Grace Church School

Grace Church School
Address
84-96 Fourth Avenue
46 Cooper Square

,
Coordinates40°43′55″N 73°59′26″W / 40.731892°N 73.990445°W / 40.731892; -73.990445
Information
TypeIndependent, Coeducational, and College Preparatory School
Established1894 (1894)
FounderGrace Church
HeadmasterRobert M. Pennoyer II[1][2]
Faculty216
JK-12Jr. K–12
Enrollment802
Color(s)Blue and White
AthleticsBasketball,[3] Climbing[3]
AffiliationsGuild of Independent Schools of New York; New York State Association of Independent Schools; National Association of Independent Schools; National Association of Episcopal Schools; Grace Church
WebsiteOfficial website

Historic landmarked church house along 4th Avenue provides space for Junior Kindergarten through Grade 8

Grace Church School is a private school whose original building is located at 86 Fourth Avenue between East 10th and East 12th Streets in the East Village neighborhood of the borough of Manhattan in New York City. The school was founded in 1894 by the Grace Church as the first choir boarding school in New York City.[4] The private day school, which much resembles the school today, began in 1934.[4] Grace Church School's High School Division opened in 2012 and is located at 46 Cooper Square. In the 2015–2016 school year, the school opened for the first time as a Junior Kindergarten through 12th grade program.[5][6]

In 1947 Grace became a co-educational school and was admitted to the Guild of Independent Schools of New York City. In the following decade the school began to expand its facilities to accommodate a growing student body. From the original 16 choristers, Grace has grown to its current enrollment of more than 725 students drawn from a wide variety of ethnic, economic, and religious backgrounds.[7]

While the school has continued its close relationship with Grace Church, since 1972 it has been governed by an independent Board of Trustees, and it is a fully accredited member of the New York State Association of Independent Schools and the National Association of Independent Schools. Grace Church School is also a member of the National Association of Episcopal Schools. In 2006, the School became a legal entity separate from the Church, and now owns the buildings at 84-96 Fourth Avenue, including the historic and landmarked church houses Clergy House, Memorial House and Neighborhood House.[8]

In 2015, Grace Church School introduced "antiracist" language into its curriculums. Teachers of Grace Church School described "sustained pressure" to accept these changes, and the school later reprimanded a math teacher who criticized the initiative. In a private conversation, the school head conceded that Grace Church School demonized white students. Some students also echoed objections to the initiative.[9]

The Grace Church School's high school building is located in Cooper Square. It was inaugurated in 2011.[6] A rooftop addition by MBB Architects provided a 14,000 square foot gymnasium and athletic center.[10][11][12]

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ "Robert M. Pennoyer II Appointed Next Head of School". www.gcschool.org. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  2. ^ "School Leadership". www.gcschool.org. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "GCS Athletics". www.gcschool.org. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
  4. ^ a b Federal Writers' Project (1939). New York City Guide. New York: Random House. ISBN 978-1-60354-055-1. (Reprinted by Scholarly Press, 1976; often referred to as WPA Guide to New York City.), p.136
  5. ^ Solomon, Serena (August 24, 2012). "Village Voice Leaving Cooper Sq. as Grace Church School Moves in". DNAinfo. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014.
  6. ^ a b Hollander, Sophia (August 15, 2011). "New School Sets Agenda". The Wall Street Journal.
  7. ^ "Overview". Grace Church School. Archived from the original on March 4, 2011.
  8. ^ "History". Grace Church in New York. Archived from the original on December 4, 2016.
  9. ^ Powell, Michael (August 27, 2021). "New York's Private Schools Tackle White Privilege. It Has Not Been Easy". The New York Times. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  10. ^ "Grace Church High School Athletic Center". Architect Magazine. August 27, 2019. Archived from the original on March 17, 2021.
  11. ^ Malone, David (January 8, 2019). "Greenwich Village's Grace Church School receives rooftop athletic center expansion" (PDF). Building Design and Construction.
  12. ^ Logan, Katherine (January 2, 2019). "Continuing Education: Vertical School Expansions". Architectural Record. Retrieved March 30, 2023.

External links

  • Official website


Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Grace_Church_School&oldid=1209986856"