The Stevens Cooperative School (also referred to as SCS), founded in 1949, is the only nonsectarian

Nonsectarian

Nonsectarian, in its most literal sense, refers to a lack of sectarianism. The term is also more narrowly used to describe secular private educational institutions or other organizations either not affiliated with or not restricted to a particular religious denomination though the organization...

 private elementary school

Elementary school

An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...

 in Hoboken

Hoboken, New Jersey

Hoboken is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 50,005. The city is part of the New York metropolitan area and contains Hoboken Terminal, a major transportation hub for the region...

, New Jersey

New Jersey

New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...

, USA. The school started as an informal playgroup for children of the faculty at Stevens Institute of Technology

Stevens Institute of Technology

Stevens Institute of Technology is a technological university located on a campus in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA – founded in 1870 with an 1868 bequest from Edwin A. Stevens. It is known for its engineering, science, and technological management curricula.The institute has produced leading...

. The School, focused on delivering a Progressive education, has since grown into a preschool, elementary school, and middle school and the Stevens Cooperative School has campuses in Hoboken and Jersey City

Jersey City, New Jersey

Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...

. Stevens is the oldest parent cooperative school in New Jersey , from 2s through the 8th grade, nearly 400 students are in the school. The Interim Head of School is Dr. David Penberg. Stevens Cooperative School is a member of the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools

New Jersey Association of Independent Schools

The New Jersey Association of Independent Schools serves independent elementary and secondary schools throughout the state of New Jersey. The Association consists of 70 member schools with a total enrollment of approximately 26,000 students...

.

Mission Statement of Stevens Cooperative School

The mission of Stevens Cooperative School is to provide a challenging, meaningful progressive education within a supportive and cooperative community. Through a developmentally appropriate curriculum, designed for varied learning styles, Stevens students become confident life-long learners and responsible citizens with the skills to succeed beyond the School’s doors.

History & Timeline

1. 1949 Stevens Cooperative School was incorporated as a school for 3s and 4s. After a number of years, it moved to Lott House, at 8th Street and Castle Point Terrace in Hoboken, where the Nursery school remained until 2007.
2. 1973 Stevens starts its first Kindergarten program at St. Matthews Presbyterian Church at 9th Street and Hudson Street.
3. 1979 The School moves to St. John’s Lutheran Church at 3rd and Bloomfield Streets and adds a 1st grade and 2nd grade.
4. 1980 Stevens adds 3rd grade and 4th grade and moves St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 820 Hudson Street. Families from all over Hudson County join the School’s population.
5. 1983 Stevens buys a building at 220 Willow Street to house the K-4th grade.
6. 1980s The expansion of the School allows for the hiring of many teachers from the Bank Street College of Education, one of the nation’s leaders in progressive education. This practice continues today.
7. 1986 The School hires its first full time educational director.
8. 1992 The school moves into the Rue Building at 3rd and Garden Streets, where 1st grade - 8th grade in Hoboken remain today.
9. 1995 Zoe L. Hauser, current head of school, begins her tenure
10. Late 1990s Stevens expands to middle school, adding a 5th grade in 1997 and a 6th grade in 1998.
11. 2003 The School graduates its first 8th grade class.
12. 2003 Stevens moves its PreK and Kindergarten classes into a building a 301 Bloomfield Street, financing the purchase of the land with its first Capital Campaign.
13. 2005 Stevens opens a new campus at Newport in Jersey City with Kindergarten - 2nd grade, and the commitment to add one grade there per year.
14. 2007 A morning and afternoon 2s program is launched at the 301 Bloomfield Street facility.
15. 2007 Stevens moves its 3s, 4s and PreK/K students in Hoboken into a new facility at 333 River Street.
16. 2007 The Harrell Room, a science and media center, is installed on the second floor of 301 Bloomfield.
17. 2008 Stevens Newport Campus welcomes middle schoolers and has its first 5th grade class.
18. 2009 Stevens Newport Campus moves into a brand new, build to suit, 20,000 square foot space at the AquaBlu building within the Newport development.
19. 2010 Zoe L. Hauser celebrates 15 years as Head of School.

Accreditation

Stevens Cooperative School is accredited by the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools (NJAIS).

News, Press, Reviews of Stevens Cooperative School

Stevens Cooperative School names Dr. David Penberg, Interim Head of School (2011/2012)

Tuition

Tuition and fees are as follows:

• Half day 2s & 3s is $9,540
• PreK to 2nd Grade is $15,160 per year
• 3rd to 8th grade is $15,900 per year
• People in the half day programs pay a $190 fee
• People in grades PK-8 must pay a $270 fee
• After school program is free.

Buildings

Stevens Cooperative School owns and operates the following buildings (with a total of 46 staff members)

Building	Grades
Rue Building 3rd floor	1st - 8th Grade
301 Bloomfield Street	2s, Science and Media Lab
333 River Street	3s, PreK, Kindergarten
Newport Campus	K-8

External links

• Data for Stevens Cooperative School, National Center for Education Statistics
  National Center for Education Statistics
  The National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...