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NEW & NOTEWORTHY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

A Philosophy of Inclusion

The IDEAL School of Manhattan, which opened its doors in September for grades K to 2, takes its name seriously, choosing an idealistic principle of inclusion over the more competitive atmosphere of many of its peers.

The school was the brainchild of three moms whose kids had special needs. They were looking for a school that would cater to their children while exposing them to a real world environment— particularly positive role models with and without disabilities. Out of their frustration and vision for improvement, the IDEAL School was born (“IDEAL” stands for Individualized, Differentiated Education for All Learners).

The school’s mission “boils down to small class sizes,” says Rekha Puri, director of admissions. Each class is composed of both special needs students and typical needs students, and each will have two head teachers: one trained as a learning specialist, one as a general education instructor. But both teachers will be responsible for all the students, bringing a uniquely integrated approach known as “differentiated instruction” to every child.

In this intimate environment, the IDEAL School’s trustees and staff envision accommodating and working with each child’s learning style. In addition to drawing out each student’s highest achievement and sense of belonging, the approach promotes the idea that “diversity is not just racial and socioeconomic, it also includes abilities,” says Puri.

The school is currently housed in facilities on West 76th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue, with the park as a convenient backyard (but they have a full-size gym for rainy days). They’ve formed partnerships with the nearby American Museum of Natural History for math and science, and with the Central Park Conservancy as well. The building is newly renovated, but in the hopes that the school will expand, the founders and trustees are actively seeking a new space. The school has committed to expanding through fifth grade, growing with the current classes of students, and hopes to someday include a middle school as well. As the year begins with a kindergarten, plus a combined first and second grade class, the IDEAL School hopes to fulfill a promise of providing not just special ed or regular ed, but education for everybody, together. Puri notes that nursery schools, without labeling it, follow this technique. “It’s filling in a gap in the New York City landscape,” says Puri.

-- Sarah Seltzer