Neighborhood Schools

Name

PS 397 Spruce Street School  

Address

12 Spruce Street  

Phone

(212) 266-4800  

Website

http://www.sprucestreetnyc.org  

Grades: PK-8

Enrollment: 420

Principal: Nancy Harris

Mission: 

Spruce Street is a Pre-K-8 public school serving the growing community of Lower Manhattan, engaging students in research and
authentic inquiry-based experiences.

We transform the youngest members of our local community into contributing members of our global community.
Against the backdrop of Lower Manhattan, we use our immediate surroundings as inspiration to affect the future. Our students study the history of Lower Manhattan, and learn ways to impact the community and world as it is today. For example, our 1st grade classes study the journey of food from seed to markets, partnering with a local urban farm. Spruce Street students represent the international community and leave prepared to give back. 

We foster intellectual curiosity, independence and leadership through challenging and engaging curricula.
Research units form the foundation for our curriculum units. All students inquire, study, and cultivate skills through authentic experiences. Our lower grades sketch, observe, and interview to learn more. Older students combine that work with critical conversations about texts. All students engage in a range of experiences that cultivate the academics with the arts.

We nurture individual strengths and build a caring, cohesive community of learners.
As a school community, we believe in an inclusive setting for all children and adults. We explicitly teach social emotional development, and utilize a schoolwide system of Four Be’s – Be Kind, Be Safe, Be Fair, Be Responsible. Adults and children communicate thoughtfully and supportively with one another.