Purple Circle

Specialties

Purple Circle is a well-​established and diverse program for early childhood education on Manhattan’s UWS. The school is over 40 years old and values every family’s active participation and community membership. At Purple Circle, children are given opportunities for direct experience with materials and the environment. Teachers make room to support children’s strengths and a variety of interests. Our teachers are nurturing, warm, and highly experienced. The ratio of teachers to children is outstanding, and its facilities are a real workshop for children’s play and active imagination. Purple Circle’s small size of approximately 60 families allows for an intimate and engaging environment for young children ages 2 – 6 years. Children’s conversations, questions and ideas are the basis for curriculum planning. Investigation occurs through a variety of mediums, such as art, music, literature, dance, block building and dramatic play. Purple Circle is non-​sectarian and does not discriminate.

History

Established in 1972.

At Purple Circle Early Childhood Program, children have the opportunity to experience with materials, and develop connections with both children and adults.

Purple Circle is an independent Early Childhood Program for children ages 2 through 5. Located on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, it was founded in 1972 as a parent-​cooperative that values families as integral members of our school community.

The partnership between families and teachers is essential to the preservation of children’s play. Our exceptional student to teacher ratio affords teachers time to observe all children closely in order to know them as unique individuals. Knowing children as individuals, Purple Circle is able to provide a variety of materials in every classroom that support each child’s strengths and interests.

Purple Circle is a non-​profit, non-​discriminatory school welcoming children of all racial, religious and cultural backgrounds. Multiple time options are available to families to accommodate an array