By MOHAMED FARGHALY
mfarghaly@queensledger.com
In a borough known for its cultural diversity and influential communities, The Garden School has become an anchor for families seeking an independent education with a personal touch. Founded in 1923, Garden School serves children from Kindergarten through 12th grade and has earned a reputation in the community for its commitment to community, individual attention, and academic excellence.
Located at 33-16 79th St, Jackson Heights, the co-educational, K-12 independent school has been a place where generations of students, families, and staff have forged lasting bonds. From small class sizes to personalized academic programs, Garden School is designed to help students grow into who they are meant to be.
For many teachers and staff, the Garden School becomes a second home. Bill Vogel is one example of a faculty member who has had a long and impactful career at Garden School, as a part of the community for 48 years. He first arrived as an upper division math teacher, stepping in mid-year after a teacher left for personal reasons. With a degree in mathematics from St. John’s University, Vogel quickly fell in love with the school and its mission, which spans from kindergarten through 12th grade. Over time, he transitioned to teaching in the lower division, where he worked with 4th, 5th, and 6th graders—an area of the school known for its departmentalized approach, which allows faculty like Vogel to teach specialized subjects at a young age.
What has kept Bill at Garden School for nearly five decades is its strong sense of community, where he has had the opportunity to develop lasting relationships with students and their families across generations. This sense of belonging is shared by many teachers, some of whom, like Vogel, have had their own children attend the school. His dedication to the mission of the school is evident not just in his career but also in his personal investment in the Garden School community. He is one of many long-term staff members who have committed decades of their professional lives to the school, creating a stable, supportive environment for both students and teachers.
“The sense of community here at the school has really kept me here, knowing students and their families for generations, being able to work with teachers who enjoy being with students and so many people have given a lot of their professional life here to the school,” Vogel said.
In one example of longevity, the school recently celebrated a momentous milestone when its valedictorian, coined a “lifer,” graduated after attending Garden since nursery school—just like her mother before her. The community spirit at Garden is perhaps the school’s most distinguishing feature.
The school’s tight-knit nature fosters meaningful relationships, with students often remaining friends throughout their academic careers and long after that.
“It’s really that people really get to know who you are as a person, and we are able to structure different kinds of activities for children,” Head of the school, Chris Herman said. “So it’s not just the academic piece that happens here at school, but it’s also that social piece, and the clubs and the sports teams, the trips that you can take with children, all sorts of things.”
Despite its traditional values, Garden School is far from stagnant. The school has expanded its academic offerings in recent years, integrating cutting-edge programs like robotics, arts, and global studies.
One of the school’s hallmark features is its small class sizes, which allow teachers to give personalized attention to every student. Whether it’s through tailored coursework, extracurricular activities, or international travel opportunities, Garden ensures that each child receives an education that fits their unique strengths and interests.
“If a student around here has an idea about something, we foster that kind of community to support those kinds of dreams here at the school,” Vogel said.
One of the key aspects that sets this school apart is its commitment to keeping tuition affordable, which makes independent education accessible to a wider range of families. Despite offering a robust array of programs—such as sports teams, international trips, and advanced academic courses—the school has worked hard to maintain a lower tuition rate without compromising the quality of education or opportunities available to students.
This lower cost of entry has opened doors for families who may not have otherwise considered private schooling as a viable option, particularly those from diverse backgrounds in the local community. By ensuring that tuition remains reasonable, the school fosters a more inclusive environment, allowing families in the surrounding neighborhoods, including those in Jackson Heights, to experience the benefits of an independent education without the financial burden typically associated with it.
“Because of the commitment we’ve made over the years to keep the tuition so low, it has opened the doors and opportunities for people who may not have even thought Independent School was possible,” Herman said.
For a school with such strong local roots, Garden also takes pride in its global perspective. Every year, students embark on international trips to destinations like Spain and Portugal, immersing themselves in new cultures and gaining real-world experience. These trips complement the school’s focus on global studies, with courses in French, Mandarin, and Spanish, as well as a satellite campus opening soon in South Korea.
Garden’s commitment to diversity isn’t just reflected in its student body—it’s embedded in the school’s curriculum and extracurriculars. The school offers 31 varsity and junior varsity sports teams, ensuring that all students have an opportunity to participate in athletics. Clubs such as Key Club, Debate, and the Women’s Leadership Initiative provide students with platforms to explore their passions and develop leadership skills.
The school’s lunch program is also a standout feature, offering students a nourishing, family-style dining experience that emphasizes home-cooked meals made with care. Led by Chef Anna who has been with the school for over 20 years, the menu includes a wide variety of nutritious options, from tilapia with quinoa to homemade ravioli and lasagna, ensuring that every meal is balanced and fresh.
Students eat together everyday at round tables, fostering a sense of community and conversation, rather than the traditional long rows often seen in larger institutions. This approach not only promotes healthy eating habits but also helps build social connections among students, creating an environment where mealtime is an opportunity for students to relax, bond, and engage in meaningful dialogue.
Beyond the global studies program, the school fosters an inclusive environment by integrating cultural awareness into its daily activities. The International Student Program brings students from various backgrounds together, and the school offers language classes in languages like Bangla, Hindi, and Urdu. There’s also a Peruvian Cultural School that hosts cooking and dance classes on campus, allowing students to learn about different cultures through hands-on experiences.
The academic facility also offers a Community Resource Center, where local parents and teachers can access educational resources for free. This initiative benefits not just students, but the broader Jackson Heights community, helping parents stay involved in their children’s education and providing teachers with professional development opportunities. The school hosted over 20 programs last year, offering everything from financial literacy workshops to college admissions counseling.
The Garden School doesn’t just focus on its internal community—it actively engages with its local neighbors. The school hosts the city’s free swim program, where hundreds of second graders from local public schools receive free swimming lessons. It also provides a space for local groups, such as sports leagues, to use its facilities
As Garden School continues to grow, its focus on community, excellence, and leadership remains unchanged. With plans to expand its international presence and a commitment to maintaining low tuition rates, the school is making high-quality education accessible to a wider range of families.
“Here at Garden, it’s not just about educating the mind, it’s about nurturing the whole person—academically, socially, and emotionally,” Herman said. “We believe in the power of community, and that sense of belonging is what sets us apart.”
Interested readers can reach out to The Garden School for more information by calling (718) 335-6363, or emailing info@gardenschool.org to learn more.
