Looking Back

In 1949, inspired by the idea that a community of families could work together to provide young children with a unique and dynamic education, a mother, educator and artist named Mary Sill Baker established Stevens Cooperative School on the grounds of Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey. Originally a preschool, decades of family involvement have helped Stevens expand to an elementary and middle school that now operates as the oldest cooperative school in New Jersey and one of the largest in the United States. Guided by the belief that children learn best in an environment that embraces their passions, amplifies their voices and empowers them to exceed their own expectations, Stevens has grown into a community of more than 430 students, ages 3 through 14, with two campuses in Hoboken and Jersey City. Learn more about our proud, 75-year history by exploring the timeline below.