Important Update from The Churchill School

After considerable analysis, research and deliberation, the Board of Trustees has voted unanimously to transition to a fully independent school model. This means that beginning with the 2020-2021 admissions cycle, Churchill will start a multi-year process to phase out our acceptance of public funding. All new families with children enrolling in Churchill for the first time in September 2020 will sign private enrollment contracts.

This change is necessary in order to preserve our financial stability in the long-term so we can continue to serve children in the decades ahead. Equally important, this transition is about building on what we already do and making Churchill even better. This means introducing a richer curriculum with new classes, offering more individualized programs that meet the specific needs of each child and integrating alternative assessments that are more appropriate for our students.

It’s important to know that this transition will happen in a controlled and organized manner over several years, and we will support you every step of the way. We are hiring a dedicated counselor to help you understand and navigate your options for funding. We also will offer direct financial aid to families who qualify.

We understand that you and your children will have many questions. As a starting point, we invite you to visit www.churchillschoolnyc.org/FAQ where we’ve posted additional information about the transition. We also hope that you will join one of several community town halls we’ll hold in the coming weeks, where we will provide more details and answer your questions. The first meeting will take place at 8:30am during the Parents’ Welcome Breakfast on September 3 and the schedule of additional meetings is available now on the FAQ page.

Every strategic decision we make about Churchill is guided by one key question: what is best for our students today and in the future? We truly believe that this transition is what’s best for our community. We’re looking forward to taking this next step together and are excited for what’s to come. As always, we thank you for being a part of our Churchill community and for placing your trust in us. We know that educating your children is an immense responsibility, but we also view it as an extraordinary privilege.

Best,
Dr. Timothy P. Madigan Cynthia C. Wainwright
Head of School Chair, Board of Trustees
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