The Booker T. Washington Preschool was established in 1990 as a response to the crack epidemic which was ravishing the East Harlem community and left many families with unimaginable challenges.  Infants were born to drug addicted mothers with severe cognitive delays.  Many families were homeless, and several children were forced into the foster care system.  We wanted to be sure that children and families had holistic support, adequate resources and social and emotional support in their community.  We became a second family and a second home for our children. ​

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BTW Preschool is invested in the growth and development of each child who attends our school. Based on our belief that children learn best through doing, opportunities for hands-on, multi-sensory experiences are ​provided throughout the day. We believe that children will thrive if they are excited, encouraged and nurtured. They become life-long learners when they are taught to think creatively, strategically and critically about the world around them. Problem-solving and discovery are at the core of our curriculum and each day our children feel more capable, more confident and more inspired.

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At BTW we focus on the whole child, which addresses the cognitive, language, physical and social/emotional abilities of each of them. Children are viewed as individuals and each one receives care and attention based on his/her strengths, challenges, interests and individual learning styles. Our teachers help children develop self-control, self-esteem, empathy, independence and problem-solving. Children are the center of everything here. The materials that are provided are open-ended and age-appropriate. They encourage exploration through creativity, trial and error, as well as collaboration.

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There are many opportunities for families to become involved in committees and to help with events. We value the time and effort that the BTW families give back to our school. We are a second home for our many of our families.