Upper School

The study of Classics - Latin and Greek language and literature - remains one of the strongest foundations of a truly liberal education. Through the study of Latin and Greek, students keep alive a vital link with one of the major sources of contemporary American culture. The broad objective is to develop understanding of the cultural heritage of Greece and Rome and its influence on the modern world; the discipline of translation of Latin and Greek texts has the added benefit of clarifying thought and expression in English. Classics students gain a great advantage in the expansion of their vocabulary in English, since over 60% of English is derived from Latin and/or Greek; furthermore, since Latin and Greek are the primary sources of the Romance languages, Classics students gain great advantage toward the study of these modern tongues.

Instruction in Latin includes not only grammar and vocabulary, but also readings in Latin that provide opportunities for in-depth study of Roman and Greek history, society, culture, and mythology. At various points in their program of Latin study, students read texts written by the Roman authors Cicero, Caesar, Vergil, Catullus, Horace, Ovid, Augustus and others, along with relevant literary criticism. The Department offers an Advanced Placement course, which prepares students to take the AP Latin exam, as well as two years of post-AP, college-level Latin literature courses. Ancient Greek instruction focuses on Attic (Athenian) grammar and vocabulary, leading in the upper levels to the study of the prose of Lysias, Plato, and Herodotus, and the poetry of Homer.

The world continues to be more and more reliant on computers and computing innovations to function. Our daily reliance on our smartphones and the Internet are just two small examples. Fields as disparate as biology, fashion, agriculture, and finance are impacted daily by computer innovations, and to function in this cyber-connected economy, students must be literate in the field of computer science.

The Computer Science Department offers courses in both computer programming as well as design and engineering. Our programming courses teach students how to code and how computers work. They also discuss how computing innovations can impact our society, economy and culture. The design and engineering courses teach students about the ways in which design and technology intersect, and offer hands-on applications so that students might learn about the many applications of computing in the physical world.

"I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being."
- Oscar Wilde

The Drama and Dance Department was established in 1984 to promote a more well-rounded arts education program within the fine and performing arts curriculum at Rye Country Day School.

In the Upper School, students are required to complete a minimum of 1.5 credits within the Drama, Dance, Visual Art, and/or Music curriculum. The Drama and Dance Department offers the following courses in the Upper School: Public Speaking, Acting for Stage & Film, Advanced Acting for Stage and Film, Introduction to Improv, Play Production, Costume Design, Digital Drama, Intermediate Dance, Advanced Dance, and Advanced Topics in Theatre/Dance. Students also have the opportunity to work on independent study projects in areas of specialized focus. The Department encourages specialized work and helps students develop projects that will most appropriately advance their ability and interests.

Students are encouraged to apply the skills they acquire in the courses through performance and technical work on the major theatrical productions staged during the academic year. A typical performance season in the Upper School includes four main stage productions; Upper School Fall Play, Upper School Winter Musical, Upper School Spring Fringe Festival, and Middle Upper School Spring Dance Concert. 

The Drama and Dance Department is critical in supporting the school’s mission to “achieve maximum potential through creative endeavors.” Our program is designed to be inclusive and provide students with the tools to see and appreciate multiple perspectives. Drama and Dance students at Rye Country Day School are given the time to take creative journeys. They are encouraged to take risks, make mistakes and learn that the greatest results can come from challenging themselves. The ultimate goal of all courses and productions at RCDS is for students to use the skills of drama and dance as the vehicle through which they can become more confident, mature, poised, thoughtful, collaborative, and creative.

The mathematics curriculum is characterized by depth, breadth, and flexibility. These qualities enable students to pursue the study of mathematics as far as they are able while also enjoying the process.

Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2 & Trigonometry are required of all students. These courses encourage students to be creative, precise, and rigorous when dealing with abstract concepts. For students who have acquired the necessary concepts and skills, various elective courses are offered. Most students follow the traditional analysis sequence through Precalculus and Calculus.

Fluency in a foreign language is an inestimable asset in the interconnected environment of the 21st century, providing not only a means of communication but also perspective and insight into another culture, both present and past. The Modern Languages Department is committed to providing a curriculum that develops the skills for comprehension and meaningful communication in French, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. At all levels, teachers seek to instill enthusiasm and to inspire learners to advance their ability to communicate effectively in the target language. Because we live in a global community, we can benefit from immense opportunities if we know a second or third language. The ultimate goal of the department is to provide students with a command of the language and an understanding of other cultures, both of which are necessary for intercultural understanding, dialogue and relationships.

In French, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish, five-year sequences begin with an introduction to basic grammar combined with an immediate and almost exclusive use of the language. From the first day, students are immersed in the language studied. This approach fosters instinctive and uninhibited responses and involves students in a unique intellectual process. Mastery of basic grammar, development of writing skills and confident self-expression in the target language are accomplished in part by frequent class participation and written exercises. As proficiency is acquired, students may take Advanced Placement offerings in French, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish.

The RCDS Music Department is committed to nurturing creativity and confidence at all levels of learning. We honor music as a living art with inherent value. In addition, we are committed to helping students make connections between music classes, other disciplines, and the wider world. Through the teaching and modeling of empathy and collaboration, we seek to have our classes and ensembles embody a unified spirit.

Music is a language that all can appreciate and most can learn to "speak" with precision and beauty. Many students in the Upper School participate actively in one or more of the many performing groups such as Concert Choir, Honors Choirs, Wind Ensemble, and Jazz Band, -- each of which is scheduled within the school day. Both the Concert Choir and Wind Ensemble receive full academic credit as a sign of the School's commitment to the art and discipline of music.

RCDS offers both performance and non-performance based music electives. Students often participate in the New York All-State and Area-All State music festivals, and the choir joins forces with adult singers from the RCDS community to sing a major work each year with a professional orchestra at the Festival Chorus Concert. Over the years, the Concert Choir has toured internationally in Europe, Asia and most recently, Ireland. The Wind Ensemble has traveled throughout the East Coast and to Canada. The Concert Choir, Wind Ensemble, and Jazz Band are all award winning groups at regional competitions and festivals. Part-time instrumental and voice teachers give private lessons and coach Chamber Music ensembles in our teaching studios during the week to approximately 120 students.

Every student is required to take physical education. A student who plays on an interscholastic athletic team will receive PE credit for that season of participation. RCDS Physical Education is designed to balance personal choice at a developmentally appropriate level while maintaining standards of excellence in teaching lifelong lessons regarding health and exercise. At Rye Country Day School, to be an eligible candidate to receive a passing grade for the year, the School requires that students successfully complete each of the three seasons by participating on an athletic team, by enrolling in the Physical Education program, or by fulfilling the requirements of a granted sport exemption. 

The Athletic Program at RCDS is designed to enhance each student’s athleticism and self-esteem by emphasizing skill development, camaraderie, and a dedication to compete. The program stresses sportsmanship and strives to instill a sense of team responsibility and school spirit. The program is broad enough to prepare gifted athletes to compete at the college level while at the same time ensuring that all students are exposed to the lifelong benefits of athletics and physical fitness.

Varsity interscholastic teams compete in one or more of the following leagues: FAA, NEPSAC, WNESPA, WIHLMA, NYSAIS, and ISFL. The varsity teams are selected based on ability. Students must attend all practices and games in order to remain in good standing on a team. Eighth grade student-athletes may try out for a position on an Upper School varsity team. The student must pass the New York State classification fitness test, obtain medical and parental approval before attending tryouts. Upon passing the fitness test, the student must have the skills and tactical knowledge to earn a starting position on the varsity team.

The Junior Varsity Interscholastic Athletic Program emphasizes skill development, teamwork, team responsibility, and participation. Every effort will be made to include all interested students in the junior varsity programs. In some instances, however, space or facilities could limit the number of participants on a particular team.

The Science Department promotes an understanding of the methods and significance of science in contemporary society, a broad and basic knowledge of scientific principles, the ability to experiment meaningfully in an unfamiliar situation, and a curiosity toward the wonders of the natural sciences.

In recognition of the fact that the world is our laboratory, fieldwork and field trips are an integral part of many course offerings. Such trips may include Edith Read Wildlife Sanctuary, Rye Nature Center, the Marshlands Conservancy, and trips on Long Island Sound under the guidance of experienced marine biologists.

The science teachers encourage and help qualified students pursue projects and study outside the classroom. In the past, students have worked and/or done substantive scientific research at such places as the Harvard Astronomical Observatory, the Albert Einstein Hospital in New York City, the biochemistry laboratory at Harvard University and Yale University. Qualified students have participated in the Columbia University Science Honors Program for high school students and entered the various Science Talent programs and competitions.

Although only two years of science are required – one physical and one biological – four years of science are strongly recommended for a solid college preparatory background.

From introductory-level classes through the Advanced Placement Studio Art program, the RCDS Upper School Visual Arts department has something for everyone. We offer a broad range of classes in drawing, painting, photography, ceramics, videography, sculpture, and design. Classes take place in the newly-built (2018) Cohen Center for the Creative Arts, which offers capacious studio rooms, a digital media lab, a video production area, a fully-equipped makerspace and woodshop, and ample exhibition space. Our faculty challenge students to take creative risks, to value the creative process, to discover innovative ways to give visual form to their ideas, and to develop their own aesthetic sensibilities. RCDS student-artists regularly exhibit their works around campus as well as in regional exhibitions and competitions.