I don't believe there are any Reggio Emilia schools in Westchester. In terms of alternative schooling, There is a Democratic School in Croton and Scarsdale:
- Longview School (Cortlandt Manor)
- Scarsdale Alternative School (Scarsdale)
There are plenty of Montessori Schools up to age 8, but the integration of the arts isn't the same. Have you considered Waldorf schools? We live in White Plains and our son goes to a Waldorf school in Rockland County (25 minutes for us, but you could live closer than that in Westchester County and there is a bus from Irvington). It is amazing in its holistic, multisensory, developmentally appropriate approach to education. It's infused with the arts throughout (it goes up to grade 12); kids to handwork, do wood carving, paint, sculpt, play instruments in a band, do plays, and much more. There is no teaching to the test; they really work to maximize each child's own potential. The meals are healthy. ....and there is no Shrek! There is a media-free policy so that children create out of their own imaginations, not someone else's (not to mention there are huge physical, motor, neurological benefits to going media-free).
http://www.gmws.org/index.aspx
http://www.whywaldorfworks.org/02_W_Education/index.asp
There is also an amazing community surrounding of teacher's college, biodynamic farm school, food cooperative, cafe that features healthy local food, pond in the summer, community centered around the care of elders, conference center, fiber arts studio, and much more.
They have lots of introductory sessions. Let me know if you have any other questions about it. We love it and are happy to share.
Magda
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