Hamilton Heights School is a close-knit community of children, families and teachers dedicated to a child-centered education, student achievement, faculty innovation, parent involvement and a community of kindness and caring.

The educational philosophy of HHS emphasizes hands-on-learning, multi-disciplinary thematic units, and support for children as individuals with varied needs and learning styles. Students of all grades are filled with a sense of purposeful investigation and active learning. An emphasis is placed on inquiry, critical thinking and problem solving.

Our Mission

Our mission is to provide an academically rigorous education to a diverse population of students in an atmosphere that is nurturing, supportive and respectful. We are committed to providing students with the best of progressive education based upon effective instructional strategies. We strive to set clear expectations and support for academic achievement. We seek to develop social awareness among our students and to expose them to the broader issues facing the surrounding communities.

Our students are encouraged to share their knowledge, to question and probe ideas, and to use evidence and acquired information to support their opinions.

Our teachers are committed to creating a community of students and families who share a love of learning. We celebrate and learn from the range of backgrounds, beliefs, and cultures that reflect the diversity of our school neighborhood and New York City.

What HHS Means to Students and Teachers

"What it means to teach from the heart."

"How to make our voice heard when we believe in something."

"How to teach through spontaneous teachable moments."

"What it means to be part of a community."

"What it means to "walk the walk" and how to really SHOW and TELL."

"How to be a better person."

"That we teach who we are."

"A thing or two about having a good sense of humor."

What HHS Means to Families

"Hamilton Heights is like a second home to our daughter. It is a place where she is safe, where she learns everyday, where she is loved and respected by her peers and teachers. It's a place where art is taught as more than a subject, as a way to express feelings, ideas, and creativity. HHS is a place where our daughter has blossomed academically, a place where she continues to thrive beyond our expectations."

"Hamilton Heights has been more than a school for our daughter these last four years. It has been an extension of our family that is helping to nurture her creativity and foster sense of community."

"Hamilton Heights is an extension of ourselves as parents and as a family. The children learn in an environment of support and enthusiasm and delight in one another's differences, accomplishments and contributions. The small size of the school fosters a strong sense of community and allows for a lot of individual attention. The teachers, principal and staff are approachable and open, and yet the children are held to a high level of academic responsibility. Progressive yet rigorous. And Sing Along is a dream!"

"The teachers at Hamilton Heights School are what I value above all else. My two children have had seven wonderful, amazing, caring and communicative classroom teachers between them during their time at Hamilton Heights School. The music, science and physical education teachers have been just as important to their development. The teachers' insights, knowledge and understanding have made us better parents to our children. Other schools may have fancier buildings, bigger staffs and bells and whistles. The quality of teaching staff make our community truly special. You can't find that anywhere else."

"Hamilton Heights School, because of its small size and progressive curriculum, is a place where my children are nurtured and respected as individuals. I appreciate that it integrates academic rigor with an equally important emphasis on music and the visual arts."

"We need more schools like HHS — small and of the community, filled with teachers and children who stand up for what's fair and right for the world."