The IDEAL Story
In 2005, three families were looking for an elementary school in New York City for their young children. Like many parents, they sought a school that provided a strong academic foundation in a nurturing, supportive environment that recognized their children’s many strengths while helping them to overcome challenges and develop their sense of character, community, and social responsibility and that fostered empathy and emotional intelligence. These families believed that their children would flourish with the small class sizes, individualized attention, and commitment to the arts that are the hallmarks of independent schools.
Although their sons and daughters were quite different from one another, they shared one characteristic in common—each child had Down syndrome. The families were looking for an independent school that offered differentiated instruction, would celebrate each child’s unique identity, and would welcome their children into the community. Unable to find such a school, they were inspired to start one.
Thus, the idea for a truly diverse and inclusive independent school with differentiated and individualized instruction to meet the needs and support the identities of all types of learners emerged. The founding families partnered with educators committed to creating a school that teaches and reaches children of all backgrounds, socioeconomic levels, ethnicities, genders, cultures, sexual orientations, and religions, as well as a broad range of learning styles, readiness levels, and abilities.
The IDEAL School of Manhattan is built on this philosophy of inclusion and is committed to extending the definition of diversity in education to include all learners. The school’s core principles and the foundation of its mission are built into its name and acronym: Inclusion, Diversity, Excellence, Acceptance, and Leadership.
The IDEAL of Today
IDEAL’s founders had a vision for a school as diverse and dynamic as New York City itself, and their shared vision has become a reality. The IDEAL School of Manhattan opened its doors in 2006 with 20 students in kindergarten to second grade. In the years since, IDEAL has grown from an elementary school to a K-12+ program of approximately 200 students, including the Next Steps Transition Program for students aged 18-21. IDEAL’s K-12 program is accredited by the New York State Association of Independent Schools, and its High School is registered with the Board of Regents of the State of New York.
Today, IDEAL continues to live its mission in new ways, expanding on its message of inclusion and work in social justice. IDEAL’s annual Civil Rights Museum features student research projects that they present at a Civil Rights Community Day, where noted speakers in the field of social justice visit with students, staff, and families to share their work. Last year’s event featured renowned disability rights activist Judith Heumann as well as Charles Imohiosen and Robert Masters of the Andrew Goodman Foundation.
An American Sign Language initiative brings students in kindergarten and Grade 1 together on a weekly basis with High School students to practice their ASL skills through projects and conversation. Lower School Extended Day programming includes a partnership with Special Olympics, a developmental dance class, and a pottery class.
Along with building a strong academic foundation at all levels, IDEAL’s Middle School curriculum fosters positive relationships and social-emotional learning through its advisory program and leadership opportunities. Middle School students plan and facilitate their own clubs, help to lead assemblies, and build confidence composing and delivering IDEAL Talks.
In spring 2022, IDEAL High School students traveled to the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, KY, and the Class of 2023 recently took their Civil Rights Journey to Atlanta, GA. All High School students engage in a weekly Life Skills block, where they explore topics such as Boundaries, Self Advocacy, and Mental Health in a collaborative and hands-on way. Senior electives focus on career exploration in fields where students have an interest and engage them in multiple career shadow days. Every Friday, the seniors participate in a differentiated financial literacy course
The Next Steps Transition Program hosts an annual speaker series for families of adults with disabilities, which is free and open to the public. In 2021, Next Steps introduced a partnership with the Bridge Program at the College of Mount Saint Vincent to allow IDEAL students to experience life on a college campus. Next Steps students also travel weekly to Empowered Sports & Fitness, an adaptive gym where they learn to develop and implement independent fitness plansThe Next Steps Transition Program hosts an annual speaker series for families of adults with disabilities, which is free and open to the public. In 2021, Next Steps introduced a partnership with the Bridge Program at the College of Mount Saint Vincent to allow IDEAL students to experience life on a college campus. Next Steps students also travel weekly to Empowered Sports & Fitness, an adaptive gym where they learn to develop and implement independent fitness plans.
Building for the Future
For many years, IDEAL’s founders and trustees searched for a space to unify the school’s growing community in one building. After an exhaustive search in locations throughout Manhattan, the Board signed a 33-year lease for IDEAL’s new home at 5 Hanover Square.
IDEAL at 5 Hanover Square will be a 63,000 square-foot, self-contained building-within-a-building occupying floors one through five. Architects Alexander Gorlin and Quincie Williams are working with a design committee that includes founders, trustees, staff, and families to build out the space as a model of learning, access, and inclusion. IDEAL’s five floors will be connected with a private entrance and elevator. Each floor above the entrance is designated to a division and connected by a central staircase. A significant addition to the footprint of IDEAL’s current spaces, 5 Hanover Square will allow IDEAL to open its doors to 275 students in the coming years.
From the welcoming square and gathering space outside of IDEAL’s first-floor entrance to the Next Steps Suite modeled as a studio apartment and the double-height gym and multipurpose room on the third floor, IDEAL’s new home will join the students and faculty in a whole new way. Other features include a test kitchen, art and music studios, therapy suites, a science lab, a dance and drama room, and a Learning Center with a library.
For more Information
visit: www.theidealschool.org