New City School in the Central West End was founded 50 years ago, made possible when a group of neighborhood moms went door to door, asking homeowners for donations toward its initial start-up capital. The volunteer mothers requested residents to donate of 5 to 10 percent of the appraised value of their home, as it was the estimate of how much their property value would increase once the school opened its doors.
Back in 1969, the Central West End was struggling and real estate values were flat. Parents of young children were also left without the option of having a school nearby, following the closure of Barat Hall and City House schools. That’s when a group of neighbors began meeting to discuss its vision of opening a school that was inclusive and progressive, and focused on individual children’s needs. The founders envisioned a place that offered opportunities for a diverse group of students to learn together, be creative, and develop a sense of independence and confidence.
“From the start, our founders imagined a school with a strong commitment to academic excellence, with an academic program that was experiential, hands-on, and did not focus on rote learning. That remains true today,” noted head of school Alexis Wright. “Our students are active learners, use the city as a classroom, and the Multiple Intelligences frame for teaching and learning helps our students to challenge themselves, pushing them to become well-rounded, lifelong learners. Our secondary school matriculation list is also a testament to the strength of our program and our students. “
With six teachers and almost 100 children, New City School opened its doors for the first time in September 1969 and began classes for students aged 3 through fourth grade. Classes were held in the basement of the First Unitarian Church at Waterman and Kingshighway boulevards.
New City School moved to its current location at 5209 Lake Ave in 1971 into a building that already had a storied past: Built in 1901 as the new home of Mary Institute (and used for one year during the 1904 World’s Fair to house Washington University’s undergraduate programs), it was later occupied by Lutheran High School. In addition, the building served as an munitions training facility during World War II, and was a filming location for the 1993 movie, King of the Hill.
Through the years, New City School has established a reputation for progressive education, with a history of social-mindedness and an emphasis on diversity, community and inclusion.
“Our students are smart, curious, they ask questions and like to be challenged,” Wright said. “New City School was conceived as a school for a broad set of families and that remains true today. Racial and ethnic diversity, socio-economic diversity, religious diversity—we work hard to ensure that the school community mirrors that of our larger society. Intentionally building a diverse community is important, but it is also important to build a curriculum for students and families to help support their development around gaining a true understanding and appreciation of differences.”
Wright adds the diverse student body hails from all parts of St. Louis City, the county and Illinois.
“The school is truly a beacon and as such, families from different backgrounds and locations all want to be a part of our community,” he said.
The school’s variable tuition program allows students from a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds to attend—the student body currently pulls from 51 zip codes around the metro are—with 45 percent of families receiving some form of financial assistance through the program.
As he envisions the next 50 years, Wright is confident New City School will continue to bolster its position as one of the leading elementary schools in St. Louis.
“We are building our Innovation Lab, a teaching and learning space where students will build, experiment, tinker and code as they work to solve problems, both big and small. We are excited because the lab will not only focus on the development of academic skills, but also the development of the social-emotional skills that are crucial for success in school and life and must be developed in concert with academics,” he explained. “Brain research has taught us much about how children learn—that is a field in which there are rapid advances, all of which have implications for schools and pedagogy and curriculum. As a faculty, we are starting to dive into that work and learn from it in order to ensure that our curriculum remains at the forefront of what an excellent elementary education should be. We are a model, and I want to ensure that we remain the model for future generations of students and families.”
The celebration for the school’s 50-year milestone begins later this month and will culminate with a gala in the spring. Festivities kick off on the first day of school on Thursday, Aug. 22, followed by Homecoming Weekend on Nov. 1 and 2. The celebratory gala will be held on May 2, 2020 at The Fabulous Fox.
For more information, visit newcityschool.org.
