Choo Choo Train Project 539 Court Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231

"Our son attended Choo Choo Train Project for two years, and I cannot say enough wonderful things about the school, its teachers, and its unparalleled leader, Ms. Ela. As an arts educator, I have been blown away by the quality of its curriculum, the individualized care and attention given generously to each student, and the magical culture created every day. Every child is loved and nurtured. Thank you Choo Choo for bringing so much joy to all those lucky enough to attend and for the gift of true learning."

"My son Theo attended for his 3k year and we are sending him back for pre-K. Choo Choo is magical. If you value art, creativity, imagination, this is the place for you! I honestly wish *I* could go there, it is the pinnacle of any school experience. The kids get a lot of dedicated attention but also space to roam and discover. Theo's language and social skills developed so much in his first year and we are excited for what comes next!"

"Choo Choo is such a special place full of joy and creativity. Ms Ela and the amazing teachers pay attention to each and every detail. You can feel the energy and love involved in everything they do. The children learn through play in a very creative and nourishing environment, where each individual is respected. There are lots of art, music and movement. We’re always amazed by the high quality of Choo Choo projects. There’s also an enchanting backyard, where kids explore the nature and have tons of fun. I wish they have a program for my age. :) I highly recommend Choo Choo."

"When people ask me where my son goes to preschool, I often reply, “Little kid heaven—Choo Choo Train Project.” And I’m not kidding. The moment you walk into Choo Choo Train Project a wave of curiosity washes over you. While the school may be located in an odd location, what happens inside is truly magic. The amount of intellectual and artistic inspiration is boundless, and it’s simply tons of fun for the kids. The director, Ela, once said that she didn’t believe in the impossible, that children in this age group could learn and explore anything and everything imaginable. Well, with the help of her amazing staff, she truly makes this happen—anything and everything become possible at Choo Choo School. From painting, sculpting, designing, printing, weaving, and songwriting, to doing experiments, investigating the human body and learning about outer space—it all happens. Choo Choo also has a beautiful garden where the kids explore and play, and there is always a music teacher and art teacher at the school, which leads to limitless creativity. Every Sunday my husband and I get excited when the weekly newsletter arrives in our inbox. This detailed account of the week’s events, chock-full of photos and quotes from all the kids, gives us a great platform to add on to any discussions that we’ve had with our son that week. The strong sense of community that is fostered in the classroom extends to the Choo Choo families.  Honestly, the only complaint that I have is that there isn’t an elementary school that embodies the model of teaching and learning that happens at Choo Choo Train Project—it’s simply a great place to be!"

"Choo Choo is a dream come true. The staff and environment scream confidence, curiosity, creativity, imagination, kindness and friendliness. The space is gorgeous and clean. The great lengths that Ela and her fabulous teachers go to to expose the kids to diverse ideas and experiences are extraordinary. The kids are encouraged to create and to dream – including their own original music and stories. They learn the value of making art from recycled materials and how to come into themselves as brilliant, creative preschoolers. And the community of parents is strong and fun. I offer the highest of all recommendations for Choo Choo – it’s the best. We’re so grateful that our daughter was able to be part of the school."