Our world does not know standstill. We see great innovators transforming society by rethinking and redesigning the human experience at an ever-faster rate. At Riverdale, we believe the future belongs to those who adapt to new situations, ask the right questions, try new ideas, and work well with others. In everything we do, we balance traditional learning with forward-looking strategies. We give students the confidence to develop independence, make the opportunity, and become agents of change. Our goal is always to engage the mind, build character, and encourage community because Riverdale is so much more than a school; it is preparation for life.
Riverdale Country School is a Pre-K through grade 12 independent school in New York City committed to empowering lifelong learners by developing minds, building character, and creating a community to change our world for good. These are words that guide us every day at Riverdale. How we learn, who we are, and how we interact with one another are inextricably linked in the Riverdale experience.
Riverdale's curricular and co-curricular programs are designed to strengthen character skills through challenging and engaging academic work, mentoring relationships that build self-awareness and respect for others' ideas and needs, and opportunities for exploration and community service to help students find how they can make a difference in the world.
In the Lower School, children learn through asking probing questions, building effective work habits, and forming meaningful connections with their teachers, peers, and school community. They participate in stimulating, hands-on experiences that flow from an interdisciplinary curriculum, outdoor exploration, and active play. They learn about character strengths — such as grit, curiosity, gratitude, and social intelligence, shaping how an individual thinks, feels, and behaves. Led by co-teachers who model collaboration, classes are supportive and dynamic. Children develop core academic skills and understand the social and emotional skills needed for success in the world.
The Middle School years begin a time of dramatic physical growth and brain development. Students are hungry to learn but also self-conscious and eager for acceptance. Our challenging curriculum inspires them. Our co-curricular programs allow them to try new activities, join new teams, and find their passions. We pay attention to their social and emotional needs, weaving character education through all aspects of the learning daily. We examine how we treat each other, how our actions impact others, and how we can own our mistakes and bounce back from failure.
Riverdale encourages its Upper School students to chart their courses. As they balance a challenging college preparatory curriculum, co-curricular activities, athletics, and opportunities for foreign travel, science research, outdoor experiences, and independent study, they create an experience unique to their talents and interests and yet shaped by their collaborative community. The Upper School has a "culture of yes," says Upper School Head Dr. Kelley Nicholson-Flynn. The school gives students the freedom and resources to take their interests in new directions while they also contribute to the community's life.
Middle/Upper School Address: 5250 Fieldston Road Bronx, NY Postal Code: 10471 Phone: +1 718 5498810
VIDEOS
