The Harvey School

260 Jay Street

Katonah, NY 10536

28 Reviews

School District
Grade

6-12
Type

private

Find Homes for Sale in this School Zone

Reviews

Submitted by parent on October 15, 2024

At The Harvey School, we've been incredibly impressed with the small class sizes and the dedicated, thoughtful teachers who truly care about each student's growth. The beautiful campus and engaging after-school activities provide a well-rounded experience that our daughter thoroughly enjoys. The variety of fun clubs and their unique approach to physical education contribute to a vibrant school life. Most importantly, we see how well-prepared our daughter is for her future in college. It's been wonderful to watch her flourish in this nurturing environment.
Submitted by parent on October 14, 2024

My son is thriving at this High School. He transferred to Harvey in the 10th grade from the Windward School. The admissions team was supportive and answered every question we had along the way. My son is now in 11th grade and feels that the college advisory team is fantastic. We have had two Parent Meetings already to help us prepare for what is to come in college planning and applications. My son is an unofficial ambassador for the school and I am a Parent Ambassador. I encouraged my neighbor to enroll both her girls when she was looking for a Middle and High School last year. After the open house, she agreed that this was the right place for her girls. They are currently 7th and 9th graders thoroughly enjoying the Harvey Community and experience. The school is working on it's diversity through DEI programs, but the international students that they have on campus are a great start. The international students are diverse and add to the school community. Harvey is working to expand their diversity in students and programs and are constantly seeking Harvey community feedback on how they can improve. I am proud to be part of the Harvey community and more importantly, my son is thriving socially at Harvey, feels supported academically by his teachers, and is enjoying his High School experience.
Submitted by parent on October 10, 2024

Harvey Is spot on with their commitment to students and their needs. "Rigor with Heart" is their motto and it lends itself to all aspects of your child's education. Academically the school has multiple ways of meeting your child exactly where they are at. In fact, because of the small class size and ratioof students to teachers each child will be seen for exactly who they are never slipping through the cracks. This also enables the students to feel comfortable taking risks and trying new things. Harvey has a wonderful Athletic program as well. They even have an ice rink on campus. My child is not crazy for the arts but for children that are the instruction is top notch. Over all , I couldn't be more pleased with the total experience my child has had at The Harvey School.
Submitted by parent on February 22, 2024

At the time our son entered the Harvey High School he was a normal, well adjusted person. But in the third year he was viciously bullied for months with no help from the school. Despite our many attempts to get the administration to intervene they did nothing and out of desperation, we had to remove him from the school. Of note, when Harvey finally hired a social worker she was not even a trained school counselor and she lacked the knowledge and motivation to help. We appealed to the Head of Upper Class, Dean, and Head of School on multiple occasions to discuss our child’s terrible situation, but they were dismissive and even rude and showed no interest.We made a complaint to the Board of Directors, who ignored it. We were shocked to learn from the attorneys we consulted that as a private school Harvey is exempt from the law that forces the public schools to protect students from bullying. Do you realize that your child is completely unprotected from bullying by the law in private school?Beware, that Harvey admits a percentage of students with behavioral and learning problems and, from what we have be able to find out, there is no structure or plan to help or control these students, who may be very backward and who may run roughshod without limits over other students.Our son wasn’t the only student who was bullied. We knew of other students who were suffering too. Also, there is a lot of drinking and drugging going but in our experience the school turns its back on the problem, and only publishes dramatic and flowery mission statements to the parents which add up to nothing.Don’t send your child to this school. Despite their dramatic written manifestos they don’t care about the well being of the students. They are only interested in your money.
Submitted by parent on November 03, 2023

My son entered the school as a 9th grader and had never been happier. He would only consider applying to Harvey because he got the right "vibe" on campus during one of our visits. The admissions and development team goes out of their way to make new families feel welcomed onto campus and connected with other families to ease the transition to a new school. Once in the door, the academic and administrative teams took over with ease and offered support exactly when needed. The communication between the team of teachers and the advisor and then the parent/s keeps everyone in the loop and working towards the same goal. All of this working together makes Harvey feel like a family and really builds a community.
Submitted by parent on October 18, 2023

I have one child at Harvey and one who graduated. The one who graduated got into 9/9 of his colleges, including his reaches. The school finds the best fit for your student and has many great connections at top universities. Colleges like Harvey students because they are kind, self-advocate, and contribute to the campus--all things that are promoted at Harvey. The school is about academics first and foremost but also focuses on joy and inclusion for all. It's truly a refreshing combination.
Submitted by parent on October 12, 2023

Our son joined Harvey's Middle School in the 7th grade and is now an Upper School freshman. It has been fascinating to see his academic and personal growth over the past 2 years. We live in one of the top 10 school districts in Connecticut. When our son transitioned to Harvey it was immediately apparent that Harvey goes much deeper in virtually every subject than our local schools did. Harvey's small class size allows for a rigorous academic experience in a supportive environment that encourages success. Harvey's approach weaves together all of your child's interests - academic, athletic, artistic and social - to foster curiosity about themselves and the world, encourage safe risk taking and provide opportunities to learn and grow from their mistakes. If you are considering Harvey I strongly recommend taking a tour. As a parent I can tell you if you like the vibe you feel during your tour, that is exactly what you and your child will receive if you join the Harvey community.
Submitted by other on September 26, 2023

As you read through any types of reviews it is difficult to know fact from fiction. Take a look at the teacher turnover at the Harvey School. Every few years the faculty is almost completely overturned with mostly new and inexperienced teachers being hired. The senior faculty is part of a club that perpetuates the negative environment among the faculty and they remain year after year. Over the years many negative incidents involving students have been hushed up and kept hidden. Leadership is non-existent at this school. Learning is weak and many students get pushed along in order to keep their parents paying tuition. Almost everything about this school is fake. And for the price, you will find many better schools that will actually challenge students, help them develop their talents, prepare them for college, and enable them to grow in all aspects of early adulthood. Stay far away from this school.
Submitted by parent on September 13, 2023

My son started at The Harvey School in Fall of 2020. In that time, I have seen him grow into a self-advocating, thoughtful, and bright student. My daughter just started high school there and after 2 weeks she is thriving - you are NEVER the new kid at The Harvey School. It’s a welcoming community for parents as well with so many opportunities to be involved and get to know the caring faculty and staff. Enrolling my kids at The Harvey School was the best decision for our family.
Submitted by parent on July 04, 2023

Our son attended the Harvey School for 4 years and overall, my wife and I regret our decision. So did our son. He found it very hard to make friends. There is absolutely no support for children with learning disabilities or special needs. There is no special education teacher who works with students. Although class size is small--8-10 students--and the teachers care about their students, i cannot tell you how many times my son reported that teachers could not control negative classroom behavior which distracted him from focusing in class. The administration is absolutely horrible. I had two administrators hang up on me on the phone because they disagreed with my complaints about teachers. This kind of behavior would never be tolerated in a public school. Administrators are accountable to no one. We chose the school because it stressed its fine arts program in its very engaging "I Am Harvey" promotional video at the Open House. Our son was absolutely ignored and neglected by the arts director for 4 years even though he was/is an extremely talented musician who won several national and state contests and will be attending a top music school this Fall. The school claims to promote diversity and parental involvement but unless you agree with the administration's extremely elitist, overpriced, left wing, "progressive" woke agenda, you are ignored as a parent. Up until last year, the school did not have a social worker to counsel students. Students were "counseled" by teachers. The normal mental and emotional health issues and problems that adolescents face today are ignored by this school.Do not waste your money or your child's education in this place that looks like a good school. It is not.
Submitted by parent on July 02, 2023

Now that my child has graduated I feel comfortable and have actually been eagerly waiting to post this review. What was good about this school… a few nice and caring teachers. And a wonderful college counselor who was kind, organized and efficient. What was bad…. No emotional support from the school social worker when we needed it, an arts department that didn’t nourish my child’s talent and try to find a place for him at school, and students who are mostly very self centered and entitled. When we complained nothing really changed.
Submitted by parent on October 22, 2022

As a former student, I speak from personal experience when I say that The Harvey School turns a blind eye to bullying. I suffered from PTSD as a result of my experience there. The teachers are aware of it and do virtually nothing. There is also an overall lack of diversity and not enough sensitivity or accommodations offered to students with learning differences, such as ADHD, dyscalculia, etc… The school has a nice campus and a couple of good teachers, but those are just about the only positive things I can really think of to say about Harvey. I would not recommend this school.
Submitted by parent on October 10, 2022

Harvey is truly a very unique and special school with a strong sense of community. Harvey provides an environment that encourages and fosters learning, creatively and risk taking not only academically but also in the areas of sports, the arts and anything else that a student maybe passionate or curious about exploring. The school’s traditional college prep curriculum encourages children to think both critically as well as creatively while ensuring that students maintain self-respect and self-reliance. With a diverse student body that has a wide variety of academic abilities and backgrounds, Harvey offers classes that range from grade level to honors and many advanced placement courses as well, all the while focusing on the individual student to ensure that they are being challenged and supported as needed. Harvey’s small class sizes, collaborative learning environment as well as access to teachers are all things that make Harvey a wonderful and engaging learning environment. Students are encouraged to try new things, push themselves beyond their own expectations – not only academically but also when it comes to exploring new areas outside of the classrooms such as on the sports fields, in the art center or the robotics lab and even through Model UN. Harvey has created a space where students want to learn, explore, and excel!Harvey is a special place, one that my family loves! Our children our happy, challenged, and hungry to learn, explore and continue to grow as an individual. As a parent, I encourage you to take a look at The Harvey School – it is truly life changing on so many levels.Harvey provides "Rigor with Heart!"
Submitted by parent on September 30, 2022

This is our daughter’s second year in the middle school at Harvey, and her experience has been transformative. She’s become a happy, engaged student who truly enjoys her classes and doesn't want the school week to end! The small class sizes have been invaluable for her, and the attention, support, and encouragement she's received from teachers and peers have built her curiosity and confidence and helped her bloom into an articulate, self-possessed young person with strong critical thinking skills.Harvey offers a rare learning environment that's both caring and energizing. The class sizes are truly intimate, so that teachers get to know each student well and can nurture their individual growth with focused attention, encouragement, and acknowledgment. Harvey has an atmosphere of warm congeniality without the burden of intense academic competition or social pressures. It feels like a happy, harmonious place where students can be themselves and explore their interests with authenticity. The scope of classwork is wide and deep enough to challenge our middle schooler, and there’s a wide variety of appealing electives and after-school offerings, especially in the arts. We also appreciate the emphasis Harvey places on public speaking, with opportunities such as the school-wide speech competition and poetry recitation contest. These opportunities have helped our daughter learn address others with confidence and poise—a valuable life skill. It’s a joy to watch her go off to school each morning with real excitement and to see her come home smiling.
Submitted by parent on September 29, 2022

Harvey is a school with a special sauce. It combines a strong athletic program with state-of-the-art programs, rigorous academics, and opportunities for kids to find joy and connection. My graduate got into all nine of the colleges he applied to, including his reach schools, and his friends got into their top choices too, including Northwestern, Cornell, Syracuse, Lafayette, Michigan, and others. My younger son is thriving and trying new sports and programs including mural painting and more. Harvey offers differentiated teaching for all types of learning for those who need extra help and those who need more challenges!
Submitted by parent on March 29, 2022

I don't really recommend this school because of college acceptance rate.
Submitted by parent on February 17, 2021

The Harvey School has provided our son and family with an excellent academic and social experience. When considering middle school options for our son, we were looking for small class sizes that provided a dynamic learning environment and engaging community for students and parents. Harvey has exceeded our expectations and been a steady foundation for our family. The faculty and students were very welcoming and made our son feel like part of the community immediately upon enrolling as an 8th grader in Fall 2020, helping to build his social and academic confidence. The administration has effectively navigated the pandemic through transparent communication, constant vigilance, and agility to keep the community safe and maintain the in-person learning experience. The Parents’ Association has been a wonderful outlet and opportunity for us to actively participate in our son’s education, contribute to the school community, and has provided a built-in network of other parents to hear about different experiences. We consider ourselves fortunate to be part of such a wonderful community and look forward to our son’s continued academic and social growth at The Harvey School.
Submitted by parent on April 22, 2020

My daughter is finishing 9th grade at Harvey and it's a testament to Harvey that she is both continuing to learn during this insane time (April 2020), and also that she misses school terribly. My husband and I have been impressed with Harvey during normal times; we are having trouble finding the words to express the extent of our gratitude and awe for the teachers during this unprecedented crucible.
Submitted by parent on November 29, 2018

Looking for a middle school that inspires your child? Look no further than Thr Harvey School. Adolescence is a once in a lifetime opportunity to set your child on the best course - don’t miss the boat...
Submitted by parent on February 21, 2017

My son is a senior at Harvey and we have been so happy with his experience. Despite ADHD and some learning issues, he has been able to succeed academically thanks to the small class size and teachers who are always supportive and willing to provide extra help. Whether a child's passions are academic, arts, athletics or technology there is an opportunity to participate and shine. My son loves the Robotics program!