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Q
When do children normally enter your school?
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A
Children can enter Stevens at any point in their educational lives when space allows, provided they meet the age criteria. That having been said, our “natural” entry points are:
- The 2s, a part-time morning or afternoon program in Hoboken
- The 3s, a part-time morning or afternoon program with slightly larger classes than the 2s, in Hoboken. Both the 2s and 3s must reapply to the school if they wish to enter a full-day program at Stevens. When children are enrolled for a full-day their parents become members of the Cooperative, and they need not reapply for elementary or middle school grades.
- The 4s or PreK, in Hoboken. The first full-day program at Stevens accepts a portion of children who are coming from the 3s as well as those who have never attended the school
- Kindergarten at Newport and occasionally a few spaces in Hoboken
- 5th grade, the start of middle school, at both Newport and Hoboken.
However, the possibility exists that there might be a space in any grade at any time, so please contact Nancy Rossi, Admissions Director, if you have a question about a specific grade.
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Q
How do you choose children for the school?
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A
For any class, we are looking for children across a broad range of birthdates, a gender balance in the classroom, and a diversity of learning styles and temperaments. We seek families from across Hudson County and beyond that have an interest in learning more about progressive education and are enthusiastic about that type of learning environment for their children. As to the specific admissions process, for 2s and 3s, children are observed in a group setting. For children entering the 4s, PreK and K, children are observed in a group setting and their parents/guardians are interviewed by a staff member. Children entering 1st grade and above spend time in their current grade classroom, and their parents/guardians are interviewed by a staff member.
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Q
When are applications due?
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A
Applications for all grades are due on January 2 of the year in which the child will start school.
Please note that the admissions office prefers that applications arrive as soon as they are completed by the families; there is no need to wait until the due date.
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Q
Why do children have to reapply to go from a part-day program to a full-day program?
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A
With the changing demographics in our area, we realized that there was a great need for additional preschool spaces and that we were turning more and more families away each year. At the same time, we were also grappling with the fact that many families couldn’t enter our school at all in the elementary years because they “missed out” on the entry point at the 3s if their family couldn’t manage a part-day program in the early years.
The only way that we could increase the size of our early childhood education program as well as serve those families who need their children to start their formal education in a full day program was to increase preschool spaces in a limited way. Therefore, we created a 2s program and expanded our 3s program where parents would not be members of the Cooperative, and would not be guaranteed admission to the full-day programs. This gives parents an opportunity to have two years of a high quality preschool program and examine whether or not this school and its progressive educational philosophy is the right fit for their child and their whole family. It also gives families who are only interested in a full day of schooling the opportunity to have a natural entry point in Hoboken as well as Newport.
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Q
What are the age cut off dates for your school?
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A
Applicants for the 2s need to turn 2 by June 1st in the year they would enter that program.
Applicants for the 3s and 4s programs (Hoboken only) need to turn 3 or 4 by September 1 of the year they would enter that program.
Applicants for the full day PreK (Hoboken campus only) must turn 5 between September and February of the year for which they are applying.
Applicants for Kindergarten must turn 5 by September 1 of the year for which they are applying.
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Q
Does your school have Open Houses?
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A
Yes! We love to show our school (and our graduates) off to families who are interested in a Stevens education. Open Houses are held in the fall at both our Hoboken and Newport campuses. Additionally, our school participates in the school fairs held by the Hoboken Family Alliance and Jersey City Families.
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Q
Why is there no preschool at the Newport campus?
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A
Our lease at Newport gives us exclusive rights to an elementary and middle school at that location. Another institution has the rights to run a preschool there.
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Q
Do Newport residents get preference for the Newport campus?
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A
Yes, they do, if they are residents of a LeFrak building and provided that the child meets the standards for enrollment of the Stevens Cooperative School and provided that there is space available in their child’s grade on the Newport Campus.
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Q
How do you decide which campus an applicant will attend?
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A
We ask for your preference on the application form. You may also indicate that you have no preference.
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Q
What is your faculty like?
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A
We are very proud of the long tenure of many of our faculty and administrators. These educators, many of whom have degrees from the Bank Street School of Education, provide an excellent progressive education for our students. Most of our Head Teachers have Master’s Degrees, and many of our assistant teachers are currently in a Master's program. Every classroom until the 5th grade has a Head Teacher and an Assistant Teacher. After 5th grade, children have a head teacher, and are also taught by a Math Specialist and a Science Coordinator. We have special teachers throughout the grades for art, languages, computer, physical education, music and movement.
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Q
What are your facilities like?
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A
We are very fortunate to have several purpose built facilities to house our students:
- 301 Bloomfield Street in Hoboken houses our 2s program, as well as the Harrell Room, a science and media lab used primarily for middle school students. This building, which is owned by Stevens, was built to our specifications.
- 339 River Street in Hoboken houses our 3s, 4s and PreK/K classrooms, was specially designed with small children in mind, and has been occupied by Stevens since 2007.
- 301 Garden Street in Hoboken, houses our 1st through 8th grade students in Hoboken in a former vocational school. Its large classrooms make it ideal for the kind of large scale group work in which Stevens students often engage.
- In December of 2009, Stevens moved into a brand new facility at the Aqua Blu property in the Newport development. 100 River Drive is a 20,000 square foot space purpose built for our school.
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Q
What kind of before and after school activities do you have for my child?
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A
The school day doesn’t end at 3 p.m. here at Stevens! We offer everything from fencing, to creative writing, to soccer,ceramics and Chinese in our afterschool programs. Class offerings are reviewed by our Director of Auxillary Services frequently in response to interest from our students and their families. We also offer Study Group for our 5th through 8th graders, where students can get a jump start on their homework, read quietly or work on a project. We also have Homework Group for our 3rd and 4th graders. All full day students can go to afterschool until 6 p.m., or be dropped off as early as 7:45 or 8 a.m., depending on grade.
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Q
How long is the school day?
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A
2s |
9:15 am - 11:45 am or 12:45 pm – 3:15 pm |
3s |
8:30 am - 11:30 am or 12:30 pm – 3:30 pm |
4s-4th grade |
8:45 am – 3:00 pm |
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5th-8th grade |
8:30 am to 3:15 pm |
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Q
How large are your classes?
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A
Our preschool classes average 18 students (10 in the 2s) while our elementary school classes average 21 students. Middle school classes average 17 students. All preschool and elementary school classes have a Head Teacher and an Assistant Teacher.
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Q
What is the tuition schedule? Are there other fees?
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A
See our Tuition page.
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Q
What kind of high school guidance does Stevens Cooperative provide?
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See our High School Guidance Program page.
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Q
Where do the students go after they graduate?
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A
See our High School List page. Many of our students go to the top independent high schools in New York and New Jersey as well as the highly ranked McNair Academic High School in Jersey City and High Tech High School in North Bergen.