| Rockland Country Day School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
| 34 Kings Highway Congers, New York, 10920 United States |
|
| Information | |
| School type | Private |
| Motto | E Radicibus Fortibus Floremus (From Strong Roots We Flourish) |
| Religious affiliation(s) | None |
| Established | 1959 |
| Oversight | Board of Trustees |
| CEEB Code | 335281 |
| Principal | Jim Fyfe (Upper School) |
| Headmaster | Kimberly A. Morcate |
| Grades | PreK-12 |
| Enrollment | 140[1] |
| Student to teacher ratio | 8:1 |
| Hours in school day | 7.5 |
| Campus | Retired Farm |
| Campus size | 20 acres (81,000 m2) |
| Sports | Soccer, basketball, tennis |
| Nickname | RCDS |
| Team name | Cougars |
| Accreditation(s) | New York State Association of Independent Schools[2] |
| Average SAT scores | CR: 600; MA: 630; WR: 610, 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.[3] 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 2009 the school celebrated its 50th anniversary.
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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 when it outgrew its original location.
The Rockland Country Day School has relatively small classes, having a roughly 8-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, Music and Art. The school has French, Spanish, and Latin for foreign languages. The school also has some AP courses.
Probably the most unique feature of the Rockland Country Day School is that since the fall of 2009, the school offers an extraordinarily open and flexible option of Independent Study. 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's Department of Independent Studies 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.[4]
Another distinctive feature of the Rockland Country Day School is its Organic Garden. Led by the organic gardener, visionary beekeeper, and former professional photographer[5] Ron Breland, students continue to build, tend to, and learn about sustainable methods of agriculture and apiculture.