MMFS: Unique Among NYC Special Education Schools

What makes MMFS unique among NYC special education schools?

For one thing, Mary McDowell Friends School is the only Quaker school for students with learning disabilities in New York City. One of the core tenets of Quakerism is that everyone has access to “inner light,” which is another way of expressing our philosophy of “revealing brilliance” in our students. Quaker values and a deep commitment to antiracism and equity serve as a guiding light for everything we do.

Another foundation of MMFS is our belief that special education is excellent education. Our K-12, college-prep curriculum focuses on revealing brilliance in every student by focusing on their potential rather than their deficits. We know that students with learning disabilities like dyslexia and ADHD succeed in school when they’re given the attention and specialized teaching they need. So we support our students with:

• small class sizes (our average student to teacher ratio is 6:1)
• a structured, multisensory approach to a rigorous and challenging curriculum
• differentiated instruction that ensures we address each student’s strengths and struggles
• Language Therapy (LT) and Occupational Therapy (OT) that are a regular part of the school day, supporting learning in every classroom and every subject
• a social-emotional learning curriculum (the lower school uses the RULER approach created by Dr. Marc Brackett of Yale University)
• the latest assistive technology, including FM systems in classrooms
• comprehensive college counseling at the upper school; and
• an approach to learning that empowers students to be their own best advocates, at school and beyond.

An MMFS education takes place outside the classroom, too, by incorporating the visual and performing arts, athletic teams, international travel, and a social justice practice. And perhaps most important: MMFS faculty and staff are highly trained, deeply dedicated professionals who choose special education as a specialty.

Mary McDowell Friends School has been a leader in educating students with learning disabilities for 40 years and unique among special education schools in NYC. It’s why we confidently say:

Success starts here.