Founded in 2017, Hudson Lab School is located in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York. Our unique setting within a nursing home on a 26-acre campus encourages students to make meaningful connections across generations and with the natural world.

OUR MISSION

Hudson Lab School immerses students in project-based learning, inspiring them to embrace challenging academics and collaborate to solve real world problems.

We cultivate the next generation of inquisitive creators, strategic thinkers, and compassionate leaders, equipping them with the skills and mindset needed to thrive in an ever-evolving future.

We provide a progressive, project-based learning program for curious, inquisitive students who bring a range of abilities and interests to their collective study of the world.

Our school is a community built on understanding and respect for others, strengthened by its diversity. We are an inclusive school that celebrates the unique identities and diverse backgrounds of all our students, family members, faculty and staff, and neighbors. Our interdisciplinary curriculum is dedicated to advancing diversity, equity, and social justice, and we encourage open conversation about the differences that define us as we support ways to address social inequities.

“Education is strongest when diverse perspectives and voices are shared and heard.”
— Heather Singmaster

OUR VALUES

  • Embracing challenges in the pursuit of curiosity and passion serves as a foundation for building resilience.

  • We must preserve the magic of childhood by honoring discovery, wonder, and play. When we play, our minds enter a psychological state that welcomes failure as a natural part of the learning process, creating an environment ripe for creative breakthroughs and insights.

  • When we value the process, we cultivate both the endurance and mindset needed to tackle difficult challenges, often resulting in enhanced learning outcomes.

  • Understanding ourselves and what is important to us supports a thoughtful, confident life and informs who we want to grow into and how we make an impact in the world.

  • Our actions and decisions should contribute to a more sustainable, just, and equitable world.

  • Today’s unprecedented rate of technological change requires that students are curious lifelong learners who can collaborate, communicate their ideas, and be creative problem solvers.

HLS AT A GLANCE

48%

STUDENT OF COLOR

8:1

STUDENT:FACULTY RATIO

39%

STUDENTS ON FINANCIAL AID

K-8

GRADES OFFERED

93%

FACULTY w/ ADVANCED DEGREES

Labrador

SCHOOL MASCOT

OUR DIVERSITY & INCLUSION COMMITMENT

Hudson Lab School affirms its commitment to a diverse and inclusive school community as integral to our mission and as an expression of our core values. Developing and applying cultural competence fosters an inclusive community, deepens learning, and prepares our graduates to understand and appreciate different perspectives in order to thrive in a constantly changing world. We welcome and benefit from the viewpoints of people who differ in age, culture, ethnicity, family structure, language, learning style, physical ability, race, religion, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status.

At HLS, we are committed to building an inclusive community that understands and values the diverse world in which we live. We provide a caring, respectful, and welcoming environment in which to work, play, and learn. We actively seek to attract and retain students, faculty, and staff from a wide range of backgrounds. We continuously strive for growth through professional development and ongoing curriculum review. We promote an appreciation for all people, and we strive to create responsible, global citizens.

OUR HISTORY

Founded in 2017 in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY, Hudson Lab School was created with a bold vision: to reimagine education around curiosity, creativity, and impact. Its founders, Cate Han and Stacie Seltzer, were inspired by the belief that school should prepare students not just to excel academically, but to thrive as compassionate leaders and problem-solvers in a rapidly changing world. From the start, Hudson Lab School was b rooted in project-based learning (PBL), an approach that invites students to explore complex, real-world problems through hands-on projects. This method emphasizes collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity, ensuring that students don’t just memorize information but learn how to apply knowledge in meaningful ways.

The school opened its doors with a commitment to small class sizes, close mentorship, and a curriculum that blends academic rigor with design thinking, outdoor exploration, and creative arts. From designing sustainable gardens to developing community partnerships, students were encouraged to see themselves as active contributors to their communities. Over time, HLS has expanded into a K–8 independent school known for its innovative approach. Its projects have ranged from building learning spaces for local seniors at Andrus on Hudson, to developing curriculum for the Greenburgh Nature Center, to producing documentaries about resilience. Each project is designed to connect students with mentors, career pathways, and opportunities to make a tangible difference.

Now widely recognized as a model for progressive education, Hudson Lab School blends academic excellence with creative problem-solving and global citizenship. It continues to attract families seeking a school experience where children are challenged academically while being encouraged to explore, create, and grow into thoughtful leaders