Elisabeth Irwin High School
| Elisabeth Irwin High School LREI | |
|---|---|
| File:368196422 d0fd11db9e.jpg Entrance to high school at 40 Charlton St. [1] | |
| Address | |
40 Charlton St , | |
| Information | |
| Type | Private, Co-Ed |
| Established | 1921 |
| Founder | Elisabeth Irwin |
| Director | Phil Kassen |
| Principal | Ruth Jurgensen |
| Faculty | 50 |
| Grades | K-12 |
| Number of students | 220 (total) |
| Color(s) | Red and White |
| Mascot | The Knight |
| Newspaper | The Charlton Label |
| Yearbook | LREI Expressions |
| Website | http://www.lrei.org/ |
Elisabeth Irwin High School is a private, co-educational school located in New York City. The Little Red School House (sometimes simply referred to as Little Red) was founded by educator Elisabeth Irwin in 1921 in New York, NY. It is widely regarded as the city's first progressive school. Created as a joint public-private educational experiment, the school tested principles of progressive education that had been advocated since the turn of the 20th century by John Dewey. The founders postulated that the lessons of progressive education could be applied successfully in the crowded, ethnically diverse public schools of the nation's largest city. Nevertheless, in 1932 the school turned to private funding, with annual tuition in the early 2000s ranging from $24,240 to $27,200. In the 1940s the Little Red School House's high-school students decided they wanted their school to be named after its founder, making the full title of the institution The Little Red School House and Elisabeth Irwin High School (LREI).
Directors and Leaders
- Elisabeth Irwin (1921 - 1942)
- Randolph B. Smith (1943 - 1968)
- Andrew McLaren (1988 - 2004)
- Phillip Kassen (2004 - 2008)
- Ruth Jurgensen (2008 - Present)
Philosophy
LREI believes in progressive education. Much of the students' learning is done through experimentation, projects and field trips, as opposed to the more traditional direct instruction. Elisabeth Irwin students study art every day, with classes including dance, drama, music, digital filmmaking, photography, studio, and graphic arts.
The LREI 2004 handbook states: "The school retains its historic commitment to social justice and inclusion. Students are encouraged to become involved in struggles for social justice ... as alumni tell stories of concerts given by Pete Seeger singing about social and racial justice, future alumni will remember the programs and discussions sponsored by today's Multicultural Committee and Lesbian and Gay Issues Group."
Elisabeth Irwin considers diversity a laudable educational goal. Its student body is 40% of color. The school has lectors and classes that focus on issues of race, class, religion, sexual orientation, gender, and age.
College Placement
The five most frequently attended colleges and universities for Elisabeth Irwin graduates from 2000 through 2009 were:
- 1.New York University (7)
- 2.Hampshire College (5)
- 3.Columbia University (4)
- 4.Bard College (4)
- 5.Sarah Lawrence College (4)
Physical facilities
Elisabeth Irwin High School is located in Manhattan at 40 Charlton Street. In June 2008, LREI announced the acquisition of additional space with the purchase of 42 Charlton Street, directly next door. The new townhouse will be renovated and connected to the existing building. Construction is expected to be completed in 2010. A separate building, the Thompson Street Gym, houses facilities for physical education and athletics.
Clubs, committees and CIOs (Common Interest Organizations)
- Fiber Arts Club
- The Environmental Club
- Lesbian, Gay, Straight Alliance
- Community Service Round Table
- Students of Color Committee
- Robotics Team
- Students for a Free Tibet
- The Charlton Label (newspaper)
- IE (literary magazine)
- The Chess Club
- The Yearbook
- EI Singers (chorus)
- The Philosophy Club
- C.A.F.E. (Cultural Awareness For Everyone)
- The Swim Club
Sports
Elisabeth Irwin's sports teams include soccer (boys and girls), volleyball (girls), cross-country track (co-ed), basketball (junior varsity and varsity, boys and girls), spring track (co-ed), tennis (co-ed), softball (girls), baseball (boys), bowling (co-ed), and the step team (girls). The school/team colors are red and white.
Notable alumni and alumnae
- Peter Berg, actor, film director, producer, writer
- Kathy Boudin, radical, public health expert
- Angela Davis, political activist
- Robert DeNiro, actor
- Eric R. Dinallo, Superintendent of Insurance for New York State
- Peter Knobler, author, editor Crawdaddy magazine
- Michael Meeropol, professor of economics, older son of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg
- Robert Meeropol, younger son of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg
- Victor Navasky, professor, Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism; editor, publisher emeritus, The Nation
- Zac Posen, fashion designer
- Dan Shor, actor
- Mary Travers, singer, member of folk group Peter, Paul and Mary
- Edward Irving Wortis, author
- Gabe Cook, author
Affiliated organizations
- National Association of Independent Schools
- New York State Association of Independent Schools
- New York Interschool