Cooke School and Institute

Cooke School and Institute is a nonsectarian day school in New York City serving between 300 and 500 students with learning and developmental disabilities. Its mission is concrete: help students build the skills to live and participate independently in their communities. That singular focus shapes every teaching and staff role the school fills.

Instruction at Cooke is structured and goal-driven. Teachers design lessons around measurable outcomes, moving each student toward greater self-sufficiency in visible steps. The model is genuinely multidisciplinary — special education teachers work daily beside speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and behavior specialists. That setup lets teachers see the direct effect of their work rather than handing students off between isolated services.

Financially, the school is in strong shape. Net assets exceed $47 million and annual revenue runs near $37 million. Fundraising grew more than 54 percent in a recent year. That kind of stability allows the school to offer competitive salaries, fund ongoing professional development, and keep caseloads at workable levels. In New York City, where costs run high, benefits and caseload size deserve a direct question during any hiring conversation.

Open positions typically include special education teachers, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and administrative staff. Faculty hiring peaks before each academic year, while support and operations roles open throughout the year. The school's ranking trajectory is rated flourishing, a useful indicator of organizational health for candidates weighing long-term fit.

For educators who want daily work tied directly to student independence and community inclusion, Cooke School and Institute offers a focused environment with the resources to back it up.