Name of school: Calhoun School
Grades: Pre-K to grade 12
Size of student body: 750
Educational approach or philosophy: Calhoun School offers a curriculum based on interdisciplinary projects that stress experiential learning. “We are committed to embracing the individuality of our students while supporting intellectual, emotional, and social growth,” says Andrew Hume, Director of Enrollment. Calhoun’s approach fosters passionate, multi-talented thinkers and innovators who thrive in multiple fields. Hume lists a few examples: a jazz musician who developed a rap-based language arts curriculum for underserved New York City school children; a biologist-makeup artist who taught science to kindergarteners; a programmer who developed a new scheduling software for the school while also captaining the basketball team. A strong foundation in multidisciplinary thinking exists at all grade levels. “For example, in first grade, children choose a mammal to study,” Hume says. “They research through books and visits to the Bronx Zoo and the American Museum of Natural History. Students write up their findings and create models of their mammal and its habitat, which they share with the community in their own Mammal Museum.” In 11th grade, students embark on Junior Workshop, a 12-week independent project in which they are challenged to create something new. The format has resulted in some truly remarkable innovations, from the design of a portable 3D printer to a documentary film exploring race and mental illness in the criminal justice system.
What makes the school unique: Calhoun’s main building, which serves grades 3-12, was designed in 1975 with open, flexible teaching spaces to foster both collaborative and individualized learning. The innovative classroom layout lends itself to the hands-on and cross-disciplinary curriculum that typifies Calhoun’s pedagogical approach to education—one that values inquiry, critical problem-solving, and creative expression. Additionally, the food program at Calhoun, which is created by Chef Bobo from the French Culinary Institute, is designed to teach students about the importance of a well-balanced diet. Students can also take part in the Deconstructing Race program. According to Calhoun’s website, the project is “designed to transform the conversation about race, racism, and white privilege in this country; expose the myth of color-blindness in a society that, for many, espouses a post-racial myth; [and to] fundamentally alter the dialogue surrounding white privilege and structural and systemic racism for K-12th grade students, their parents, and teachers.”
Main image: A Calhoun first grader practices reading during one-on-one time with a teacher.
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