The Art Farm
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Overview
Educational philosophy
Progressive / Play BasedPrograms offered
2s · 3s · Pre-K
Annual tuition
$14K – $41K / yr
School continues
Through Pre-K
Student-teacher ratio
4:1
Financial aid
Aid: $Sibling & legacy
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The Art Farm (The Art Farm in the City) is a play-based preschool in Yorkville on the Upper East Side, founded in 2002 by music educator Valentina Hantke. Children ages 2 to 4 learn through hands-on art, music, cooking, science, and nature, and the school is home to what it bills as NYC's only indoor petting zoo. Programs run on a September-June season with 2-, 3-, and 5-day options plus a year-round full-time (8am-6pm) track, at a 1:4 teacher-to-child ratio. Graduates place into a range of independent and public kindergartens across Manhattan.
Programs & Schedule
2 days/week
| Schedule option | Tuition / yr |
|---|---|
| 9am-12pm, Tues/Thurs | $13,500 |
| 9am-1pm, Tues/Thurs | $14,500 |
| 9am-3pm, Tues/Thurs | $18,000 |
| 8am-6pm, Tues/Thurs | $20,000 |
3 days/week
| Schedule option | Tuition / yr |
|---|---|
| 9am-12pm, Mon/Wed/Fri | $18,000 |
| 9am-1pm, Mon/Wed/Fri | $19,500 |
| 9am-3pm, Mon/Wed/Fri | $23,000 |
| 8am-6pm, Mon/Wed/Fri | $27,000 |
5 days/week
| Schedule option | Tuition / yr |
|---|---|
| 9am-12pm, Mon-Fri | $24,000 |
| 9am-1pm, Mon-Fri | $26,500 |
| 9am-3pm, Mon-Fri | $30,000 |
| 8am-6pm, Mon-Fri | $35,000 |
| 8am-6pm, year-round Mon-Fri incl. summer & holidays | $41,250 |
| Schedule option | Tuition / yr |
|---|---|
| 9am-12pm, 5-day Mon-Fri | $24,000 |
| 9am-1pm, 5-day Mon-Fri | $26,500 |
| 9am-3pm, 5-day Mon-Fri | $30,000 |
| 8am-6pm, 5-day Mon-Fri | $35,000 |
| 8am-6pm, year-round Mon-Fri incl. summer & holidays | $41,250 |
| Schedule option | Tuition / yr |
|---|---|
| 9am-3pm, 5-day Mon-Fri | $30,000 |
| 8am-6pm, 5-day Mon-Fri | $35,000 |
| 8am-6pm, year-round Mon-Fri incl. summer & holidays | $41,250 |
Admissions
Leadership
Valentina Hantke
Founder & Head of School; B.A. Music Education (Vocal Studies), Wagner College
Ex-missions
Ex-missions refers to the process of applying from preschool to Kindergarten or an ongoing school. Schools with dedicated ex-missions support actively guide families through ERB testing, school visits, and applications.
Where graduates go
Private kindergarten & elementary
11 schoolsPublic kindergarten & elementary
6 schoolsSee the full list of schools graduates go on to — with counts and sources.
Culture & Community
Play-based, hands-on learning through art, music, cooking, science, and nature. Small-group instruction supported by research-based curricula (Handwriting Without Tears, Heggerty Phonemic Awareness, Bridges in Mathematics). Home to what the school bills as NYC's only indoor petting zoo, with daily live-animal interaction.
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