Mission, Core Values, and Commitment to Diversity

About

Mission, Core Values, and Commitment to Diversity

The mission of The Co-op School is to inspire passion and teach children to become protagonists in their own educational journey by fostering their innate sense of curiosity and creativity. The Co-op School facilitates joyful learning through a unique and rigorous constructivist approach that listens to and honors the individual interests and strengths of each child. The Co-op School doesn’t just belong to the students and educators, but extends to the family community as a whole. It belongs to those who participate in it, and is a more resilient and creative place because of it.

Core Values

We, The Co-op School, believe in the following Core Values:

Compassion

We value and nurture the strength of character it takes to work together as a team, to be an individual, to respect differences of opinions, and have the ability to empathize with others.

Uniqueness

We value and nurture the confidence that leads to risk-taking, problem-solving, and taking pride in one’s own point of view.

Community Action

We value and nurture an overall awareness, respect, and care for our surroundings, community, and environment.

Anti-Racism

We value and nurture the courage and heart it requires to be anti-racist in our speech and actions, and exemplify this through the conversations we have and the work we do in and out of our classrooms.

Innovation

We value and nurture curiosity, imagination, creativity, experimentation, and perseverance when faced with challenges.

Joy

We value and nurture the simple joy of playing, learning, and friendship making.

Educational Philosophy

The Co-op School follows a constructivist approach, where each child’s experiences shape their unique learning. We honor different needs and perspectives, grounding our curriculum in five core beliefs:

Joy is essential: joyful learning fosters lifelong curiosity and creativity.
Creativity requires passion: enthusiasm fuels talent.
Context matters: meaningful learning deepens investment and understanding.
The Whole Child Learns: students are supported emotionally, socially, physically, and intellectually.
We work in Community: children grow as individuals while learning to collaborate and share ideas respectfully.

A Place to Grow: The Co-op School Experience

At The Co-op School, we believe each child brings something unique into the world. By building caring bonds with students and families, we create a strong foundation for early childhood experiences. Through play, exploration, and hands-on learning, children grow and develop every day in a safe, nurturing, and joyful environment. Founded on our love for children, we remain committed to providing quality education led by thoughtful, dedicated teachers.

Commitment to Diversity

The Co-op School is a fully inclusive community that celebrates the diversity of Brooklyn and beyond – embracing differences in race, ethnicity, gender, family structure, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, learning style, and ability. We honor both our commonalities and differences, encouraging every member to share their whole selves. Through an anti-bias curriculum and ongoing teacher development, we work to prevent bias, challenge stereotypes, and nurture equity. Our social justice work extends beyond the classroom, inspiring students to grow as empathetic, thoughtful change-makers.

What makes our School Unique?

We asked our students to share their voices, and they told us what makes The Co-op School truly unique. Their insights highlight the joy, community, and creativity that shape their everyday learning experiences.

Hear What Our Students Have to Say

Answers to the frequently asked questions.

Still have questions?

The Co-op School is not a daycare program; enrollment begins at preschool age (2 years and up). Our early childhood program provides a nurturing, play-based environment where children build independence, social-emotional skills, and a love of learning. This foundation prepares them for a smooth transition into kindergarten and beyond.

Our classrooms are like families - students support one another, work through challenges together, and build strong, caring relationships. Collaboration and cooperation are emphasized, with group projects, problem-solving activities, and opportunities for children to share their voice and ideas daily.

Parents are active partners in their child’s education. We extend our sense of community into the home through parent participation in school projects, events, and workshops. Together, we build a strong partnership that complements our program and philosophy.

Progressive Education focuses on the whole child development - cognitive, social, emotional, moral, and physical - rather than just academics. Children learn through inquiry-based, hands-on discovery, rather than rote memorization or drills. Teachers act as facilitators and guides, helping students develop curiosity, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills that last a lifetime.