MIDDLE SCHOOL CAN BE AMAZING!
Workshop Middle School is the premier progressive middle school
in Brooklyn, New York. Students learn advanced academic skills
and positive character strengths through immersive, hands-on
learning projects. One parent explains: “It’s the most incredible
school at the most important time.“
LEARN MORE
What is a microschool?
JUST FOR YOU.
Early adolescence can be confusing and complicated. Middle school
students are no longer little children: they want to explore new
interests, new ideas, and new identities. Yet, too often, middle
school works against the natural life of middle school students.
Exactly when school should be more innovative, more responsive,
and more connected, middle schools are more narrow, more rigid,
and less effective.
Our Ideal Candidates
Creative
Not all of us are artists but all of us can be thinkers. A creative thinker sees a car and wonders what it would look like as a plane. Then, they draw a restaurant inside the plan. With a pink flamingo sitting at a table in a suit and tie. Creative thinkers help us see new things in new ways.
Our Ideal Candidates
Curious
Curiosity didn’t kill the cat! It figured out how to give the cat a sleeping potion that caused everyone to think the cat had died. Only, hours later, the cat wakes back up, wanders downstairs to the fridge while everyone’s asleep and pours herself some milk. Curious thinkers understand that old learning is awesome because it leads to new learning.
Our Ideal Candidates
Big-hearted
During middle school, young adults work through important challenges. All of our students will make mistakes. In fact, we encourage it! Mistakes mean we’re exploring and taking risks. Big hearts help our community learn, grow, challenge, and forgive. As a small school, we value big hearts.
TUITION
HOW MUCH DOES WORKSHOP MIDDLE SCHOOL COST?
As an independent school, we rely on family tuition to support our academic program. Tuition for the 2024-25 school year is $42,500.
However, we promote access and equity for all students and families through our indexed tuition model. No right fit student is ever denied admission because of financial status. In fact, 80% of enrolled families receive a reduced tuition award.
WHAT IS INDEXED TUITION?
Indexed tuition means that your family’s financial commitment is matched to your financial resources. Your family will receive a tuition award in one of five tiers:
100%: $42,500
75% 29,500
50% $19,500
25% $9550
5% $1000
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Families complete a confidential tuition application at our partner, School and Student Services (SSS). SSS analyzes your family worksheet and forwards your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) to our school. Based on that data, we place your EFC into one of five tuition tiers.
ABOUT WORKSHOP MIDDLE SCHOOL FAMILIES, 2023-24:
50% of students identify as BIPOC
80% of families receive reduced tuition
40% of families qualify for Title I
55% of families qualify for NYC subsidized housing
100% of families receive 100% of demonstrated need
Diversity, Equity, and Belonging
Our diverse community deserves a dynamic and diverse school. Research explains that diverse social groups are more creative, more effective, and more productive. Workshop Middle School actively encourages applications from students and families from all communities to apply.
Because everyone is better when everyone is together.
Diversity
Our school is founded on core values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. This is not a policy on our website. This is the core commitment of our school. Helen Keller wrote, “Alone, we can do so little. Together, we can do so much.”
Middle school can change the world.
Equity
Workshop Middle School indexes tuition to family income and wealth. This means that tuition that is scaled according to your family’s ability to pay. In 2021, more than 80% of our families receive adjusted tuition awards.
Because all children deserve access to high-quality progressive education.
Belonging
Belonging means that all of our ideas, experiences, and perspectives are welcomed. We respect and value the ways that all of our experiences and perspectives may be different. Jesse Jackson writes, “Inclusion is the key to growth.”
Because the premise of our school is the promise of our young people.
Steps to Admission: Click each box to learn more!
1. Join an Open House
Each, month, we host an Open House for prospective students and families. Join our admissions team to learn more about our school. We explore the history of middle school, research on positive youth development, and the core elements of our school.
We host each Open House at our school in Prospect Lefferts Gardens where students have access to state of the art classrooms, a professional maker studio, and a large, sunlit student lounge. Students also have access to 3D printers, laser cutters, and each receive personal laptops.
Register now for an Open House!
Can’t come to an in-person Open House? Watch a tour of our school here and sign up for one of our Virtual Open Houses!
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2. Start an Online Application
Our application process helps our school learn more about your child. It is also designed to help your family learn more about our school. We believe that every child deserves a right-fit middle school and we want to make sure our school can set your child up for success!
We process admissions applications through our partner, Ravenna. You can start an online application now for the 2024-25 school year. Please note that there are two admissions cycles: Early Decision and Common Application. Early Decision is for parents and families who very much believe that Workshop Middle School is the right choice for their family. Our Common Application deadline is designed to allow families the chance to make their middle school decision parallel with the public school admissions process.
3. Organize Your Documents
Families are required to submit personal documents to complete an admissions application including:
- a student transcript
- teacher-graded work in writing and math
- 2 teacher recommendations (current or within the last 2 school years)
Additionally, a few questions answered by the prospective student, and a parent explanation as to why Workshop is the right fit for their child are required on the application on the Ravenna website.
Please complete your application with your honest answers and best attention. We take care to read through each application carefully, and your answers help us learn more about your family.
4. Visit Our School (Buddy Day!)
The best part of our application process is your child’s school visit. After your family completes your application, we will schedule a half-day school visit (from 8:30am-noon) for your child to learn with us.
During their visit, your child will shadow a current student and participate in our morning classes, Humanities and STEM. They are not required to bring any materials or supplies with them. We’ll provide them with a guest laptop when they arrive that they’ll be able to use for their visit. At the end of their visit, we will meet with them to review their day. Later that day, we will contact you to hear feedback about their experience.
5. Meet Our Admissions Team
Parents and families are an incredibly important part of our school. Join our Admissions Team, Andrew, Abba, and Denise, for an informal discussion about your family’s application to our school. They’ll ask a few questions about your child’s school experience, your hopes for middle school, and they’ll also make sure you have time to speak about any questions or concerns that you might have.
6. Complete Tuition Application
Tuition for the 2024-25 school year is $40,500. However, all families receive a tuition award indexed to family income and wealth. This is an important way that we promote access and equity for all families.
All information is confidential. You will enter in financial details at our partner, School and Student Services. SSS will then forward to us information about your Expected Family Contribution. We will place your EFC into one of five tuition tiers: 100%, 75%, 50%, 25%, or 5% of full tuition.
Testimonials
Workshop is like a family; we all have a deep connection and are always there for each other.
BasieTestimonials
The community here is really supportive. Everyone is really nice and the teachers really understand where you are and how to help you.
BenTestimonials
Workshop is an amazing school where you can just be who you want to be and pursue your interests while also learning.
Oonagh
Couldn`t make it to our Open House in September? We`re having another! Join us this Sunday, October 15 from 1:00 - 2:30pm to learn more about Workshop Middle School! RSVP using the link in our bio!
Meet Riya, our 6th grade humanities teacher!
Riya graduated from New York University with a Bachelor of Science in Secondary English Education. She is a passionate educator who strives to see all students for their whole, lovable-weirdo selves. Riya aspires to cultivate a classroom community where everyone feels empowered to learn, not just in service of the world we live in, but in hopes of creating a better one.
When she’s not at Workshop Middle School, Riya is likely dog-watching in Prospect Park, listening to music on the subway (and missing her stop), or in search of the best BLT in Brooklyn. She is a constant learner and constant questioner of the world around her, and she hopes to inspire the same in her students.
Our next staff member being featured is Jin!
Hyunjin is our 7th Grade STEM educator. Jin has professional experience as an engineer and experimental physicist, including exploration of the complex laws of the universe. For the last 5 years, Jin has led classroom learning in STEM. He believes that learning is more than collecting information. Our brain’s capacity, he explains, is actually unlimited.
Away from school, Jin crafts code, designs AI tools, and mapping optimal navigation routes around the neighborhood. When he was younger, Jin even made waves in e-sports.
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