The Co-op School

The Co-op School The Co-op School is a student-centered and parent-aided cooperative preschool, elementary, and middl The Board of Trustees is comprised of elected parents.

The Co-op School was founded in 2003 by a group of parents who saw the need for a high-quality and affordable preschool option in the Clinton Hill and Fort Greene neighborhoods. Since then, the Co-op School has matured from a small, parent-run playgroup to a fully staffed and licensed non-profit school. The Co-op School is a parent-aided organization for which “cooperative” means just that: studen

ts’ families are responsible for the development, fundraising, and maintenance of the school. Parents share the responsibility of upholding the school’s guiding principles, facilitated through the elected Board. With the staff, parents, and student body, we continuously work towards our ultimate goal of blending community and education, with special attention to honoring our differences. After residing in two prior homes in Clinton Hill, The Co-op School moved into 87 Irving Place in the fall of 2009. In 2011, The Co-op School launched the first kindergarten class of its elementary program at 40 Brevoort Place. In 2019, we opened our doors at 644 Gates Avenue in the Bedford Stuyvesant neighborhood—in a 3,500-square-foot building with double-height gym, a rooftop library, and two playgrounds—housing our preschool, elementary, and middle school students under one roof for joyful learning.

You know summer is winding down (sorry for the spoiler!) when Summer Camp comes to an end.And what a fun one it was!Than...
08/19/2026

You know summer is winding down (sorry for the spoiler!) when Summer Camp comes to an end.

And what a fun one it was!

Thank you to our Summer Camp staff and counselors for these joyful weeks - we saw the smiles, the projects, and the fun. Juliet, Saul, and Rebecca, thank you for making it happen; to you and the rest of our crew who were here and made Summer Camp not just possible but amazing: our campers were so lucky to have you.

Now we get our classrooms ready for September. The countdown to back-to-school starts in 3... 2... 1...

Blast off! 🚀

We have some teary eyes over here! 🥹One of the greatest joys of our work is watching our students grow, and an even grea...
08/14/2026

We have some teary eyes over here! 🥹

One of the greatest joys of our work is watching our students grow, and an even greater honor when they find their way back to us.

This summer, we’ve had the joy of welcoming several former preschool students back to Co-op as members of our summer camp team. They once explored, played, created, and learned here. Now, they’re helping create those same meaningful experiences for a new generation of children.

Watching them come full circle has been incredibly special. We’re so proud of who they’ve become and grateful for the opportunity to welcome them back and see them continue to grow within our community.

Once a Co-op kid, always a Co-op kid 💚🌳

Are you ready to enroll your preschooler? We're here for you — and for your questions, and your doubts too. Email us at ...
08/10/2026

Are you ready to enroll your preschooler? We're here for you — and for your questions, and your doubts too. Email us at [email protected]; we'd love to show you our program and the joy in our classrooms.

We have a few last-minute spots in some classes and are still enrolling for the 2026–2027 school year!

Why all the paint-covered hands? Because art is how little ones think out loud. When our preschoolers dip a brush or squ...
08/07/2026

Why all the paint-covered hands? Because art is how little ones think out loud.

When our preschoolers dip a brush or squish clay between their fingers, so much more is happening than a pretty picture.

Studies show that young children who make art regularly build stronger fine motor skills, richer language, and deeper social-emotional skills - naming big feelings, taking turns, seeing another friend’s point of view. One study even found that arts-rich preschool classrooms boost kindergarten readiness across the board.

That’s why art lives at the heart of our days at The Co-op School. We don’t ask “what is it?” - we ask “tell me about it.” Because process matters more than product, and every creation is a window into a child’s amazing mind.

A few spots just opened in our preschool program. If you’ve been thinking about joining our community - or know a family who’d love it here - now is the time. Reach out, come visit, ask us anything. Link in bio!

A whole month of building, splashing, singing, wondering, and growing - together.July, you gave us sunshine, water (so m...
08/03/2026

A whole month of building, splashing, singing, wondering, and growing - together.

July, you gave us sunshine, water (so much water!) big ideas, and even bigger smiles. Our campers filled every single day with curiosity, creativity, and joy - and our hearts are so full watching them shine.

August, we’re ready for you. Let’s keep the fun going! ☀️💚🏕️✨

We’ll remember the laughter.The cool splash of sprinklers on a hot summer day.The feeling of being a superhero behind th...
07/24/2026

We’ll remember the laughter.
The cool splash of sprinklers on a hot summer day.
The feeling of being a superhero behind the wheel of a firetruck.
The songs we learned together.
The experiments that surprised us.
The tiny victories.
The endless questions.
The colorful creations.
The friendships that seemed to appear overnight.

Summer camp has a way of turning our days into amazing childhood memories. And our hearts are so full ☀️💚🌳⛺️

Our campers stepped into the exciting worlds of Future Builders and Simple Machines & Robotics, where imagination came t...
07/13/2026

Our campers stepped into the exciting worlds of Future Builders and Simple Machines & Robotics, where imagination came to life through creative constructions, engineering challenges, and hands-on discovery.

From designing towers, bridges, and dream structures to building and programming their very own robots, our young architects and engineers embraced every challenge with creativity, curiosity, and teamwork.

This week was filled with time outside, innovation, problem-solving, collaboration, and plenty of fun. We couldn’t be prouder of our young innovators and the amazing projects they created and proudly showcased. Here’s to building big ideas and inspiring the creators of tomorrow! 🚀🏗️🤖

07/09/2026

For our 8th graders’ last story time at The Co-op School, our Head of School read Will the Pigeon Graduate? by Mo Willems Fitting - because we just chose our first-ever mascot: a pigeon!

Mo, next time you’re in Brooklyn, you and the most famous pigeon are invited to visit.

Congratulations, graduates! 🎓 Thank you for the inspiration, Mo Mo Willems!

We’re posting a photo of these two besties from last year to share that   is back!Where will you wear your Co-op gear th...
07/08/2026

We’re posting a photo of these two besties from last year to share that is back!

Where will you wear your Co-op gear this summer? Whether you’re just down the block, at Von King Park, exploring your favorite Brooklyn spots, or traveling somewhere far away, we’d love to come along!

Send us your photos - or tag us - wearing your Co-op merch on your summer adventures and show us where you’re taking a little piece of Co-op this summer.

Have fun, and happy summer! ☀️💚🌳

What a week at camp! ☀️ The days were full of sunshine, crafty hands, and the happy noise of kids doing what they do bes...
07/07/2026

What a week at camp! ☀️ The days were full of sunshine, crafty hands, and the happy noise of kids doing what they do best - playing, building, splashing, and figuring things out together. We chased bubbles, painted big, made new friends, and found a hundred small reasons to laugh. Weeks like this are exactly why we love Co-op Camp 💚🌳⛺️

Address

644 Gates Avenue
New York, NY
11221

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 6pm
Tuesday 8am - 6pm
Wednesday 8am - 6pm
Thursday 8am - 6pm
Friday 8am - 6pm

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