Blue Rock School

110 Demarest Mill Road

West Nyack, NY 10994

12 Reviews

School District
Grade

K-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on March 27, 2017

Our son is so happy at school. He gets to spend time between academic work to explore his other interests, like building and mechanics. He also gets time to play outside every day, rain, sun or snow. Another beautiful thing to witness are the friendships that he has developed with the older children, including 8th graders who took him under their wing when he was a tiny kindergartener.Our son is 2nd grade now and we are also very happy so far. It is clear that this school values all the various intelligences that children have, not just those traditionally associated with academic success. Their approach to learning is holistic, looking at a topic from the lenses of various subjects. For example, their science studies of outer space led to an extensive fictional writing project and beautiful artwork hung up around the classroom. Their philosophy of experiential learning really seems to work. Our son always seems filled up with knowledge and ideas, and satisfied that there is a platform for his questions, ideas and creative approaches to problem solving. The kindergarten program is particularly magical. The children are afforded a generous amount of independence in the play-based program which allows them to pursue their interests and get support to create projects that are really magnificent. Whether it be sewing or painting, building fairy houses in the woods or tending to the garden, the children are busy and engaged all day long and spend long stretches of time outside. If you are looking for an alternative approach to sitting at a desk, being fed content, I strongly recommend you take a tour of Blue Rock School. If you can visit during school hours, you will get a priceless glimpse at what a day there is like for the students and also an opportunity to speak with them yourself. You will find that something special is going on here.
Submitted by parent on March 09, 2017

My daughter is in her 4th year at Blue Rock (kindergarten - third grade). She is beyond excited and happy to get in the car and drive to school every day. Which is saying a lot since we commute over 45 minutes a day each way. At pick up time as she bounces her way down the BRS front steps and into my car bursting with energy and excitement she recaps all of the interesting things she has done that day and I am always left smiling.Blue Rock School, to her, is second home, where she feels nurtured, safe & comfortable with herself always.And while every parent delights in their child's happiness, we also have concerns about academics and their future. I admit that I navigated through my daughters first 2 years with some trepidation; having attended highly competitive academic institutions my entire life I questioned if the BRS curriculum would be enough.But everyday I see my daughter fulfilled, happy and actually really learning amazing things! And the best part is she's not just memorizing a fact to regurgitate on a test, she is being enticed and excited into exploring & understanding new information which keeps her interested & an active participant in her own learning & development.Over the years I have also gotten to know several BRS graduates, as they tend to stay in touch with the school and attend events, and I make it a point to ask about transitioning to high school (public & private) & how they feel they are doing. I receive very positive responses - BRS graduates on a whole, from what I see, are flourishing. They are confident, capable and accomplished individuals who were lucky enough to be given the gift of a BRS Education, which gave them the foundation needed to really succeed. A place where education is not limited to evaluation by a letter or number, but rather encouraged through exploration and guided discovery.I am so grateful to the Blue Rock Community (educators, support staff & students/families) for contributing to the health, well being and development of my daughter and our family as a whole.
Submitted by parent on March 07, 2017

I love Blue Rock and so does my son. He wants to marry his first grade teacher and even when he's sick he still wants to go to school. I have friends with children the same age and they are stressed and cry about home work and have anxiety about tests. Blue Rock has a more gentle way of teaching. My son started 1st grade in September of 2016 and in two months he could read and spell where he could not before. Furthermore, his teacher identified a disability less than 2 months of him being observed in the class and he is receiving OT and the school and the therapist are in contact with each other and have incorporated some of his exercises into the class routine. This is a phenomenal school.
Submitted by parent on September 20, 2013

As the first day of school rolled around this year, my friend s children were already complaining they hate school, they have stomach aches, they don t want to go. But my son, a 4th grader who has been at BRS since Kindergarten, couldn t wait to go to school. In the past BRS may have had a loosey goosey reputation, but our family s experience has been that the teachers have found a near perfect balance among academics (my son s reading, writing and math skills are at or above grade level), arts (children write their own plays, and have music and art several times a week), and community (lots of outside nature-oriented play, tremendous interaction across grades, no bullying). The test free, child-centered learning techniques serve students very well: BRS graduates, many who go on to public high schools, are thriving in the world of AP classes and exams. They ve learned to love learning and be confident and engaged students.
Submitted by parent on August 09, 2013

I moved my children to Blue Rock School a year ago, and it's the best move I ever made. Blue Rock is a wonderful learning environment, where teachers foster the well-being of the whole child - academic, intellectual, social, physical, emotional. The teaching style calls upon kids to be proactive in their learning, with heavy emphasis on independent research as well as collaborative projects - both essential for future success. The teachers are outstanding. All areas of language arts, both reading skills and writing skills, are especially strong, and I've been very happy with math instruction as well. My incoming fifth grader and first grader advanced by leaps and bounds this year. This school was the best investment I could ever have made for them.
Submitted by parent on August 08, 2013

Blue Rock School is a special place. I have three kids there and they look forward to school every single day - really! The quality and substance of my fourth graders course work is impressive and my kindergardener is grubbing around in the dirt, dressing up and making friends. The class sizes are small and the school is cozy and friendly. Blue Rock School is growing wholesome kids. Fresh air recesses (a lot of it) drama, art, poetry and plenty emphasis on science, math and technical writing skills form a balanced curriculum. The teachers and staff are smart, competent and kind and they know all the kids. I feel my kids are getting a exceptionally well rounded education. A school worth checking out!
Submitted by parent on August 08, 2013

Blue Rock is the only school my kids have known. They are entering 3rd and 5th grades, and the school has lived up to, even exceeded, my expectations in every way. It's a sweet, nature based, child centered environment where my kids can not only learn, but develop in all ways, emotionally, socially, spiritually, at a pace and in a way that is appropriate for them. I love that my children are allowed to think creatively, and explore what is of interest to them. I love that they are not forced into hours of overtime (aka homework) after an already long day at school. I love the interaction among students across all grades, and the all school drama production at the annual winter solstice celebration . I love the way children are not labeled with a single grade, as if that could possibly measure their success in any given subject. I love the sense of community of the families, and the dedication of the teachers and staff. There is a magic about it that goes beyond any words. In these challenging economic times, as we all look for ways to cut back, Blue Rock is non-negotiable in my family. To my mind, in our world, it's not a luxury, it's a necessity.
Submitted by parent on August 07, 2013

Blue Rock School is a one of a kind. Their supportive, knowledgeable and caring staff teache our children to dig deeper and take individual responsibility. Above all, they give our kids a nurturing and safe environment to grow, learn and emotionally mature. My kids love learning and actually look forward to going to school! Check out the school on any day and you'll see smiles across the campus. The energy is infectious.
Submitted by parent on March 16, 2013

Blue Rock is an amazing school. Not for everyone, but definitely the perfect place for some students. The children are nurtured and encouraged to learn via direct experience: science is taught with hands on activities, like battery building; students form books clubs to discuss literature; and math is used in service of constructing the fastest, most durable, go-carts. Our children have thrived there, they are both reading and doing math and science at or above grade level. And, they have accomplished this without the stress of standardized testing. Our family is so grateful to have found a haven where children can learn, grow and where the curiosity and the innocence of childhood is respected. My kids wake up happy and wanting to get to school early every day -- for us that says it all.
Submitted by parent on February 15, 2013

I am so grateful for Blue Rock School, its integrative, whole child philosophy, its kind and creative teachers, and its beautiful buildings and grounds. My children know how to think, solve academic problems and learn from a conceptual perspective coming at learning from many different angles. The most beautiful element of the school is that each child is respected for who they are individually, and dynamically as a whole. Childhood is preserved, honored and celebrated at Blue Rock School.
Submitted by other on January 07, 2013

Many children reading well below grade level. Math instruction is almost non existent. Expect to hire a tutor, even for children with above average capability. Anti-intellectual environment. Teachers, administration and staff without any credentials. Learning disabilities go undetected. Normal children are "diagnosed" with disabilities they don't have by staff wholly unqualified to do so. Many parents pull their children out after a few years with a lot of anger. Green Meadow is a better choice.
Submitted by parent on April 04, 2009

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