School Life

AT HUDSON LAB SCHOOL

Welcome!

We are currently accepting applications for the 2025-2026 school year.

Choosing the right school is an important decision, and our Admissions team is here to guide you every step of the way. Through virtual and in-person events, you’ll experience what makes HLS unique: a project-based curriculum that integrates social-emotional learning, strong academics, and innovation to prepare students to make a real impact in the world.

During the process, you’ll hear from our school leadership, teachers, and parents, while we also get to know your family—and most importantly, your child. Partnering with families is at the heart of who we are.

We invite you to connect with us and look forward to meeting you soon!

Music and Visual Arts

Students engage in the arts through weekly music and visual arts classes. In music, they experience a blend of music appreciation, choral singing, and instrumental exploration, giving them a well-rounded introduction to sound, rhythm, and performance. Visual arts sessions encourage creative expression and skill-building, allowing students to explore different media and techniques while bringing their ideas to life.

Outdoor Recreation & Athletics

Outdoor play and physical activity are an essential part of daily life. With an hour outdoors each day, students spend 30 minutes in structured play and 30 minutes in free play. Our campus is anything but traditional when it comes to play. Instead of a standard playground, students explore the Wild Play Space, test their balance on the ninja line and slack line, climb rocks and equipment, and run free across the Great Lawn. They gather for games on the Four Square patio, dive into fast-paced matches in the Gaga Pit, and wander the winding nature trail. From surprise deer sightings to magical forest adventures, every day outdoors sparks curiosity, movement, and a deeper love for nature.

Community Garden

Our community garden offers students the chance to grow and care for a variety of plants each season. From vegetables and hot peppers to loofah and even marshmallow plants, students learn about sustainability, responsibility, and the rewards of tending the earth. Each fall, classes consult with their Gardening teacher to decide what they would like to plant, ensuring the garden reflects the interests and imagination of the students themselves.

Off-Campus Experiences

Field Trips

Field trips are a vital extension of our project-based curriculum. Whether exploring nature centers, touring colleges, visiting a fragrance lab, or stepping into a film studio, students gain hands-on experiences that go beyond what can be learned in the classroom—or purchased with a ticket. While younger students take trips connected to their ongoing projects, middle schoolers engage in broader explorations that expand their perspective on the world and its possibilities.

Camping

Our middle school students take part in an annual wilderness camping trip. This experience fosters resilience, teamwork, and independence as students immerse themselves in nature and engage in outdoor living. The camping trip also helps strengthen community bonds and offers an opportunity to apply classroom learning in real-world settings.

Student Support

Special Education

We are committed to supporting every learner. While we accept children with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), we do not have a dedicated special education teacher; instead, small class sizes allow for individualized attention. A math specialist provides targeted support, and our middle school advisory program ensures students benefit from one-on-one guidance. In addition, service and community projects—such as food drives, collaborations with local kitchens, and partnerships with the SPCA—encourage students to develop empathy, responsibility, and a spirit of service.

Intergenerational Learning

We are committed to supporting every learner. While we accept children with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), we do not have a dedicated special education teacher; instead, small class sizes allow for individualized attention. A math specialist provides targeted support, and our middle school advisory program ensures students benefit from one-on-one guidance. In addition, service and community projects—such as food drives, collaborations with local kitchens, and partnerships with the SPCA—encourage students to develop empathy, responsibility, and a spirit of service.

Tinker Space

Students visit our Tinker Space weekly to practice hands-on skill development through tinkering, building, and problem-solving. Each child completes an individual project—such as designing and testing a pumpkin catapult—while learning to use fundamental tools safely and creatively. The Tinker Space also supports other class projects, providing students with a dedicated space to innovate and teachers with a valuable resource to bring learning to life.

Technology + Labrary

Technology and literacy are woven into everyday learning. Students in grades K–1 use iPads, while those in grades 2–8 are provided with laptops to support their studies. Weekly classes in robotics, coding, and technology help students build essential digital skills, while technology integration across subjects ensures relevance and application. Our library supports a love of reading through “Drop Everything and Read” sessions, giving students dedicated time to immerse themselves in books and develop lifelong reading habits.

Intergenerational Learning

Our location at Andrus on Hudson, a skilled nursing home, allows students to engage daily with senior residents—affectionately called the “Grands.” These relationships spark joy on both sides, as students and Grands share stories, laughter, and moments of connection that grow into lasting friendships. Beyond these exchanges, students use the Design Thinking process to co-create projects that enhance the lives of the Grands, fostering empathy, respect, and a deeper sense of belonging while honoring the rich tapestry of culture and history that the Grands embody.

Social-Emotional Learning

Our location at Andrus on Hudson, a skilled nursing home, allows students to engage daily with senior residents—affectionately called the “Grands.” These relationships spark joy on both sides, as students and Grands share stories, laughter, and moments of connection that grow into lasting friendships. Beyond these exchanges, students use the Design Thinking process to co-create projects that enhance the lives of the Grands, fostering empathy, respect, and a deeper sense of belonging while honoring the rich tapestry of culture and history that the Grands embody.

STEP 7: Open your Acceptance Letter

Families will receive an acceptance letter, and if a placement is available, it will include instructions for completing registration and the tuition contract online. A child’s spot is secured once the online registration is complete and the New Student Fee and Tuition Deposit have been submitted.

Kindergarten

February 5, 2026: Decisions emailed
February 12, 2026: Responses due

Grades 1-8

February 11, 2026: Decisions emailed
February 27, 2026: Responses due

Hudson Lab School admits students of any race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. HLS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic or other school-administered programs.

Got Question?

We invite you to visit our school and experience how wonder and curiosity bring out the best in children academically and emotionally. If you have any questions, we invite you to reach out to our Admissions Team at admissions@hudsonlabschool.com or (914) 826-5586.

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