Both of my children are in middle school and have been at Hackley since Kindergarten. Although many…read morepeople think the curriculum is rigorous, the students are well prepared for the academics in university and are able to organize and perform well on their own. The campus is beautiful but most importantly the teachers are amazing educators who genuinely care for the students and often have their own children in the school. My husband and I could not be happier with Hackley.

I contacted the Hackley Alumni Relations Office for a reason I do not feel like getting into now on…read moreyelp. It was all innocent enough. I spoke with Margie, in charge of Alumni Connections who told me to call back on Friday when she would have more time to speak with me and handle my issue. I remember feeling as if it can be handled right then and there when I explained it to her, and it wasn't so complicated. In fact the whole thing would have taken all but three minutes no matter how we resolved it. I left not one but two voice messages for her on that Friday at her request and she never called back. This was two weeks ago yesterday. I do not think she forgot and I don't think she is that busy. If she forgot to call back or didn't have time, then she can't handle her job very well. I feel as if it was done purposely though. If she does not want or is unable to cater to someone, there are more professional ways of handling it than telling a person to call in order not to call. I was surprised to see that such a fine institution as Hackley, hires staff that do not represent the extraordinary excellence they pride everyone else in their school in having; teachers, students and families. I think Hackley should have higher standards when screening out for certain roles such as Director of Alumni Engagement to better set an example for their students on how to interact with people.

I don't get how the entire school district is on Yelp, but hey you only live once…read more I went through nearly the entirety of all Irvington schools and have yet to go to jail, so they did something right. If you're browsing towns looking for the best schooling around, you probably should look no further. Irvington schools foster a sense of community, freedom, and just enough light-heartedness and personal attention to make it seem worth living in this pricey town (not that Irvington isn't great). I was in the rare class (2010) that actually skipped going to the Main Street School, I went from Dows Lane Elementary (which used to be K-5) directly to the new (at the time) Irvington Middle School and then next door to IHS. All three schools have small classes and amazing teachers. At the middle and high schools which are attached at the hip (literally) the teacher to student relationships are probably the greatest feature. I knew my teachers as friends, and in a high school with only 600 students, you really do get that personal touch. The facilities are pretty fantastic, the middle school is still pretty shiny at this point being nearly 10 years old. The gymnasium is quite large and the theater is quality stuff. The football field truly could use a redesign and astroturf, but what're you gonna do. Also the library is a really nice place to not do work in, too. The science department has great tech, and most rooms in the entire district are equipped with SmartBoards which offer an advanced computerized form of the classic white board. Shockingly I haven't even found SmartBoards in college, so this is pretty great technology. This school district is extremely safe. Aside from a few bomb scares 5 years ago, there are hardly any disturbances. It is representative of the town itself, which is mostly wealthy white people. There are tons of things for a student to do at IHS; after school activities galore. There are about a million and a half ways to get involved in something, or even start your own student group which I did. From the award winning newspaper to foreign film clubs, there is no shortage of after school stuff. There are tons of electives and special interest classes at the schools, so a student is afforded a rare freedom in scheduling that really lets you customize your education. There's the godsend of not having to take math all four years of high school and plenty of off-beat AP classes; not to mention the Syracuse Universe Program "SUPA" that operates through IHS. This allows students to take a few college classes within the walls of the high school! One of my favorite things about my experience. Overall, your kid will get smart and not come home with a black eye. Could you ask for anything more?

Please! Let's be real, it's school. It's not all unicorns and rainbows; the core-subject…read moredepartments have reached the peak of humanity, literally. All they do is give you worksheets, homework, and stress. As a student this a real review. I don't believe the adults who write reviews, they don't experience the hardships of school. Don't expect anything special, it's a regular school. Geez, writing reviews is honestly so tiring. I am giving it a 5/5 because I don't want to ruin it's "prestige". But to be completely honest...I would give this school a 2.748/5

There was an obese roach that attacked my child when she was in seventh grade at ICS. We told the…read moreschool and they did nothing about it. My child is still traumatized to this DAY. She now has to go to therapy, and has had multiple episodes since the incident. Would not recommend!

horrible school my son was there 3 years ago and was treated…read morehorribly by principal, staff and teachers. we pulled our son out in the middle of the school year. He has been on the A honor roll and excelling in every way since we transitioned from that disgusting horrible ENVIRONMENT! I feel they were Racist!

My two daughters have been enrolled and welcomed thank you bc this has been such a wonderful…read moreexperience

This school has an amazing playground!! It is handicapped accessible & has a rubberized surface…read more It had lots of features to enhance imaginative play. There are also 2 basketball courts, a large blacktop & a baseball diamond. Fun for everyone!

I am 24 years old now. I routinely think about Robin and this pre-school. I can't believe I…read moreremember anything. I think what resonated, is that they prepare kids to learn and adapt, so we can become the adult we were meant to be. It's easy to keep a child busy and entertained. Working with kids and treating them with respect, showing them how to learn on their own, is what pre-school should be for everybody. I had a very difficult time with my parents - I struggled for independence for literally no reason. Robin never talked down to me, and helped me cope with the very difficult task of being a toddler. The friends I made, especially Sophia(I love you) are lifelong and foundational. I had to say something - looking at my life, Sarah Lawrence was a key developmental period. I hope my children have the same opportunity as I did. This is where your kid can love learning. THANK YOU ROBIN!!! There will be nothing but blessings in your life. From a very very grateful student.

Sarah Lawrence College's Early Childhood Center is a progressive, lab school community for…read morepreschool-aged children. It's child-centered and play-based. My child started the 2s program this fall (2014) and I couldn't be happier with our experience. Everyone-from the Director to the teachers to the receptionist-is not only incredibly loving and warm but also child development nerds. These people know children. Deeply. The people at the ECC are true professionals. They have graduate degrees in early childhood education, many have been teaching for decades, and they all love a good geek-out on anything kid related. Anytime I bring up a topic I'm interested whomever I am speaking with pulls out books, recommends films, and sends me articles about the topic. They are not inly knowledgeable about how children learn and develop but they are passionate about it. I've learned so much about how children learn and process their world and can truly say that I am a better parent for being part of this community. For example I never knew how important narrative play was. Ever since we started the ECC I now try to narrate and get my child to narrate what he is doing when he is playing. His verbal, storytelling, and memory skills have developed so much. On the subject of play- this school takes play very, very seriously. Much child development research indicates that play is of tantamount importance-it is how children learn and develop the skills and foundation for later life success. The book Children's Play: The Roots of Reading by Edward Zigler is a great place to to start your overview of the research. For more on the topic of play being the work of children check out a TEDx talk by an ECC graduate student https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7y6ZgQCnvw If you are looking for a place that does flashcard drills and gives 3 year olds homework, look elsewhere. This is not an "academic" preschool. This is a preschool where children are given the space and opportunity to be children and learn in developmentally appropriate ways, which research shows prepares them so well for later academic study. It is also a place where your child will develop their love and passion for learning. My child is so excited about school-it's the best part of our week. It's truly breathtaking to see his curiosity nurtured and to know that his first experience with school is joyous and fun-he hasn't gotten the joy and curiosity beaten out of him in the name of Common Core and standardized testing. The community is very diverse-economically, socially, ethnically, and racially and my child is exposed to what the real world looks like. Families come from as south as the Upper West Side and as north as Brewster. ECC families represent the full economic and social spectrum of the US, an achievement that is sadly too rare in the highly stratified society of New York. Families are very involved-it truly feels like a community. The Parents Association is active and sponsors several activities throughout the year for both children and adults that are always well attended and enjoyed. I think it's a great alternative and even superior option in some ways to Bank Street or Barnard's Toddler Center for upper Manhattan and Bronx families because it has more space and outdoor play areas. Children go outside to play in the expansive play areas every class day even in cold weather. The 2s program does require a parent/primary caregiver -can't be a secondary caregiver- to attend with the child the whole year. This only works if one or more parents have flexible jobs or stay at home. I structured my work schedule to be able to accompany my child but not everyone has that privilege. Starting in the 3s program children are dropped off but in accordance with the school philosophy each child separates at their own pace. Lastly, the ECC is a lab school-one of the oldest of it's kind. It serves as a laboratory environment for undergraduate and graduate students. There are always one or several students in addition to teachers and teacher assistants in the classroom. Their main objective is to study and learn from the children but having so many adults in the classroom provides for amazing one-on-one attention. Students (undergrads/grads) are always supervised and mentored by the teacher in the classroom.