The arts are woven into everything we do at The Neighborhood School. Our students don't just study art — they think like artists, express themselves creatively, and see the world through multiple lenses.
Studio in a School — Visual Arts
For over 30 years, TNS has partnered with Studio in a School to provide professional visual arts instruction. Our teaching artist works with every K-5 classroom weekly, guiding students through increasingly sophisticated artistic practices.
What Students Learn
Kindergarten and 1st Grade: Mark-making, fine motor development, self-portraits, collaborative murals, working with color and texture.
2nd and 3rd Grade: Observational drawing, collage with cultural references, 3D design including city models, exploring multiple materials.
4th and 5th Grade: Bamboo reed pens and ink, charcoal drawing, paper-mache sculpture, printmaking techniques, portraiture and figurative work.
Each year culminates in a school-wide exhibition where families can see the incredible work students have created. TNS students are regularly selected for exhibition at Christie's auction house.
Third Street Music School
Through our partnership with Third Street Music School Settlement, students receive music instruction that develops rhythm, melody, ensemble skills, and musical expression. This program connects students to one of the oldest community music schools in the country.
NYC Ballet — Dance
New York City Ballet brings professional dance instruction into our school, teaching students coordination, creative expression, and the discipline of movement. Students learn both technique and the joy of dance as artistic expression.
Why Arts Matter at TNS
Research consistently shows that arts education improves academic outcomes, develops critical thinking, and builds social-emotional skills. At TNS, we see this every day. Our students learn to take creative risks, collaborate, and express ideas in multiple ways — skills that serve them well beyond the art room.