Briarcliff Nursery School
Briarcliff Nursery School, 40 Morningside Dr, Ossining, NY 10562
About
Briarcliff Nursery School is a non-profit parent-cooperative preschool that follows a program based on young children being actively engaged in concrete, hands-on experiences. The program is built on the belief that knowledge is constructed through the child’s active participation, with curriculum planned for the age span of the group and attention to the different needs, interests, and developmental levels of individual children.
• Price: Tuition was $21 per month (historical). The school purchased the site for $11,000, with $1,500 from an anonymous gift, $3,000 in bank savings, and $6,500 in bonds purchased by the parents. The Gronauer family donated $5,000 toward an addition built in 1957.
Briarcliff Nursery School was established in 1947 as a non-profit parent cooperative and has owned its present site since 1955. It received its New York State permanent charter in 1956, and an addition built in 1957 is now the 2’s classroom. The school celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 1997 with a gala at Sleepy Hollow Country Club.
The school’s mission states that its program provides a nurturing and stimulating environment that promotes the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development of young children. The curriculum is planned for the age span of the group with special attention to the different needs, interests, and developmental levels of individual children. The stated goals include providing materials and creating situations that arouse curiosity, stimulate thinking, and promote intellectual development; helping children develop independence and function on their own with confidence and security; promoting social development by helping them be respectful of the needs and feelings of others and by developing their ability to interact successfully and cooperatively; promoting emotional development by giving children a chance to express themselves through the arts; and helping children develop a lifelong love of learning.
Briarcliff Nursery School operates as a parent-cooperative preschool with cooperative opportunities in social, fundraising, substitution, library, maintenance, and newsletter roles. The school is supervised by a Board of Trustees that governs according to its bylaws, and an Executive Committee assists with operations including fundraising, maintenance, setting tuition, and planning social events for families. The school director is responsible for educational programming, curriculum, and managing classroom teachers. Parents may opt out of cooperative participation for an additional fee.
The school notes that the continued success and longevity of the program is due to the commitment and hard work of now two generations of parents. Many alumni have sent their own children to Briarcliff Nursery School, and grandparents sometimes return with their grandchild. The school has received its New York State permanent charter, and application and registration are open for the 2026–2027 school year.
As part of its community involvement and cooperative model, parents work side-by-side on events and projects that are described as integral to the school. Cooperative opportunities exist across core operational functions including social events, fundraising, substitution, library, maintenance, and newsletter. Historically, the school held three annual fundraising events: a Jingle Ball in December for parents, a social event for the entire community that was attended by over 400 people, and a carnival in the spring for the children.
Last updated February 5, 2026.
• Price: Tuition was $21 per month (historical). The school purchased the site for $11,000, with $1,500 from an anonymous gift, $3,000 in bank savings, and $6,500 in bonds purchased by the parents. The Gronauer family donated $5,000 toward an addition built in 1957.
Briarcliff Nursery School was established in 1947 as a non-profit parent cooperative and has owned its present site since 1955. It received its New York State permanent charter in 1956, and an addition built in 1957 is now the 2’s classroom. The school celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 1997 with a gala at Sleepy Hollow Country Club.
The school’s mission states that its program provides a nurturing and stimulating environment that promotes the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development of young children. The curriculum is planned for the age span of the group with special attention to the different needs, interests, and developmental levels of individual children. The stated goals include providing materials and creating situations that arouse curiosity, stimulate thinking, and promote intellectual development; helping children develop independence and function on their own with confidence and security; promoting social development by helping them be respectful of the needs and feelings of others and by developing their ability to interact successfully and cooperatively; promoting emotional development by giving children a chance to express themselves through the arts; and helping children develop a lifelong love of learning.
Briarcliff Nursery School operates as a parent-cooperative preschool with cooperative opportunities in social, fundraising, substitution, library, maintenance, and newsletter roles. The school is supervised by a Board of Trustees that governs according to its bylaws, and an Executive Committee assists with operations including fundraising, maintenance, setting tuition, and planning social events for families. The school director is responsible for educational programming, curriculum, and managing classroom teachers. Parents may opt out of cooperative participation for an additional fee.
The school notes that the continued success and longevity of the program is due to the commitment and hard work of now two generations of parents. Many alumni have sent their own children to Briarcliff Nursery School, and grandparents sometimes return with their grandchild. The school has received its New York State permanent charter, and application and registration are open for the 2026–2027 school year.
As part of its community involvement and cooperative model, parents work side-by-side on events and projects that are described as integral to the school. Cooperative opportunities exist across core operational functions including social events, fundraising, substitution, library, maintenance, and newsletter. Historically, the school held three annual fundraising events: a Jingle Ball in December for parents, a social event for the entire community that was attended by over 400 people, and a carnival in the spring for the children.
Last updated February 5, 2026.
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