Poughkeepsie Day School

Poughkeepsie Day School
Location
Poughkeepsie , NY United States
Coordinates	41.659495°N 73.88851°W / 41.659495; -73.88851
Information
Type	Independent, Private
Founded	1934; 91 years ago (1934)
Head of school	Spiro Gouras
Faculty	15 full-and part-time teachers recruited nationally
Grades	Pre-K-12
Enrollment	36 students
Student to teacher ratio	7:1
Campus size	35 acres
Website	www.poughkeepsieday.org

Poughkeepsie Day School is an independent, progressive, coeducational school in the mid-Hudson Valley serving students from a broad region of New York and Connecticut from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

History

Founded in 1934, it was originally located at Hooker and South Grand Avenues in the city of Poughkeepsie, where it began with 35 students and three faculty members.[1][2] The school outgrew that facility, and in 1963 it moved to custom built premises on the Vassar College campus at 39 New Hackensack Road, Poughkeepsie. The school outgrew that facility as well, and acquired two buildings from IBM in the 1990s that form its current 35 acre campus on Boardman Road.[3]

The theater is named for actor James Earl Jones, who funded construction and whose child attended the school.[4] Pete Seeger, David Strathairn, Graham Parker, William Sadler and Jack DeJohnette also had children or grandchildren who attended the school.[3][5]

In April 2020, the school announced that it would close in June, due to financial concerns related to shrinking revenue.[4] A coalition of parents, teachers, and alumni came together to keep the school open and find a more sustainable path forward.[6]

In February 2021, the school announced it would reopen for the 2021–22 school year with lower tuition and a smaller enrollment.[2] The school reopened in September 2021. The school accepts applications from new students for grades pre-K through 12, with rolling admissions throughout the year.[7]

In 2022, the Town of Poughkeepsie explored the purchase the school's property on Boardman Road in order to consolidate town offices at the location, but in June 2023, the town decided to put the plan on hold.[8][9]

In January 2024, the school announced the launch of a new high school program, called the Navigator Institute, focusing on three core values—service, engagement, and self-efficacy.[10] It is scheduled to launch with 9th grade in September 2026.[11]

The school officially became an International Baccalaureate (IB) candidate school for the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP) in January 2025, with plans to become an authorized IB World School by September 2027.[12]

Accreditation

Poughkeepsie Day School is accredited by the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS), and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and the Independent Curriculum Group (ICG).

Notable alumni and attendees

• Molly Baz
• Ivan Cash[13]
• Celeste Dupuy-Spencer[14]
• Douglas Elmendorf[15]
• Virginia Page Fortna[16]
• Tom Finkelpearl[13]
• Lauren Holmes[17]
• Jonathan Keltz
• Swati Khurana[15]
• Lucy Knisley[18]
• Gavrik Losey[13]
• Noah Lyon[19]
• Jeh Johnson
• Lee Miringoff, founder of the Marist Poll[13]
• Molly Ostertag[13]
• John R. Ross[13]
• Jonathan Russell[20]
• Jonah Sachs
• Pril Smiley[17]
• Ingeborg von Zadow

Notable faculty and staff

• Sally Luther[21]
• Eric Person[22]

References

1. History page on official Web site: "Poughkeepsie Day School: History". Archived from the original on May 15, 2013. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
2. Cordero, Katelyn; Santistevan, Ryan (February 23, 2021). "Poughkeepsie Day School plans to reduce tuition as it reopens, change locations in future". Poughkeepsie Journal. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
3. "Poughkeepsie Day School Ceases Operation After 86 Years". 101.5 WPDH. April 21, 2020. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
4. Cordero, Katelyn; Santistevan, Ryan (April 21, 2020). "Poughkeepsie Day School to close in June, officials cite decline in enrollment, revenue". Poughkeepsie Journal. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
5. Reakes, Kathy (April 22, 2020). "Private School In Area Attended By Children Of Celebrities Will Close After 86 Years". Cortlandt Daily Voice. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
6. Sparks, Leonard (May 1, 2020). "Dutchess School May Close After 86 Years". The Highlands Current. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
7. https://www.poughkeepsieday.org ^[bare URL]
8. Gross, Hank (January 13, 2022). "Town moves forward with plan to consolidate offices". Mid Hudson News. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
9. Gross, Hank (July 4, 2023). "Poughkeepsie Day School to stay put". Mid Hudson News. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
10. "Press release: Poughkeepsie Day School Launches Navigator Institute, A New Kind of High School Program". www.dcrcoc.org. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
11. "The Navigator Institute | Poughkeepsie Day School". Retrieved September 12, 2024.
12. "International Baccalaureate® Candidacy | Poughkeepsie Day School". Retrieved January 26, 2025.
13. "Poughkeepsie Day Compass Magazine" (PDF). Poughkeepsie Day School. 2014.
14. "Poughkeepsie Day Compass Magazine". 2011.
15. "Compass Class Notes" (PDF). Poughkeepsie Day School. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2015.
16. "PDS Compass Magazine 2012" (PDF).
17. "Poughkeepsie Day School Currents Magazine" (PDF). Poughkeepsie Day School. 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 1, 2005.
18. "Poughkeepsie Day School Class Letters Spring 2004". Poughkeepsie Day School. Archived from the original on March 8, 2007.
19. "Poughkeepsie Day School Class Letters Fall 2005". Poughkeepsie Day School. Archived from the original on March 8, 2007.
20. "Poughkeepsie Day March 2001 Class Notes". Poughkeepsie Day School. March 12, 2001. Archived from the original on April 8, 2001.
21. Women of Minnesota : selected biographical essays. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press. 1998. ISBN 978-0-87351-367-8.
22. "Jazz Camp Faculty". Poughkeepsie Day School. Retrieved April 14, 2022.

External links

• Official website
• About