Student Experience

Begin Your Journey

Lower School

"What's in a Day?"
Being a Spence student means being an essential and celebrated member of a learning community. With a felt sense of loving accountability, students take pride in growing their knowledge and skills as they contribute in so many ways to the joyful community that is their school.

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Good Morning
Ms. Anderson
To Lower Schoolers, the art room is a place that reflects who they are and all that they can create. Students are always stopping by to check out what's new.
Can We Have Five More Minutes Please?
The after-school Second Act program offers a variety of extracurricular activities for students to choose from and connect with other students across grades.
Second Act Classes
Terrace Time
There's no place better to stretch their energy, expand their imaginations, and grow their friendships.
Lunch Time
It’s loud, it’s chatty, it’s social. They’re making decisions and the kitchen team knows their preferences, diets, and how to always help them try something new.
Lunch
Ascending the Stairs
Climbing seven flights from the gym to the fifth floor can feel like “climbing Everest,” but Grades 3 and 4 students see it as part of their growth and preparation for harder tasks.
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LOWER SCHOOL

Middle School

"What's in a Day?"
There is this wonderful sense that everything is possible, which is matched with the boundless energy in Middle School. School life is steeped in building and cultivating relationships, growing a sense of self, exploring and advocating for your interests, and considering how to make a positive impact in your sphere of influence.
8:20 a.m. – Morning Classes
From homeroom, students head off to their academic classes. Classes are 50 minutes long. Each day follows a rotating schedule, so no two mornings look exactly alike. On any given day, a student might:
  • Investigate the transmission of infectious diseases in Science
  • Evaluate the perspective of an ancient philosopher in History
  • Analyze metaphor and tone in English
  • Collaborate with classmates to tackle multi-step problems in Math
2:15 p.m. – Last Period: Athletics, PE, and Specialty Courses
The final period of the day looks different depending on a student’s grade level and schedule, but it’s always active and engaging. Students might head to the gym for Physical Education, to 412 for volleyball practice, to the theater for rehearsal, to the studios for visual arts, or to the lab for a coding session. Our schedule was designed to integrate Athletics and specialty classes into the last period of the day, providing more flexibility and greater opportunities for exploration, creativity, and movement.
Hallway Huddles
Collaborative work, literature circles or group projects are always spilling out of classrooms and into the hallways.
Cross-Divisional Mentoring
Our Math Lab is a vibrant room full of Middle School students, Upper School Math Fellows, and teachers, all in one space examining problems, asking questions, and testing ideas—not just looking for right answers. Around the corner are the science and writing labs, where faculty and students work together on projects, engage in deep thinking, and connect over shared academic interests.
8:00 a.m. – Morning Arrival & Homeroom
The day begins with homeroom, where students check in with their advisors and classmates. These gatherings help everyone settle in, preview the day ahead, and build connection in a small, supportive setting.
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MIDDLE SCHOOL

Upper School

"What's in a Day?"
Independence and collaboration are woven together to create the fabric of everyday life in the Upper School. Students dive into academic interests and grow their involvement in athletics, clubs, and the arts all while preparing for the college process.
10:45 a.m. - To Gather Together
At assembly, always student-led and always different, students invite speakers to discuss topics of interest and gather to celebrate athletic wins, academic awards, and other milestones.
7:00 p.m. - Many Voices
The Upper School student-led a capella group Triple Trio writes original arrangements and is a key performer in large school-wide events like the Winter Choral Concert.
3:20 p.m. - Class is Over
- but the day’s not! The lacrosse team is off to a match, rehearsal is about to begin for the spring play, and a new piece of choreography is being composed at the 412 dance studio.
1:20 p.m. - Campaigns and Elections
Intertwining history, computer science, and math, students explore the American electoral process through a class that combines data analysis, interpreting political polls, and statistics.
9:45 a.m. - Focus On Your Frees
Meet one-on-one with a college counselor to begin shaping the college process or finish a novel in the senior lounge: free periods are determined by the goals Upper School students set for themselves.
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UPPER SCHOOL

92 Clubs and Organizations

In Middle and Upper School

10

Student Identity/Affinity Groups

82 Middle and Upper School Dancers

participate in the Dance Concert

4

Student Publications

Middle & Upper School

22 East 91st Street
New York, NY 10128

Lower School

56 East 93rd Street
New York, NY 10128

Athletic & Educational Facility

412 East 90th Street
New York, NY 10128
A K-12 independent school in New York City, The Spence School prepares a diverse community of girls and young women for the demands of academic excellence and responsible citizenship.

212-289-5940


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