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MISSION

The IDEAL School of Manhattan is an inclusion school dedicated to creating a diverse community that affirms

and accepts the full identities of all people, while inspiring academic excellence, creative leadership, and a desire to build

a more just and equitable world.

inclusiondiversityexcellenceacceptanceleadership

The IDEAL School of Manhattan is an independent, Kindergarten to 8th grade inclusion school, the first and only of its kind. The name IDEAL is an acronym representing our community’s core values: Inclusion, Diversity, Excellence, Acceptance, Leadership. An education built on these precepts offers children the best chance to lead successful, purposeful, and joyful lives.

Each of IDEAL’s core principles shapes the school’s culture and underpins our commitment to academic excellence, equity, and social justice. In this way, we have created an environment where children are confident, are driven to succeed, and are inspired to improve their communities and their world.

WHEN WE EXCLUDE SOMEONE’S PERSPECTIVE, WE LOSE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE-DR. ANDRE M. PERRY

an inclusion education benefitsall learners andpromotes socialjustice

Inclusion education honors every child’s right and responsibility to participate fully in a school community. Two-thirds of IDEAL School students are neurotypical and one-third have learning differences. Students performing at or above grade level are challenged because of our small class sizes, low student-to-teacher ratio, and use of differentiated instruction. Alternately, lessons are modified so that students who need support learn the same content at their level, without any associated stigma.

Fundamentally, inclusion is about justice: no one’s perspective is excluded, opportunities to learn from peers are maximized, and each child receives an individualized educational experience.

IT IS TIME FOR PARENTS TO TEACH YOUNG PEOPLE EARLY ON THAT IN DIVERSITY THERE IS BEAUTY AND THERE IS STRENGTH-MAYA ANGELOU

a communitycommitted todiversity createsan environmentwhere critical andcreative thinking flourish

The IDEAL School embraces diversity in children and their families, and we believe the best education occurs in inclusive school settings. At IDEAL, we admit a student body that is diverse by ability, racial identity, gender, socioeconomic background, cultural tradition, religion, and family structure. We are also committed to providing historically marginalized communities access to an independent school education.

The 21st Century workplace will increasingly require collaboration on diverse teams and novel approaches to conventional problems. Studies like those done by Patricia Gurin of the University of Michigan show diversity in the classroom is crucial to the development of critical thinkers, and in preparing students for participation in a pluralistic society. Growing up in an inclusive community, IDEAL students are more culturally competent, more receptive to differing perspectives, and more adaptable to change.

EXCELLENCE IS TO DO A COMMON THING IN AN UNCOMMON WAY-BOOKER T. WASHINGTON

differentiatedinstruction, smallclass sizes, and high standardslead to academicexcellence

outstandingfaculty members,

class sizes, and Every aspect of The IDEAL School experience–instruction, assessment, program, enrichment–reflects our research-based commitment to inclusion education as a means to academic excellence. Our challenging core curriculum uses an integrative approach where skills and content are organized around key themes of Self, Community, and World. To achieve this, our faculty use innovative methods within traditional subject areas and are deeply committed to their own professional development.

Co-teaching teams and small classes ensure that every child receives individualized attention. Our dynamic, content-rich academic program holds all students to high standards and challenges them to their full potential. Coursework focuses on critical thinking skills and mastery of key concepts, with teachers taking an interdisciplinary approach. Rather than a one-size-fits-all curriculum, differentiated instruction allows students to pursue the same subjects at multiple levels of complexity, with individualized objectives.

OTHER CULTURES ARE NOT FAILED ATTEMPTS AT BEING YOU.

THEY ARE UNIQUE MANIFESTATIONS OF THE

HUMAN SPIRIT. - WADE DAVIS

a diverse and inclusive schoolcommunity fostersacceptance, compassion, humility, andresilience

community fosters

In a truly diverse community, you must ensure everyone’s full identity is accepted and affirmed. Rather than asking people to change, we find strength in and honor our differences. As a result, The IDEAL School is an environment where children are confident in themselves, are resilient in the face of challenge, and believe in their ability to succeed.

IDEAL’s social justice education model weaves multicultural values into the fabric of our curriculum and school culture. We support each student’s positive identity development by directly addressing the impact of stereotyping, bias, and discriminatory behavior, encouraging cooperative learning, and teaching conflict resolution. An inclusive education at IDEAL provides students with an excellent academic foundation and empowers them to succeed in a diverse society with self-confidence, acceptance, resilience, and compassion.

HOW WONDERFUL IT IS THAT NOBODY NEED WAIT A SINGLE MOMENT BEFORE STARTING TO IMPROVE THE WORLD -ANNE FRANK

inclusion anddiversity recognizeand cultivate eachchild’s potentialfor leadership

diversity recognizeand cultivate each

The IDEAL combination–an inclusive education, a diverse community, an excellent academic program, and acceptance of our full identities–produces students who are ready to be leaders. Our students see their potential to affect change, and are equipped with the tools to do so. Our focus on social justice gives students the critical thinking skills they need to solve problems in their own lives, in their local communities, and on a global scale.

The IDEAL School provides an exceptional academic education and fosters students’ ability to empathize, connect, and collaborate with a diverse group of peers. We believe this will make IDEAL School graduates better teachers, doctors, lawyers, politicians, citizens–in sum, better people.

INCLUSIONDIVERSITYEXCELLENCEACCEPTANCELEADERSHIP

314 W. 91st StreetNew York, NY 10024212-769-1699www.theidealschool.org