Poughkeepsie Day School

260 Boardman Road

Poughkeepsie, NY 12603

18 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on August 07, 2024

A once flourishing school that is now in the dumpster. Unqualified leadership and teachers. For the fee, go somewhere else.
Submitted by parent on July 18, 2024

We moved to the Hudson Valley from New York City in 2021, and after sending our child first to a public school for Kindergarten, we enrolled her in Poughkeepsie Day School’s first-grade class. She’s now heading into third grade and has thrived. She’s an enthusiastic reader, loves math, and enjoys all the many ways the school’s programs encourage her creative side, from music to drama to an after-school dance club. She comes home nearly every day talking enthusiastically about something creative she has done that day. School leadership has outlined an impressive roadmap to the future. And the parents have formed a tightly-knit community that supports each other. There’s never been a better time to take a closer look at this school.
Submitted by parent on July 18, 2024

PDS has been a game changer for our family. After moving to the area with little knowledge of the public schools, we were looking for something different for our curious and motivated kids. We started our younger daughter in pre-K and moved our older daughter to the school after a great first year. We are now going into our third year in 1st and 4th grades. I couldn't be more of a PDS superfan. The academics are rigorous, but inquiry-based, giving our kids a voice in their own education. The community is warm and welcoming and deeply involved in the day-to-day. The Head of School's door is always open and the faculty are top-notch. I love the small classes, combined grades, and the opportunities for the little kids to learn from the big kids and vice versa. The school's cultural and athletic partnerships offer a wealth of extra-curricular activities that would otherwise be unavailable in a small school. I love that when I pick my kids up from school, they are happy and eager to talk about a day spent learning with individual attention, playing outside and creating art and music. We can't wait for what the future of PDS holds.
Submitted by parent on October 18, 2023

This is our second year at PDS. We finally found a progressive school and a wonderful environment that suits our family. We plan to be part of PDS for many years. Please read the reviews carefully, many responses are from years ago. The school is not the same as back then. It is worth your time to check out PDS.
Submitted by parent on October 15, 2023

My two daughters started at PDS this year and it has been a great experience. The small school size allows for a high degree of careful and customized attention while also developing community and socio-emotional learning. The school embodies values of respect, care, curiosity, place, inclusivity and community. The teachers are top notch and lean into the inquiry-based learning model that connects students to place and the real-world through experiential learning. I also like the right dose of age-mixing in 2-year cohorts. Highly recommend.
Submitted by parent on November 14, 2022

Both of my daughters attended PDS for high school, and my family will always be grateful for the academically excellent, personally meaningful, and deeply engaging educational opportunities that were made available to them every single day. The outstanding, dedicated teachers devote themselves to taking their students as far as they can go. The school is profoundly committed to building community across all ages. At a time when so many students disengage from learning and one another, I watched my daughters find increased connection, and dive into their studies even more deeply. The current Head of School was a beloved math teacher (and still is), and she has a deep connection to progressive education. Along with the fabulous new Associate Head, she is steering the school in a very positive direction. The buzz among the new parents is very positive - they seem to feel they've found a well kept secret! I would strongly recommend checking it out.
Submitted by other on November 14, 2022

Attending Poughkeepsie Day School provided me with opportunities for growth I never would have been exposed to at any other institution. From the head of the high school who stayed after school to chat about my life, to the science teacher who spent his lunches every week personally teaching me about a topic of individual interest, to the math teacher (now head of school, I hear) who somehow made calculus the best part of my day, to all of my peers who challenged and supported me in every class, the individuals at Poughkeepsie Day create a community which guides the growth of students in unique and individualized ways. During my time at PDS, I not only received a stellar high school education but was also encouraged to develop my own personal values and approaches to learning which has been foundational in supporting my life moving forward. My education at PDS was not only preparing me for college but also prepared me for life.
Submitted by other on April 01, 2022

A life changing school.I went to PDS from 7th to 12th grade. I was a bored and uninspired student that was very mediocre in public school. My mom moved me. I noticed no change in my mediocrity until I left PDS and realized how different my experiences were and how differently I viewed the world around me. PDS taught me a human approach to the world, taught me curiosity and research, and allowed me to follow personal passions not just standardized curriculum. I became a better person, more empathetic, and better prepared for college and the world. The key ingredient were the teachers and the students. Life changing place.
Submitted by parent on April 01, 2018

Not bad. Very unstructured, so it really depends on how much structure your child needs. But with that said, some of the teachers are very talented.
Submitted by parent on March 30, 2018

I am thrilled with the talent, depth, and curiosity I observe in the student body. The teachers are flexible, experienced, and caring, and I can't recommend the school highly enough. It is uniquely and proudly progressive, and this vision inspires great things within the student and parent community.
Submitted by parent on March 30, 2018

PDS is outstanding and truly creating thinkers and leaders. Such a creative and meaningful education entirely focused on the individual and fostering community. Lovely families and spectacular teachers.
Submitted by parent on March 25, 2018

PDS is a wonderful school. Their approach to learning is innovative, supportive, and effective. No rote learning, common core dictated curriculum, or teaching to the test. Instead, the focus is on the joy of learning for learning's sake, of discovering new things, and fostering children's curiosity. Class size are small and classes are longer, which allows for in depth study, and a multidisciplinary approach. The teachers truly go above and beyond to help the kids succeed. The high school has a wide variety of interesting electives, and the college counseling and prep is quite extensive and effective. Almost all students go on to 4yr colleges after graduation, and many attend very selective schools. The school culture is liberal, and supportive. As it is a small school, there is more interaction between students of different ages, and there are less "cliques" as every student interacts with most other students at one point or another. In short, great school!
Submitted by other on March 24, 2018

PDS is a safe progressive environment that allow students to express themselves while digging deep into courses. Teachers and administration are quick to respond to any issues or questions. A tour of PDS will reveal intense yet happy students who are there to learn and make and difference in society.
Submitted by parent on September 11, 2017

Fantastic, supportive, innovative environment. Tried other private schools in the area, and they don't measure up.
Submitted by parent on November 21, 2015

I think parents need to understand what Poughkeepsie Day School does not offer when deciding to enroll their children here.No AP Courses--they do offer 'Advanced Topics" courses but they are not Advanced Placement courses. Students can take the AP exam at the end of the year, but the curriculum is not the same. No grades! PDS does not offer letter (A, B. C) or numerical grades. They believe that evaluating a student's progress through "narrative paragraphs" is more meaningful. This is a problem with applying to colleges obviously. 99% of schools in the United States offer a more traditional grading system and although it may provide different benefits to your child, the real question is what the colleges will think. PDS has many very intelligent international students who achieve 700+ on the SAT exam...This helps them in the college application process immensely but if your child has scores of the national average (500 CR, Math) then you should think long and hard about attending school here.Many international students support this school financially, but few understood the no grade policy and no AP courses. Prospective Parent
Submitted by parent on September 28, 2014

This is a wonderful school. My children have attended both public and private schools and this is by far the best school. The teachers are engaged and caring. The curriculum is relevant and challenging. The students are helpful to each other and it is not cool to be a bully or elite. The sports are team oriented and everyone gets to participate. Arts and music are encouraged and very supported. The college guidance is excellent and the students et into very good schools. The school helps each student find their strengths and work on areas they need to improve upon. This is a special place.
Submitted by parent on April 17, 2011

Our two kids enrolled at PDS in 9th and 6th grade respectively. We're in our second year now, our only regret is we didn't discover PDS earlier. The kids are thriving, the faculty are wonderful, the culture and values of the school are nurturing. PDS is a well-kept secret. Famlies that want a first rate progressive education for their kids should definitely check it out.
Submitted by parent on March 04, 2011

After I attended the information session, I knew I would feel guilty sending my child to any other school. Sensitive and caring teachers who go out of their way to assist students. There is no "grade envy" because there are no grades. Each teacher prepares a written narrative twice per year about each child's progress. This about learning and learning to love learning. Music, drama, art, Spanish all begin in the lower school. More frequent physical education classes than in the public schools. This is a community of learners dedicated to quality education. The After School Program is wonderful and there is no charge for before school care. The Food Program is amazing - fresh, local foods and always a vegetarian entre. No junk food! Yes, PDS is is expensive but worth it. And if qualified, a family may receive financial aid.