Admissions
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Corlears School Announces a Return to Its Early Childhood Roots Starting in 2026–27
Beginning in the 2026–27 school year, Corlears will focus exclusively on educating our youngest learners — toddlers, nursery, and PreK students — through an expanded, modern early childhood program designed to meet the needs of today’s families. As part of this transition, the 2025–26 school year will be the final year Corlears offers kindergarten through fifth grade.
Thank you for your interest in Corlears, a progressive school dedicated to the education of children from toddlers through PreK located in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City. Students at Corlears are intellectually curious, creative, and have the potential for great academic achievement, peer leadership, and social and emotional growth.
Families who have submitted an application are encouraged to register for a private tour with our admissions team for a firsthand look at our classrooms and community. Throughout the admissions season we also offer a selection of webinars that delve deeper into our curricular approach.
Admissions Policy
Corlears School admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national, or ethnic origin or sexual orientation in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, or scholarships.
As a school that values equity and inclusion, we believe each child deserves to thrive in their learning environment. As a general education setting, our student success team is dedicated to ensuring students receive what they need to succeed; however, we do not have special education teachers in each classroom, nor integrated therapeutic services for students with high support needs who would benefit from a more specialized setting.
Decisions and Timing
Dates and Deadlines
Learn more about ISAAGNY's notification dates and parent reply deadlines by visiting their website.- Admissions
- Notification Dates
- Parent Reply Deadlines
The TEAM process is supported by the Clarity Application during the admissions or reenrollment process to determine an equitable tuition level — from zero to maximum — for all of our families. (Of course, families may also choose to opt out and pay the maximum tuition.)
Tuition Equity
A family's determined tuition level is independent from decisions related to enrollment; this information is kept confidential and is not shared with the admissions committee. Additionally, receiving an indication of your TEAM tuition level does not signify enrollment or admission to Corlears School.
Frequently Asked Questions
The following is based on a September start date:
- Toddlers: Toddlers must be at least 12 months old on or before September 1
- Nursery: Children must be turning 2 or 3 on or before October 1
- PreK: Children must be turning 4 on or before October 1
Students with September birthdays may be evaluated to move up a grade based on the individual child's developmental readiness.
The Seedlings program offers flexible options to meet the varying needs of families and children in this age range.
Families can choose to enroll their child in either a 3-day or 5-day program, and either a half-day (8:30–11:30 a.m.) or full-day (8:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m.) schedule. Dependent upon student readiness, after-school care until 5 p.m. is also available through Corlears Plus.
Ultimately, a child's readiness for a 5-day, full-day schedule will be assessed during the admissions or reenrollment process and decided in partnership between the family and the admissions team.
Some children may experience a continuation or reoccurrence of intense separation anxiety beyond the phase-in period. If separation anxiety is powerful enough to interfere with activities and socialization at school, the school will work with families on an individualized support plan.
Socioeconomic diversity is a priority at Corlears, and we know that tuition can be the number-one barrier for families interested in attending an independent school. We are also conscious of the fact that receiving financial aid can affect a family's feeling of belonging within a school community.
In response, Corlears introduced the Tuition Equity and Accessibility Model (TEAM) in 2021, changing the paradigm from applying for financial aid to an equitable tuition-setting process for all families.
The TEAM process is supported by the Clarity Application during the admissions or reenrollment process to determine an equitable tuition level — from zero to maximum — for all of our families. (Of course, families may also choose to opt out and pay the maximum tuition.)
Connect with Admissions
Interested in enrolling your child at Corlears School? Submit an inquiry and a member of the admissions team will follow up as soon as possible. For any questions, email us at admissions@corlearsschool.org. We look forward to getting to know your family!