment to the welcoming teacher this school is the most comfortable and nicest of all in Manhattan. Absolutley send your child here, their gonna love it.

I am the proud parent of 2 Muscota kids, a 3rd grader and Kindergartener. My love for the school has grown each year. The teachers are some of the most committed individuals I have ever met and are truly committed to the social and emotional development of every child at the school. Our principal Camille Wallin, in her 2nd year at Muscota, has embraced our progressive philosophy and raised the bar for academic excellence. What makes the school really special is seeing the level of involvement of our families. Parents are encouraged and have the opportunity to contribute in meaningful ways to the school's daily life. Parents collaborate with teachers to augment classroom instruction, participate in hiring committees for new staff, and organize events like Eco-Fest and Mad Hatters Parade that embody the school philosophy. I hope that one day we can grow into a K-8 school!

Over the years I've noticed that Muscota is not a good fit for every family or student. We pride ourselves on being a school of choice. If you want your child to learn to collaborate, think outside the box and become a better community member then this a great school for you. We try to encourage your child's natural curiosity while challenging them to see beyond the obvious. We do well with the city report card and the quality reviews done on NYC schools, but this is not what makes our school great. It's the room we give children to question, explore and discover through the architecture, art, music, drama, math, science, and literature programs we offer. We have a low turn over rate with our staff in our school because every teacher who works at Muscota New School sees it as a calling and or vocation to be doing this work. When we have like minded families then magic is made.

So again, if you don't agree with this philosophy we would ask you to look at all your options before considering this school. Test scores will never be our first priority, competition and a classroom of desks will never be seen here. We have a great group of parents that are vital to our school and it's running. We expect all families to take an active role in the conversations we have at Muscota. We hope you find the best school that compliments you and your families' wants and needs. Happy Hunting!

Becky Hart 4th /5th Grade Teacher