Ellwanger-Barry Nursery School

Ellwanger‑Barry Nursery School is a Preschool in Rochester, NY. It operates as a parent‑run cooperative nursery school and kindergarten that follows a Waldorf‑style program centered on daily immersion in the natural world. The school serves families with young children, offering early‑educational experiences that emphasize emotional, social and creative growth. Led by longtime educator Katie Banta, the school has earned a perfect 5.00 rating from reviewers.

The school’s approach is rooted in Waldorf‑inspired education, which prioritizes a strong connection to nature, outdoor time each day, and emotional development. Lessons are organized around the philosophies of thinking, feeling, and doing, encouraging curiosity, wonder and self‑discovery through play. Because it is a cooperative, all parents of enrolled children share classroom assistant duties and administrative responsibilities, creating a close‑knit community. Faculty include lead teacher Suzanne Morgan, who holds a Master’s degree in Elementary Education, and assistant teacher McKenna Light, a certified teacher with a background in the arts.

Ellwanger‑Barry Nursery School is located on E Henrietta Rd, just steps from East Henrietta Road. It sits within a short walk of the University of Rochester Mail Services and the university campus itself, and is near Mount Hope Avenue. South Avenue and the URMC Connection Hub bus station are each about two‑tenths of a mile away, providing convenient access to public transportation.

The school’s cooperative, nature‑focused Waldorf model offers Rochester families a distinctive early‑education environment that nurtures each child’s natural sense of wonder.