This school truly feels like home. It's a warm, beautiful program that has helped my son grow and flourish in every way. The teachers are absolutely wonderful -- you can tell they genuinely love what they do, and it shows in how they care for the children every single day. My son has been there since the 2s separation class and is now in Pre‑K, and I couldn't be happier with his experience. My daughter is currently in the 2s class and will be continuing into the 3s because we trust this community so much. It's a lovely environment with a supportive staff, a real sense of community, and the best teachers. You won't regret choosing this school. Laura Romano read more

I can't say enough good things about St Marks Cooperative. This school is a hidden gem that I wished I had found with my first born. Our first experience was in a parent and me class which met once a week. I felt welcomed by the teacher and the other parents. The children are introduced to circle time, snack time, turn taking etc. Parents are given an opportunity to socialize and talk with the teacher. It gave me a sense of community and allowed me to feel comfortable sharing concerns and parents an opportunity to learn from each other. It was a no brainer to have my son enrolled in the 3 year old class for the following year. My son is thriving in the class. I love that the class sizes are small, the teachers are certified and many have children who are alumni themselves. The directors are familiar with not only the children but the families. They help coordinate services and keep lines of communication open. I feel supported and know that my child is learning through play and hands on experiences. I love that this school is a cooperative as it gives a unique opportunity for parents and caregivers to be involved in the classroom. This has allowed me to observe my son in social settings and allows me to get to know the teachers and fellow classmates. If you are considering a pre school for your child I can't recommend St Marks Cooperative enough. Your child will thrive and learn and grow which will ultimately help prepare them for kindergarten. read more

Absolutely outstanding teachers and my daughter couldn't wait for school to start. It's her 3rd and finally year there and we're both equally sad about it. There has never been a moment of worry because the teachers really care which is great for working parents. read more

St. Marks is such a special school. When touring the school for my son, I could tell right away this was the school for my family. It is a warm, loving, inviting environment that values family participation. The teachers are truly amazing. In the twos and threes, most learning is done through play and it is so incredible how much learning is tucked into fun activities. My favorite part of St. Mark's cooperative program is the special days in the classroom. Once children are in elementary school, it is so hard to join in on the learning done inside the classroom. Special days allow parents or caregivers the opportunity to spend the day inside the classroom and see their child's learning in action. When my son was in the threes last year, it was so nice to be able to extend his school day with lunch bunch and with special enrichment classes. He especially loved the science class and still talks about the experiments! This year my daughter is in the two transition class. I love that I get to join her for the first half of the year and then she will transition to going by herself for the second half. I know she will be ready for the threes program next year because of this wonderful class offering. I joined the school's board as my volunteering opportunity and it is so lovely to be surrounded by a community of kind, motivated parents who all want to make our children's first school experience positive and memorable. I cannot say enough great things about St. Marks! read more

So happy we found St Marks Nursery School. My son spent two summers going to camp there and was enrolled in the three and fours program during the school years. The teachers and staff are phenomenal. Fun, loving, energetic personalities that keep the kids always wanting to learn. They learn through play, reading, interactive activities and field trips and so much more. There is a music class that they all attend which is amazing, where the kids are so involved and having fun. The playground is a very special place as well. Because it is a co-op, parents are involved which really gives it that family/community feel. Participation days at the school are a highlight for me. I love being in class with my kids seeing what they do and getting to spend time with them there. We've met some amazing friends while at St Marks which was so nice since we were new to the area. My oldest is now in kindergarten and excelling. I know it's because of the experience he had at St Marks. My daughter is now in the 3s program and thriving and making friends and having a blast. So happy she still has this coming summer and next year so we can continue to be a part of the St Marks family. read more

St. Mark's Cooperative Nursery School has been such a blessing for our family. The LOVE the teachers pour into everything they do lights my children up. My son didn't enjoy school until a special teacher at St. Mark's made everything fun. As parents we call it the "St. Mark's Magic". They do polar express with real tickets, hot cocoa, bells etc. When Humpty Dumpty falls down they are using REAL bandaids to fix him. When they bake the gingerbread man he runs away and they go in a scavenger hunt to find him until he miraculously appears back in their classroom. To this day (a year later) my 4-year-old ponders how he did it. All things are intertwined right down to the scent of the homemade play doh. Small class sizes, PLAY-BASED learning, and checking off every educational box for this teacher. And the best part is, a few days a year you get to be IN the classroom and see that magic WITH your children on THEIR special day. There's no place like St. Mark's! read more

This is really a very special and wonderful school. Not only does this school care for, teach, support and love your children, but they also support the parents in guiding their child through the transition out of the home and into a school setting. This transition was especially challenging for those of us who had our young children strictly home during the COVID pandemic, as our kids just weren't as exposed to other people as they normally would have been. The Director, teachers and staff at SMNS rose to the occasion and met this challenge head on. They met us where we were at and supported me and my son in any way possible. I never had to do anything I was uncomfortable with and more importantly, my son had a great transition into school. He is learning so much and absolutely loves going to school there. I believe this experience could have really been make or break in terms of my son's relationship with school and new people, and thanks to the intelligence level and kindness that is so clearly evident at SMNS in everyone who works there, his experience has really been made so positive, and so was mine. I truly couldn't be more thankful to everyone at SMNS for the experience we are having there and would highly recommend you check them out if you are looking into a nursery school for your 2, 3 or 4 year old. You will not be disappointed! read more

St. Mark's is a cooperative where a parent is suppose to participate in the classroom. This gives the parent some wonderful time to spend with their child and watch them interact with their classmates and also allows you to learn who their friends are. I love being in the classroom. I find that the moms at St. Mark's are very friendly and helpful towards each other since they get to know you and your child by being in the classroom. The class sizes are nice and small and have a great teacher to child ratio. You can tell that the teachers really care about each child and family that is in the school. This is my 3rd child going through this school and I couldn't imagine sending them anywhere else. The school offers enrichment programs such as Science and has a Kinder prep program for those who are not ready to move on to kindergarden. They also offer a mommy and me 2 year old program and a 2.5 year old drop off program. I believe that many people don't have the right idea about what you have to do at a cooperative. People are like oh no your going to be doing all this work. One is required to be on a committee to help out but really you can be involved as little or as much as you like. Everyone is always there to help you out if you need it. I believe that they are only little for so long and it is a fair trade to help in the school to be able to share in these precious moments because before you know it they are in elementary school where you can not go and see what they are doing. I highly recommend St. Mark's for your 2 to 5 year olds. read more

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This is an amazing school - all 4 of my children have been fortunate to be a part of this special place. Where else can you see how your children learn and interact with their classmates first hand. Love this school love the teachers! read more

We love St. Mark's! I'm thrilled that my kids have the opportunity to learn and grow in such a warm, nurturing environment. The teachers and staff are wonderful and my older son is thriving this year in kindergarten. It is one of the few preschools in Rockville Centre that is registered and licensed by New York State and I feel more at ease leaving my children in a place that I know is meeting established standards for health and safety. Being involved in the co-op has given me a special opportunity to take part in my children's early education experiences, which will always be memorable for them and me. Also, there is a very strong sense of community among the families that attend the school and my kids and I have all made some very good friends. I feel very fortunate that our family has had St. Mark's to support us during my children's early years. read more

We started our son at a different pre-school in town and while I loved his teacher and met some wonderful moms, I had some concerns with the school. I found out mid-year that the school was not licensed, which really troubled me, and explained why some of these issues were allowed to exist. An acquaintance mentioned that her children went to St. Mark's and suggested I check it out. I'm SO glad I did! From the moment I toured the facility and met the director, Shirley Perri, I knew we would be making the switch. Mrs. Perri was so knowledgeable and her enthusiasm for the kids in general and the school in particular was positively infectious. The school is licensed, which means it must meet stringent safety requirements and is subject to oversight by the state. And it shows, in the best of ways. The fabulous playground and bright, sunlit classrooms don't hurt, either. My son finished the threes program this year and I couldn't be happier with our experience. As a working mom, I was initially nervous about the time commitment, but I found it to be completely manageable, and the infrequent classroom participation days became something I really looked forward to. I knew I would love spending these precious days in the classroom with my own child, but I didn't realize how much I would love having the quality interaction with the other kids! The co-op aspect means the parents get to be a little more involved, and provides an opportunity to get to know the other parents on a deeper level than a quick "hi" and "bye" at drop off. I'm new to RVC and Long Island and I truly cherish the friendships I've made here. I feel like I've finally found my tribe, and am thrilled to be a part of such a caring, supportive village of families. The community at St. Marks is unparalleled, and the moms (and dads!) I've met have become dear friends, that I hope (and believe) will last a lifetime. And my child is thriving, and LOVES going to school. Couldn't ask for more. read more