Rockland Country Day School
| Rockland Country Day School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
|
34 Kings Highway Congers, New York 10920 United States | |
| Coordinates | 41°08′54″N 73°56′45″W / 41.1482°N 73.9458°WCoordinates: 41°08′54″N 73°56′45″W / 41.1482°N 73.9458°W |
| Information | |
| School type | Private |
| Motto | E Radicibus Fortibus Floremus (From Strong Roots We Flourish) |
| Established | 1959 |
| Oversight | Board of Trustees |
| CEEB code | 335281 |
| Head of School | Jocelyn Feuerstein |
| Grades | PreK-12 |
| Enrollment | 130[1] |
| Student to teacher ratio | 7:1 |
| Hours in school day | 7 |
| Campus | Former Farm with Organic Garden and Forest |
| Campus size | 20 acres (81,000 m2) |
| School colour(s) | Green and White |
| Sports | Soccer, basketball, Ultimate Frisbee (2016) |
| Nickname | RCDS |
| Team name | Cougars |
| Accreditation | New York State Association of Independent Schools[2] |
| Average SAT scores | CR: 580; MA: 660; WR: 620, Median Scores |
| Yearbook | Yes |
| Affiliation | None |
| Website | http://www.rocklandcds.org |
Rockland Country Day School is a private coed college-preparatory school that serves students in Pre-K through 12th grade. It is located in Congers, New York and was founded in 1959 as an alternative to public education in Rockland County. The school's stated mission is to "[bring] forth the best in every student by knowing and educating each of them as an individual." In 2014 the school celebrated its 55th anniversary. The campus, not the school, has since been sold to the Town of Clarkstown for $4.4 million. The acquisition was approved by the Town leadership and agreed to by the School's leadership.
History
The Rockland Country Day School was established in 1959 by a group of local community leaders, led by Prof. Charles Frankel of Columbia University. Originally located in South Nyack, New York, the school moved to its current campus in Congers, New York when it outgrew its original location.
Curriculum
The Rockland Country Day School has relatively small classes, having a roughly 7-to-1 student to teacher ratio. The school offers a variety of courses including Algebra, Geometry, Calculus, English, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, American History, European History, Psychology, Theater, Music and Art. The school has French, Spanish, and Mandarin for foreign languages. The school also has some AP courses.
Unique features
Probably the most unusual features of the Rockland Country Day School are changes made in the 2009-2010 academic year. The school began offering an open and flexible option of Independent Study in all grades, resulting in portfolios for each child. With students' time scheduled as an elective, they execute projects of their own conception, and under their own management, pursuing their individual passions and curiosities. The school provides resources such as advising/mentoring, tutorials, organized group discussion sessions, and software and physical tools. Evaluation of independent study projects is carried out once per semester by a distinctive committee system, with committee members chosen jointly by students and faculty. The boarding program also began that year with 5-day and 7-day options and has included a cohort of 8-24 domestic and international students each year.[3]
Another distinctive feature of the Rockland Country Day School is its Organic Garden. Led by the organic gardener and supported by the Whole Kids Foundation, students continue to build, tend to, and learn about sustainable methods of agriculture and the relationship between people and their food.Produce is used in the dining program, completing the circle of planting the garden to the table.
Notable alumni
- Sebastian Stan, Actor
- Adam Gussow, blues harmonica player
- Lea Michele, singer/actress
- Han-na Chang, Cellist
- Ezra Miller, Actor
- Ken Be, Lutist
- Tyne Daley, Actress
- Johanna Rose, Singer and founding member of Anonymous 4