The Ideal School of Manhattan

My dd loves this school. I'm not as enamored. What it lacks is academic rigor. They talk about differentiated education for all learners, but the admin and faculty have some ways to go in order to truly rep that title. My dd is extremely bright and has some problems being challenged within the school's curriculum. With what she does lack academically, I'm having to compensate with outside resources. It's a bit of a frustration. Challenging academic programs, Ideal does not have. If you're looking for academic rigor, look elsewhere. What I like about the school is the loving, warm, inclusive environment. My dd has grown into an empathic social leader within her community and I know her social and emotional growth is leaps and bounds past what I hoped for her, in the beginning of her career. The teachers and the principal are very personable and obviously care. Sometimes, I feel like I can't get a straight answer but then again, aren't all schools bureaucratic to some extent? It's not a perfect school, but you can see they're trying. It's a young school with growing pains. We're making of it what we can, and if our situation changes, my dd and I will move on.
--Submitted by a parent

this school is failure. It has not lived up to it's vision by providing a differentiated education to "all learners". In recent years the school has been bleeding special needs children as the administration found it impossible to address their needs without violating their rights. At the same time some basic needs of general education students have gone unmet.

Our daughter has attended The IDEAL School since Pre-K. Our family feels as though we've become part of a community that is committed to nurture, develop and support our kids. The children hug each other and their teachers in the morning and at the end of the day! The art and music teachers are terrific, the school is growing slowly and deliberately and has maintained an amazingly diverse and high-potential student body. Staff diversity could be better but everyone's the right fit and the head of school has created a culture that listens and values parent partnership.
--Submitted by a parent

My child has attended this school for 3 yrs and we love it. It is a very warm and nurturing environment. The principal is on point with pupils as well as the parents. All staff including security provide a great place for learning.. :)
--Submitted by a parent