Stevens Cooperative School – Jersey City (Newport)

Stevens Cooperative School - Jersey City (Newport) is a private educational institution in Jersey City, NJ, serving PreK 3 through 8th grade students. The school operates as a co-ed institution with two campuses, one in Jersey City and one in Hoboken, and is recognized as the oldest cooperative school in New Jersey, established in 1949. The school’s mission is to foster curiosity, compassion, and confidence in students who think deeply, act ethically, and lead by example. It currently enrolls 460 students, 53% of whom come from diverse cultural backgrounds, and represents 14 different towns in its student body. The school offers 55 enrichment programs and 15 local and overnight trips, with 100% of families choosing a cooperative job every year.

The educational philosophy at Stevens centers on progressive teaching and learning, an approach maintained since the school’s founding. Classrooms are designed as versatile, inclusive laboratories for exploration, with coursework that is interdisciplinary, multidimensional, and hands-on. The school develops each student’s academic intellect alongside their social-emotional intelligence, allowing student interests to guide the educational process. For students, community is a foundational principle interwoven with the curriculum from preschool through 8th grade, teaching children to be active participants as learners, helpers, and leaders. The school emphasizes bold and safe spaces for students to take risks and be challenged by teachers, peers, and themselves. The head of school notes that the education centers on depth of learning and rigorous thinking while promoting curiosity and inquiry, with students engaging in real-world problem solving.

The Jersey City campus is located at 100 River Dr S. It sits on the riverfront, about 40 meters from Elephant Park and 80 meters from the Holland Tunnel. Newport Gazebo Park is also within a short walk, approximately 140 meters away. Harsimus Cove and Newport Sand Beach are located about 0.2 miles from the school, while the University of Phoenix is situated nearby at a distance of 0.2 miles.

Stevens Cooperative School - Jersey City (Newport) stands as a long-established private school in Jersey City, offering a cooperative model of education that has served the community for over three quarters of a century.