Rye Country Day School
Our Mission
Rye Country Day School is a coeducational, college preparatory school dedicated to providing students from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 with an excellent education using both traditional and innovative approaches. In a nurturing and supportive environment, we offer a challenging program that stimulates individuals to achieve their maximum potential through academic, athletic, creative, and social endeavors. We are actively committed to diversity. We expect and promote moral responsibility and strive to develop strength of character within a respectful school community. Our goal is to foster a lifelong passion for learning, understanding, and service in an ever-changing world.
RCDS Learning Outcomes
Students emerge from RCDS with strength of character, ready to engage in continuous learning, to show kindness and empathy, to adapt and thrive within a changing global context, to contribute meaningfully to their communities large and small, and to find joy and fulfillment in life. Experiences that promote these outcomes are woven throughout the program with increasing complexity and expectations.
RCDS students acquire and use knowledge in complex and meaningful ways. They transfer and apply their understandings beyond disciplines to address novel, real-world questions.
RCDS students practice skills and habits essential for wellness and success in college, in work, and in life, including communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, and adaptability.
RCDS students make a positive difference in the world as aware, engaged, and purpose-driven citizens.
Our Motto: Not For Self, But For Service
Our School
Academics
Arts
Athletics
Beyond RCDS
Our School
RCDS draws students from 50+ school districts. The School is an easy walk from the Metro-North station, and over 100 students take the train each day.
RCDS was founded in 1869 by Susan J. Life. Her motto was "Not for Self, but for Service" and her philosophy was that teaching should be personal and relationship-based.
We are a diverse community of 966 curious and engaged students; 15% receive financial aid; 47.1% self-identify as people of color.
Academics
Approximately an 11:1 student to teacher ratio across the School
Upper School average class size is 12
144 full-time teachers
Arts
State of the Art Facilities: 2 Art Studios, 2 Theaters, Dance Studio, Videography Studio, Manual Arts Studio
6 Art Exhibitions per year
23 Musical Performances per year
6 Drama & Dance Productions per year
Athletics
68 Interscholastic Sports teams
Approximately 86% of Upper School students participate in at least one team sport
28 championships in the past 5 years
Beyond RCDS
100% of graduates enroll in college
From 2020-2024, the top college matriculation choices were: Cornell University (26), Colgate University (16), Northwestern University (16), University of Pennsylvania (14), and University of Chicago (14).
7,226 alumni make up the RCDS network
Living Our Mission
Our programs answer the question ‘How can we make our school better?’ by seeking ways to advance and embed our mission and values throughout the Rye Country Day curriculum and community.
At RCDS, we act deliberately to create and sustain a diverse community that values equity and inclusion.
Through critical service learning, our students become active and engaged participants in shaping a more equitable and just world.
Cultivating the skills + awareness to live and learn with balance, health, and joy.
Through global studies, students develop a deep understanding of other perspectives and of themselves.
Inspiring innovation, creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
Teaching and Learning projects drive the evolution of our program to ensure transformative experiences for all of our students.
We commit to being stewards of our planet.
Learning technology builds problem solving mindsets, resourcefulness, adaptability, and creativity.