WHY PCS?

Because PCS is where kids come to shine.

At PCS, we’ve reimagined education to light up each and every student. We know that in order for children to love learning, it needs to matter to them. Our innovative approach combines learner-centered, project-based and community-minded education to engage students in meaningful, authentic learning that stems from children’s own interest and inquiries. Students dive into hands-on projects, explore nature as a classroom, and enact change within our local community, developing a deep sense of purpose and belonging, alongside critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills. This is learning that turns the light on.

“PCS provides the conditions for kids to have that little light on, that curiosity, that passion, that drive to want to know, to be better, to make change — and that is a gift not just for the children, but for the teachers, for our community and for our world.”
— Paola Florez, Kindergarten Facilitator

The Cornerstones of a PCS Education

The Integrated Studies Unit

Students across grade levels embark on a shared, thematic Integrated Studies Units each trimester based on a topic drawn from the fields of science, social studies, current events or history. Each class chooses an area of concentration within the topic based on student interest and spends the trimester engaged in collaborative, project-based learning that integrates math, literacy and enrichment area curriculum. The Integrated Studies Unit encourages both breadth and depth of study as students throughout the school explore the reaches of a topic and classes dive deep into their areas of focus. Past units have included: Astronomy, Long Island’s Maritime History, and Civics: Citizens and Communities in Action. Learn more here.

Place Based Education

PCS curriculum is firmly grounded in our local environment, culture, and community. Through a combination of hands-on explorations, field research and classroom inquiry, students use the North Fork as a launching pad for their studies: they explore local ecosystems, engage with community leaders, and tackle real issues in their neighborhood. By connecting learning to their immediate world, students develop a deeper understanding of their place in it, fostering a sense of stewardship and civic responsibility. This place-based approach not only enriches academic learning but also cultivates a strong sense of belonging and connection to the community, empowering students to become active, informed citizens.

Community Engagement

Learning at PCS is deeply immersed in the community. Students are regularly off campus to conduct field research, consult primary sources and meet with local experts. To facilitate these experiences and augment classroom learning, Peconic Community School has developed a network of over 150 community learning partnerships with groups like CAST, the Watermill Center and Group for the East End. By engaging with community leaders, participating in local initiatives, and seeking out expert guidance, our students gain real-world practice in collaboration, research and community engagement, and see firsthand the applications of their learning.

Project Based Learning

Project-based learning is at the core of our educational approach, challenging students to approach real-world questions and issues in a creative way. The project-based learning that happens at PCS is hands-on, collaborative, research-based and student-driven; it incorporates key academic concepts and skills within a framework of real-world activities that make learning relevant and memorable. Over the course of each trimester, students work to develop lines of inquiry, pursue research opportunities and design interdisciplinary projects that develop deep subject knowledge and show clear real-world applications. Through these projects, children develop critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills while seeing firsthand how their learning connects to the world around them. Learn more here.

Celebrations of Learning

PCS comes alive with excitement during our tri-annual Celebrations of Learning at the end of each trimester when the school is transformed into a series of dynamic exhibition spaces. These special evenings showcase the culmination of our trimester-long Integrated Studies Units, with each classroom reimagined as an interactive gallery of student projects and displays. Families, community partners, and fellow students tour through the school, engaging with enthusiastic young presenters who eagerly share their research, creations, and newfound expertise. From intricate models and thought-provoking art installations to persuasive presentations and innovative solutions to local challenges, the scope of projects on display reflects the depth and breadth of our students' learning. See a recent Celebration of Learning here.

Social Emotional Growth

At PCS, we recognize that social emotional skills are just as crucial as academic knowledge for a child's overall success and well-being. Our curriculum intentionally incorporates practices that help students develop self-awareness, empathy, resilience, and effective communication skills. By prioritizing social-emotional learning, we empower our students to navigate relationships, manage emotions, and make responsible decisions, creating a supportive community where everyone feels valued, honored and nurtured. Learn more here.

Social Justice Initiatives

Understanding and embracing diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) is crucial for preparing students to thrive in our interconnected world and enact positive change. Our curriculum actively incorporates social justice principles across all subjects, from literature choices that reflect diverse voices to history lessons that examine multiple perspectives. We also dedicate focused time to explore social justice topics explicitly, treating them with the same importance as core subjects like math or literacy. Students across grade levels engage in age-appropriate discussions and activities that build cultural competence, empathy and a commitment to social justice. Learn more here.

Academic Excellence

At PCS, academic rigor is seamlessly woven into our integrated, project-based curriculum and ensured through daily, discreet instruction in literacy and math. We maintain high standards across all subject areas, ensuring students develop strong foundational skills in reading, writing, mathematics, and sciences, while applying these skills to complex, real-world projects. This approach allows students to deeply engage with academic content, fostering a natural curiosity and love for learning that goes far beyond traditional classroom boundaries. Learn more about our understanding of academic rigor here, here and here.

Meaningful Assessment

At PCS we utilize authentic assessment that truly reflects the scope and nuance of each student’s growth and progress. Rather than rely on traditional letter or number grades, we provide biannual narrative student reports that offer a comprehensive view of each child’s journey as a learner and community member. These detailed accounts capture not only academic progress but also social-emotional development, critical thinking skills and character growth. In addition to more traditional math and literacy assessments, facilitators use students’ project-based work as a form of authentic assessment, evaluating real-world applications of knowledge and skills to gauge academic performance in a meaningful context. This approach allows us to gain a nuanced understanding of each student’s abilities, growth and areas of challenge, far beyond what a traditional test could reveal or grade could record. Learn more here.

Multi-Age Learning

Whether in the classroom or within the community as a whole, PCS’s multi-age learning approach fosters leadership skills in our older students and models our values to younger students in the most meaningful way. Daily opportunities for multi-age interaction in the classroom, through our Buddies program and on the playground aim to foster a collaborative community where leadership, empathy and mutual support flourish. Older students are encouraged to take on nurturing leadership roles and younger students revel in the attention and guidance of older students. The friendships and bonds that develop between students of different ages are a joy to behold and the topic of many dinner conversations, we know!

Outdoor Education

Our commitment to nature-based outdoor education is woven into the fabric of daily life at PCS. Students spend significant time outside each day, using our campus and the rich natural surroundings of the North Fork as spaces to learn and play. From tending our school garden and hiking our school trails to exploring local forests and beaches, these hands-on experiences foster a deep connection to the natural world and encourage environmental stewardship in our students. Get a glimpse of life in our new self-made play space.

Why Families Choose PCS

  • “We absolutely love how PCS takes learning to the next level by putting ideas into action within our community. It’s incredible to see education come alive outside the classroom!”

    Lower School Parent

  • “At PCS, our children's minds are growing, and their hearts are growing. They are learning to use their intelligence to do good things for others.”

    Lower School Parent

  • "Our child wakes up each morning with so much wonder, care, creativity and thoughtfulness thanks to her PCS teacher. She is blossoming into a beautiful little person who is engaged and has a true love of learning because of PCS."

    Early Childhood Parent

  • "Our daughter feels important, empowered and like she truly matters at PCS."

    Lower School Parent

  • "Watching my son learn and grow with the guidance and methods used here is like nothing I have ever experienced before. This is how teaching and learning should be. Each teacher really gets to know your child, their needs, and how they learn best."

    Lower School Parent

  • "The PCS founders together, with grace, have spearheaded such an important mission in educating young minds and making important change in our world. I am so appreciative that these two amazing strong women are forever my child's first impression and experience with leaders."

    Kindergarten Parent

  • "Over the eight years that our daughter has attended PCS, we've seen her come alive, full of energy and light. Her spirit is bright and she is empowered and confident and full of endless ideas about what she wants to do and who she wants to be."

    Middle School Parent

  • “What we love about PCS is not only the robust, hands-on immersive academic learning experiences, but also the way PCS teaches critical social, emotional and interpersonal skills.”

    Lower School Parent

  • "PCS is a school that is truly in partnership with families to make sure children succeed as people, community members, concerned citizens and academic learners."

    Lower School Parent

  • "The true essence of PCS is the enjoyment that kids find in learning. And once you have that in your core, you're always going to have that throughout your life, and you'll succeed anywhere."

    Lower School Parent

  • “From the moment our children entered PCS, they have been met with warmth, encouragement and boundless opportunities to learn and thrive. The impact PCS, its teachers and staff have had extends far beyond the classroom."

    Early Childhood Parent

  • “PCS is the model in elementary and middle school education that others should emulate. We’re thrilled to be a part of something more than a school.”

    Middle School Parent

  • "The school's commitment to tackling tough subjects in an age-appropriate and child-centered manner is yet another validation of our choice to be a part of this amazing place."

    Middle School Parent

  • “Knowing that our daughter is in an environment where she is loved and where feelings are expressed freely everyday is a gift to her and to us.”

    Kindergarten Parent

  • "We are grateful for the consistently safe and accepting environment that makes up the PCS community and for the unsurpassed level of thought and love that is behind every action."

    Lower School Parent