M.S. 297 / 75 Morton

Founded in 2017, 75 Morton is a middle school that values curiosity, hands-on projects, and group work. Students dissect frogs in science lab, take part in labor union simulations, and discuss real-world events as they occur.  

A hallmark of the school is its strong social studies program that encourages students to delve deeply into topics. In a unit on ancient Egypt, for example, 6th-graders were asked to identify artifacts from the Egyptian wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art to tell the story of Ancient Egypt and to imagine how the items would be displayed in the new Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza should they be returned to Egypt. The project included a multi-step research paper and a final living tableau where students dressed up like talking statues to bring the story to life.

Sixth grade students sample vocal music, chorus, drama, visual arts and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) electives and then choose one to focus on in 7th and 8th grade. Sports take place after school. 

To foster a close-knit and supportive tone, 75 Morton divides each grade into “Bungalows” that share the same teachers, and new students are matched with older students in a buddy program. Students participate in advisory groups where they discuss friendships, current events, online lives, peer pressure and the dangers of substance abuse. Each student's staff advisor is the main contact between the school and the family. 

75 Morton has worked to resolve the growing pains of a young school. It has tightened up procedures after incidents of fighting surfaced online. To improve, the school has brought more order to transitions, especially to and from lunch. Staff also use the Restorative Justice approach to resolve conflicts, where students talk through issues and make amends when problems arise. The school’s comfort dogs, Bea and Cooper, have also been effective in providing students with support.

The contemporary building has a cafeteria, a library and a “gymnatorium” (combined gym and auditorium). It boasts three science labs, a rooftop garden, two art rooms, two music rooms, multiple reading resource rooms and  project rooms for small group work, plus an outdoor play yard.(Lydie Raschka, interview and web reports, April 2022)