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. 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. History. The Rockland Country Day School was established in 1959 by a group of local community leaders, led by Prof. Charles Frankel of Columbia University. Originally located in South Nyack, New York, the school moved to its current campus in Congers, New York when it outgrew its original location. Curriculum. The Rockland Country Day School had relatively small classes, with a roughly 7-to-1 student to teacher  ratio. The school offered a variety of courses including Algebra, Geometry, Calculus, English, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, American History, European History, Psychology, Theater, Music and Art. The school had Spanish for foreign language. The school also had some AP courses. Unique features. The most unusual features of the Rockland Country Day School were due to changes made in the 2009–2010 academic year. The school began offering an open and flexible option of Independent Study in all grades, resulting in portfolios for each child. With students' time scheduled as an elective, they executed projects of their own conception, and under their own  management, pursuing their individual passions and curiosity. The school provided resources such as advising/mentoring, tutorials, organized group discussion sessions, and software and physical tools. Evaluation of independent study projects was carried out once per semester by a distinctive committee system, with committee members chosen jointly by students and faculty. The boarding program also began that year with 5-day and 7-day options and included a cohort of 8-24 domestic and international students each year. Another distinctive feature of the Rockland Country Day School was its Organic Garden. Led by the organic gardener and supported by the Whole  Kids Foundation, students built, tended to, and learned about sustainable methods of agriculture and the relationship between people and their food. Produce was used in the dining program, completing the circle of planting the garden to the table.