Program Options

The Medical Center Nursery School is a progressive, play based preschool located on the Columbia University Medical Center campus in the Washington Heights section of northern Manhattan. MCNS in an independent, nonprofit preschool.

MCNS has three classrooms that roughly correspond to these age levels:
Explorers (2 year olds), Pathfinders (3 year olds), and Trailblazers (4 year olds). Although MCNS does not offer a DOE UPK program, the Trailblazers room functions as a Pre-K.

The daily schedule affords children time to explore materials in their classroom, to participate in whole group activities and events, and to engage in both indoor and outdoor gross motor play. Our regular faculty includes specialists in Music, Studio Arts, Gardening and Nature. Professional collaboration allows us introduce that content into the curriculum in every classroom. Many MCNS teachers speak Spanish, and we find many opportunities to incorporate Spanish into our daily conversations. The Trailblazers curriculum includes a bit of Mandarin.

Classroom routines and schedules remain consistent throughout the year to allow children to develop a comfortable sense of security in a predictable and reliable environment.

Academic Year: early September through late June (2024-25 calendar)

Morning Half Day 8:30 A.M. - 12:45 P.M.

Extended Day 8:30 A.M. - 3:30 P.M.

Full Day 8:30 A.M. - 6:00 P.M.

MCNS continues to offer staggered arrival times, and families may arrange to drop off children as early as 8:00am.

Pathfinders and Trailblazers come to school five days per week. Explorers have the option to attend three days.

See tuition here: Tuition

MCNS serves children in northern Manhattan. About half of those families are affiliated with Columbia University, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, and the New York State Psychiatric Institute. Families do NOT need to be affiliated with Columbia University or NYP to enroll. The school is open to everyone.