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The Spence School is a private college-preparatory day school for girls in kindergarten through grade 12 in New York City. The school is located in two buildings on the Upper East Side of Manhattan . The Lower School (K-4) is housed in a renovated landmark building on East 93rd Street. Its 15 homerooms are designed for s mall classes and create a warm, child-centered learning environment. A spacious building on East 91st Street for Middle School (5-8) and Upper School (9-12) students supports the school's broad curriculum, athletic program and extracurricular activities with state-of-the-art facilities and technology. Spence's 650 students come from a variety of backgrounds, and reflect the ethnic and socio-economic diversity of New York City. Founded in 1892 by Clara B. Spence, a pioneer in the rigorous education of girls and young women, the original curriculum included Greek and Roman history, botany, chemistry and psychology as well as the more traditional courses in languages, literature and the arts. Today, a challenging education to enrich the intellect, build character and strengthen spirit continues to form the cornerstone of a Spence education.

Spence's current Head of School is Nancy J. Elting.

Academics

Spence is characterized by the strength and breadth of its academic program, the joy in learning that is evident throughout the grades and the close relationship between student and teacher that fosters academic growth at every level. The average class size in the Upper School is 14; the student-teacher ratio is 7:1.

Spence's curriculum has long been a leader among peer schools nationwide. History courses on other cultures have been taught for over 35 years and include courses on African, Latin American, Chinese and Middle Eastern history. Many elective courses offered by the English department for juniors and seniors are the equivalent of college-level courses. The excellence of the school's visual and performing arts programs is also to be found in its science and mathematics programs. In the Upper School it is the norm, though not a requirement, for students to take four years of math and science, enrolling in advanced courses in calculus, physics and biology. Beginning in 2007-08, Mandarin Chinese will be added to the teaching of French, Spanish and Latin.

In the fall of 2007, with the support of the Edward E. Ford Foundation, the school initiated an Authentic Science Research pilot program for grades 10-12. A rigorous three-year elective, the course allows students to perform "real-world" scientific research as they work closely with a professional scientist mentor in the city. Students are currently researching a variety of topics ranging from transgenic animals and mutations to the ecology of Lyme disease. Not only does the program introduce students to the exciting potential and discipline of careers in science, but it also opens a dialogue between Spence teachers and top-level scientists about what is important in the teaching of science it today's secondary schools. More information is available on *The Spence School Web site

The five most frequently attended colleges and universities for Spence graduates from 2002-2006 have been: Cornell University (14), Harvard University (12), New York University (11), Princeton University (11) and Columbia University (10).

Notable alumnae

Ethel McCullough Scott, whose family founded Bennington College and the Bennington Museum
Rita White Matthews, scientist and explorer
Francine du Plessix Gray, author
Ellen Sparry Brush, pioneer anthropologist, first woman to become a member of the Explorers Club in NYC
Dr. Nancy Hopkins, Amgen Professor of Biology at M.I.T.'s Center for Cancer Research
Bonnie Jenkins, an expert on U.S. foreign policy and non-proliferation in weapons of mass destruction; served as counsel to the "9/11 Commission" and wrote portions of the report; currently a program officer for U.S. Foreign and Security Policy at the Ford Foundation.
Elizabeth Montgomery, stage and screen actress (Bewitched).
Nimet Habachy, New York Times classical music radio host
Serena Altschul, MTV host
Gwyneth Paltrow, Oscar-winning actor
Melanie Rehak, author of Girl Sleuth: Nancy Drew and the Women Who Created Her
Marjorie Lake Post, philanthropist
Helen Clay Frick, daughter of Henry Clay Frick

Affiliated organizations

Trivia

The school's motto is "non scholae sed vitae discimus" ("Not for school, but for life we learn").
The Carnegie family donated their tennis court to be used as a playground for Spence. When Spence wanted to expand and build on the lot in the 1990s, they built a new playground on the roof of the new building to meet the stipulations of the gift.
Spence was once a boarding school.
The wall paper in the old dinning room is Zuber's Vue de l'Amérique du Nord woodblock print, also found in the Diplomatic Reception Room in the White House.

Spence in the movies

The Spence School resides on a side street near Central Park alongside several old and gracious buildings including the Cooper-Hewitt Museum (originally the Andrew Carnegie mansion), the Sacred Heart School, and the Consulate General of Russia in New York. The street has been used as a backdrop in several movies including

The Anderson Tapes (1971, starring Sean Connery) - the architectural star is Sacred Heart, but you can catch a glimpse of Spence across the street. Incidentally, this movie was directed by Sidney Lumet who later sent his eldest daughter (Amy Lumet) to Spence. She graduated from Spence in 1982.
Marathon Man (1974, starring Dustin Hoffman) - the opening car chase end in a ball of fire that was filmed directly in front of Spence.
Arthur (1981, starring Liza Minnelli and Dudley Moore - The Cooper-Hewitt Museum played the role of Arthur's family mansion, and there is a good view of Spence in the background.
Working Girl (1988, starring Melanie Griffith, Sigourney Weaver and Harrison Ford) - Melanie Griffith and Harrison Ford crash a wedding filmed in the Cooper-Hewitt Museum, but the view of Spence is fleeting at best.
Uptown Girls (2003, starring Brittany Murphy and Dakota Fanning) - the exterior serves as Dakota Fanning's character's school

External links

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-The '''Spence School''' is a private college-preparatory day school for girls in kindergarten through grade 12 in [[New York City]]. The school is located in two buildings on the [[Upper East Side]] of [[Manhattan]] . The Lower School (K-4) is housed in a renovated landmark building on East 93rd Street. Its 15 homerooms are designed for small classes and create a warm, child-centered learning environment. A spacious building on East 91st Street for Middle School (5-8) and Upper School (9-12) students supports the school's broad  curriculum, athletic program and extracurricular activities with state-of-the-art facilities and technology. Spence's 650 students come from a variety of backgrounds, and reflect the ethnic and socio-economic diversity of New York City.
+The '''Spence School''' is a private college-preparatory day school for girls in kindergarten through grade 12 in [[New York City]]. The school is located in two buildings on the [[Upper East Side]] of [[Manhattan]] . The Lower School (K-4) is housed in a renovated landmark building on East 93rd Street. Its 15 homerooms are designed for s
+mall classes and create a warm, child-centered learning environment. A spacious building on East 91st Street for Middle School (5-8) and Upper School (9-12) students supports the school's broad  curriculum, athletic program and extracurricular activities with state-of-the-art facilities and technology. Spence's 650 students come from a variety of backgrounds, and reflect the ethnic and socio-economic diversity of New York City.
 Founded in 1892 by [[Clara B. Spence]], a pioneer in the rigorous education of girls and young women, the original curriculum included Greek and Roman history, botany, chemistry and psychology as well as the more traditional courses in languages, literature and the arts. Today, a challenging education to enrich the intellect, build character and strengthen spirit continues to form the cornerstone of a Spence education.
@@ Line 42: / Line 42: @@
 * The Carnegie family donated their tennis court to be used as a playground for Spence. When Spence wanted to expand and build on the lot in the 1990s, they built a new playground on the roof of the new building to meet the stipulations of the gift.
 * Spence was once a boarding school.
-* The wall paper in the old dinning room is Zuber's Vue de l'Amérique du Nord woodblock print, also found in the Diplomatic Reception Room in the [[White House]]
+* The wall paper in the old dinning room is Zuber's Vue de l'Amérique du Nord woodblock print, also found in the Diplomatic Reception Room in the [[White House]].
 == Spence in the movies ==