Dutchess Day School

415 New York 343

Millbrook, NY 12545

9 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on March 28, 2024

As a parent, nothing is more fulfilling than seeing your children excel in their education and beyond. At Dutchess Day School, they understand the importance of nurturing young minds with an engaging curriculum and a dedicated faculty that keeps children motivated and eager to learn every day. The balanced approach to education combines strong academic instruction with the arts and physical education, creating well-rounded individuals who are prepared to tackle any challenge that comes their way. I credit my children's preparedness and success in high school and college to the strong, balanced foundation they received at Dutchess Day School.
Submitted by parent on October 12, 2023

There is not a better education to be had in the area. The teachers are thoughtful, committed and nurturing. There is ample hands on learning and applied learning. Students are held accountable for their work and for their behavior. The school engages the parents and the campus is beautiful. A great school that gives kids the tools they need to succeed.
Submitted by parent on May 04, 2021

Dutchess Day School is a delightful country schooloffering excellent building blocks in education for student’s future; high school, college, and beyond.
Submitted by other on August 02, 2020

As a POC that attended for nine years, I want to ask parents to consider other schools. The environment here is toxic. POC are stripped of their racial identities and whitewashed beyond belief through omission of education on non-white cultures. Only white savior history is taught, gross cultural appropriation is encouraged in school plays, recitals, and assigned projects. Hey! Instructing kids to dress up as white colonists and making fresh butter without teaching them about the genocide of Native Americans, teaching kids about the Columbian Exchange and how America really got fruits and veggies (yay so fun) without teaching them about the slave trade, and teaching kids that America saved everyone in WWII and forgiving early presidents for owning human beings and torturing them because the set an important precedent IS WRONG. I do not place full blame on the teachers, though, as I know they are teaching a set curriculum.Another thingStudents are pressured to perform perfectly and will not leave the school with any type of reasonable expectations or understanding of the real world. Seriously. Your kid will be so weird upon leaving this place. Please reconsider sending your child here. From a POC alum that wants to spare others from this overrated "school."
Submitted by parent on July 11, 2015

My family is in love with this school. My children were younger and in private school in New York, and when we started at Dutchess day I did not know what to expect. It turns out to be the perfect learning experience for a middle schooler- it is the perfect combination of a relaxed environment and challenging academics. There is plenty of homework (and expectations of performance), but the teachers and other adults are very supportive and know each child intimately. The help is there as they need it, on a daily basis. To give you an idea of how nurturing an environment it is, listen to this- at graduation, the headmistress reads a full biography ( compiled with the help of all the student's teachers) highlighting each student's personality, achievements, and even the occasional humorous peccadillo- before handing them their degree. How many schools would take the time and energy to do that! Nancy Hathaway has done amazing things with this school.
Submitted by parent on April 26, 2015

Dutchess Day School is a nurturing and academically rigorous environment. It's the only school I know of in the Hudson Valley which offers Latin beginning in middle school. The art, music and theatre programs are excellent. Having lived in NYC I find this school to be on par with the very best of the city schools but with easy access to athletics and a low-key, kind parents' association. Many graduates here are accepted into top boarding and day schools.
Submitted by parent on October 05, 2014

DDS is a charming country school with rigorous academic standards. Strong faculty & administration team to ensure each child s success. The upper school dispenses a serious amount of homework, but the teachers are truly exceptional and passionate about what they teach, and this enthusiasm is contagious to students. DDS has an incredible music department. We are not a musical family but thanks to the celebration of music at DDS, my child has mastered her instrument and will be continuing into high school. DDS is not only about academics but nurtures development of the whole child. Lunch time is rotated assigned seating with an adult supervisor at each table. Kindness, consideration and manners are core values. Wholesome food is celebrated via real, organic farm-to-table meals prepared by a talented Culinary Institute of America chef and served family style to appreciative kids. Ages and grades are cross-pollinated via pen pals, reading buddies, poetry buddies and other programs. Younger kids are valued by older kids, and everybody looks forward to giving back when it is their turn to nurture younger kids. A remarkable school that creates confident kids who love and want to learn.
Submitted by parent on April 01, 2014

My son graduated from 8th grade at Dutchess Day in 2012. He was well prepared for high school since he had developed the work ethic, organizational skills and interpersonal skills to succeed. Dutchess Day is a small school where students get great experience in drama, yearbook, and art. The small class size encourages project work and requires students to research, revise their writing, and present their findings. The students are comfortable speaking in front of groups and confident to try new activities. I'm glad I made the investment in my son's education because it gave him a solid foundation to build his higher learning.
Submitted by teacher on June 17, 2011

Dutchess Day School helps build confidence, self esteem and a love of learning. Students are challenged to do their best in all aspects of education. The outstanding results of a DDS education can be see in their secondary school records. It is a true community where young and old children interact, parents are invited to participate often and there is visible bond with the faculty.
Submitted by parent on March 21, 2011

Dutchess Day School offers a small, community-oriented school environment where each child is supported and encouraged to pursue a love of learning. The faculty and administration are outstanding in every way and have strong ties with both their students and the parent body. The school's curriculum is based on traditional academics but allows for "outside the box" learning and creativity. Along with strong academics, the school offers an incredible art and music program where students create and perform at a very high level from preschool through 8th grade. Children leave this school with a strong sense of who they are, confidence both socially and academically and with respect for others and for the world they live in. It is a very special school.