Poughkeepsie Day School

Poughkeepsie Day School is the leading progressive school in the Hudson Valle serving students from PreKindergarten through grade 12. Our steadfast commitment to providing an education that liberates the mind and ignites passion and purpose in our students has made us Poughkeepsie`s premier choice for education for eighty-five years.

Our Mission
Poughkeepsie Day School creates transformative learning experiences that inspire intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, creativity, and compassion. We believe that education is a pathway to a more just society and sustainable planet. Through discovery, analysis, and reflection, our intentional learning community brings each child to a greater understanding of self, society, and the universe.

Our school emphasizes cultural competence, global citizenship, and centers an anti-oppression pedagogy. We are preparing a new generation of leaders to envision and create a more just world, and this will require deep respect and empathy for one another. To that end, we strive to create a community of students and staff with broad racial and economic diversity within a school that places equity, inclusion, and empowerment at its core.

Our Values:

• Nurturea safe and supportive community. Learning is a social endeavor. Everyone makes an essential contribution to the flourishing of the whole; we are each the guardian of the other's learning. This involves collaboration, healthy risk-taking, self-reflection, and mutual respect. A steadfast commitment to social and emotional learning creates an environment that supports our students to thrive. We foster a school that is inclusive and celebrates identity.
• Inspirea passion for learning. Questions matter as much as answers. Students need the freedom to cultivate imagination and explore personal learning styles and interests. Students and teachers engage in an academically challenging curriculum based in inquiry, with a balance of abstract and concrete learning. Our interdisciplinary approach reflects a diverse and changing society and offers pathways to navigating a rapidly evolving world.
• Connectlearning to the real world. Relevance unlocks doors of imagination and excitement to learn. Experiences that extend beyond the campus offer powerful opportunities for the exploration of ideas, problems, and careers. We cultivate a passion for ethical action and life-long learning. At each developmental level, we engage in the natural world with a focus on ecological resilience. We intentionally grapple with issues surrounding social justice in preparation to be global citizens and change-makers.
• Empowerstudents through voice and choice. Students have agency to make meaningful choices within their own education. We value independent thinking, and creative expression. Our thematic and project-based curriculum develops academic and communication skills. This inquiry-based approach encourages students to become trail blazers with their teachers as guides.

Diversity Statement
Poughkeepsie Day School is committed to diversity, with a focus on equity and justice in our learning community, school pedagogy, and the relationship with the larger Poughkeepsie community.

PDS affirms people of all identities as integral to the school. These intersectional identities include (but are not limited to) race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, family configuration, language, culture, ability, body shape and size, and socioeconomic status. We work to ensure that every student feels a deep sense of belonging while being their whole, authentic self.

We actively cultivate an anti-racist community and maintain a learning environment that encourages conversation, even when uncomfortable, around issues of racism, oppression, equity, and justice. This work is grounded in the belief that change is born out of deep understanding, respect, and accountability.

As PDS moves into this next chapter, we are committed to creating a community of students and staff with broad racial and economic diversity. We envision a school that is deeply connected to our local community, mindful of what we can share with and learn from our neighbors and our local partnerships.

Our History
In 1934, our founding families wanted something distinctly different for their children. They wanted a school that honored childhood, took notice of emerging theories about learning and respected creativity while fostering democracy and intellectual effort. Students in those early years built colonial log houses, played on a tire swing, went pond dipping and learned to read and write. They learned how to use hammers and saws and work with wood. They acted in plays and pageants and wrote stories and letters to the White House. They built with blocks, went on field trips, and learned folk songs. The school has expanded and become more sophisticated, but many of these early childhood activities continue on. A high school was added thirty years ago, allowing students to go from middle school into a demanding writing intensive setting that stresses critical thinking and problem solving in all disciplines.

Graduates
Our advisory program and exceptional college counseling reflect our commitment to producing graduates who are ready to embark on their future.

The Admissions Office considers a variety of factors in making its decisions regarding applicants to the diverse Poughkeepsie Day School community. Among the factors taken into account are the student's:

• Intellectual strength or potential
• Passion for learning
• Curiosity and significant interests
• Creativity
• Potential for leadership and independence
• Ability to work well cooperatively
• Kindness and sensitivity to others
• Potential for making a positive contribution to the classroom and the PDS community