Celebrating 50 Years
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Hear from The Washington Market School's founder Ronnie Moskowitz as she reflects on the early days of WMS, the ideas that shaped our classrooms, and the spirit of WMS that continues to guide us today.
Celebrate with us!
Past Events
WMS Alumni
WMS alumni and their families are an important part of our 50-year story. Learn more and reconnect on our alumni page.
Our History
1976
Like our students, we started small
The year was 1976, and our school’s first lesson had just begun: a meeting of 6 students in Ronnie’s Washington Market loft. This small class sparked a lifelong love of early childhood education for Ronnie and laid the foundation for decades of nurturing young minds. Word spread, and with the support of local artists and early neighborhood pioneers, the school grew.
1981
Establishing roots
By 1981, The Washington Market School received its first charter from the New York State Department of Education. In 1988, together with local parent-architects, The Washington Market School designed & opened our first campus on Hudson Street. Three years later, our second Duane Street campus was added with new classrooms, a library, music loft, and art studio.
2000s
Raising the bar
The early 2000’s were an exciting period of growth. In 2001, our Duane Street campus doubled in size, annexing the space next door. Over the last twenty years, we’ve added new classrooms, libraries, art studios, a music loft and a lab room. Today, The Washington Market School remains a leading preschool in Tribeca and NYC, continuously renovating and reimagining our spaces to best serve the needs of young children.
