OUR MISSION
The Elisabeth Morrow School’s shared purpose is to provide exemplary academics and character development in a diverse and inclusive child-centered community, inspiring students to become curious scholars, ethical leaders, and global citizens.
Awards, Honors & Endorsements
National Blue Ribbon School
Honored by the U.S. Department of Education for our academic excellence and high student achievement
Apple Distinguished School 2022–2026
Recognized for use of Apple technology to enhance children’s learning through hands-on projects with real-world connections
UN Global School
Designated for our commitment to integrating global citizenship and sustainable development education aligned with United Nations principles
ASCA Student Council School of Excellence (2025)
Awarded by the American Student Council Association for exceptional student leadership, community service, citizenship, and school spirit
Responsible AI in Learning (RAIL) Endorsement in AI Literacy, Safety, and Ethics
Earned through a rigorous evaluation of policies, practices, and safeguards for responsible AI use
Vision of the EMS Graduate
In addition to acquiring mastery of a core body of knowledge, our community has collectively defined attributes and competencies that each student is expected to develop by the time they graduate from The Elisabeth Morrow School. This Vision of the EMS Graduate provides a guidepost for how we design our teaching and learning. These attributes and competencies — necessary for success today and well into the future — include:
- Reflection
- 4 C’s: Courtesy, Consideration, Cooperation, Compassion
- Collaboration
- Communication
- Productive Creativity
- Critical Thinking
- Emotional Intelligence
- Resilience
- Self-Awareness
The Beginning
The Elisabeth Morrow School, an independent, coeducational day school for children aged 2 through eighth grade, was founded in 1930 as the “Little School” by Smith College classmates Elisabeth Morrow and Connie Chilton.
In their quest to start a school for young children, these passionate educators traveled the world, studying with pioneers such as Maria Montessori and John Dewey. According to Elisabeth, this new school would include a balance of “faith in the old education and trust in the new” in an environment of “individuals working toward a common purpose.”
Nearly a century later, on the site of the former Morrow family estate, our school occupies a beautiful, 14-acre setting — a certified wildlife habitat with outdoor classrooms, multiple technology and science labs, innovation hubs, playgrounds, libraries, athletic facilities, nature trails, gardens, and a brook. We educate students from more than 55 communities in Bergen, Hudson, and Union counties in New Jersey and Manhattan, the Bronx, and Rockland counties in New York. Our students speak more than 20 home languages, mirroring the demography of the area in which our school is located.
Affiliations
The Elisabeth Morrow School is a proud member of the Independent Schools Admissions Association of Greater New York (ISAAGNY). Founded in 1965, ISAAGNY aims to ensure orderly, professional, and equitable admissions processes at member schools: we do so by observing a shared admissions timeline, engaging in professional development to hone our collective craft, exchanging resources and best practices, and more. The resulting spirit of cooperation serves schools, families, and nearly 30,000 students across greater New York.
The Elisabeth Morrow School is a proud member of the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools (NJAIS), whose mission is to promote and support educational, ethical, and professional excellence in its member schools while safeguarding their independence and fostering courageous change.
The Elisabeth Morrow School is a proud member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), whose mission is to unite and empower the independent school community by advancing the future of education through thought leadership, research, resources, and collaboration with education leaders to support excellence, innovation, and equity in independent schools.
