At The Clifton School, we consider the environment a third teacher. Every physical element – color, light, natural materials, hanging and open dividers – contributes to a feeling of openness and invites exploration. Each room, including our spacious hallways, is paned with large windows that flood our interior spaces with light and provide a seamless transparency between the indoors and outdoors.

The main building is designed as a large square with an open-air central courtyard. Each wing of the building houses a village of classrooms (Infant, Toddler I, Toddler II, and Preschool) that opens into its own larger community space, called a “piazza.” Both the classrooms and the interior piazzas are designed environments that support the children’s on-going work, inspire new investigations, and offer opportunities for collaboration among different age groups.

An adjoining fifth wing houses the administrative offices, conference room, nursing room, teachers’ lounge, kitchen, and storage facilities.