Rockland Country Day School
Rockland Country Day School was a private coed college-preparatory school that served students in Pre-K through 12th grade. It was located in Congers, New York and was founded in 1959 as an alternative to public education in Rockland County. The school's stated mission was to "[bring] forth the best in every student by knowing and educating each of them as an individual." In 2019 the school was to have celebrated its 60th anniversary, but on August 20, 2019, the school announced it would be closing.[2]
| Rockland Country Day School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
34 Kings Highway Congers , New York 10920 United States | |
| Coordinates | 41.1482°N 73.9458°W |
| Information | |
| School type | Private |
| Motto | E Radicibus Fortibus Floremus (From Strong Roots We Flourish) |
| Established | 1959 |
| Status | closed |
| Oversight | Board of Trustees |
| CEEB code | 335281 |
| Grades | PreK-12 |
| Enrollment | 1 |
| Campus | Former Farm with Organic Garden and Forest |
| Campus size | 20 acres (81,000 m2) |
| Colour(s) | Green and White |
| Nickname | RCDS |
| Team name | Cougars |
| Accreditation | New York State Association of Independent Schools[1] |
| Yearbook | Yes |
| Affiliation | None |
| Website | http://www.rocklandcds.org |
History
The Rockland Country Day School was established in 1959 by a group of local community leaders including Pem McCurdy and Kendall Pennypacker,[3] led by Prof. Charles Frankel of Columbia University. Originally located in South Nyack, New York, the school moved to Congers, New York when it outgrew its original location. The Congers location was sold to the Town of Clarkstown and the school leased the property back for a planned five year term,[4] however in August 2019, the school announced it would close due to declining enrollment and fiscal challenges.[5]
Curriculum
RCDS focused on an individualized approach to education for each of its students. The Pre-K through Grade 12 curriculum offered a variety of academics, arts and inquiry, with multi-age classes and opportunities for mentorship and leadership across the grades. They had relatively small classes, with a roughly 7-to-1 student to teacher ratio.
Notable alumni
- Ken Be, lutist
- Han-na Chang, cellist
- Tyne Daly, actress[6]
- Adam Gussow, blues harmonica player[6]
- Isabelle McCalla, actress[6]
- Lea Michele, singer/actress[6]
- Ezra Miller, actor[6]
- Keith Raniere, founder of self-improvement organization NXIVM and a convicted felon[7]
- Johanna Rose, singer and founding member of Anonymous 4
- Sebastian Stan, actor[6]
- Grace VanderWaal, singer/actress
References
- "New York State Association of Independent Schools: Rockland Country Day School".
- "Rockland Country Day School closing its doors after 60 years".
- Brum, Robert. "Rockland Country Day School closing 'a punch to the gut' for alumni". Retrieved July 15, 2022.
- Brum, Robert. "Rockland Country Day School closing: Here's where students wound up". Retrieved July 15, 2022.
- rcbizjournal (April 21, 2021). "Clarkstown Delays Zoning Vote On Rockland Country Day School But Still Considering Affordable Senior Housing". Retrieved July 15, 2022.
- Kramer, Peter D. "Rockland Country Day alums Lea Michele, other talents, went on to fame". The Journal News. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
- "Secrets of NXIVM". February 11, 2012.