VISIT US

We work with every family to make
SRDS a possibility for their children.

 

To discuss your family's options, contact Kris Sweeny
in the Office of Admissions at ksweeny@saddleriverday.org
or 201-327-4050.

 

 

We love the type of learning that blends art, science, math, writing—that’s anything but standard. We love learning because we love students—all students.

  • Pre-K to Grade 12
  • 147 Chestnut Ridge Road
  • Saddle River, NJ 07458
  • Tel: 201.327.4050

HOW IT FEELS TO

… graph our biorhythms as periodic functions.

In an Upper School trigonometry class, students kept notes on their physical, emotional and intellectual biorhythms over a period of time. They were then able to graph them as models and discuss whether they could be used as an accurate predictor of their future states.

… pitch a magazine concept to the editors of Marie Claire.

Eighth graders eagerly took on an interdisciplinary project driven by graphic arts. They designed wearable technology in physics class and produced advertisements. They delivered pitches for the products and a magazine at Marie Claire’s offices in Manhattan.

… look for clues to an ancient Egypt scavenger hunt at the Met.

A fifth-grade interdisciplinary unit on ancient Egypt involved studying Egyptian accomplishments, budgeting taxes to build a pyramid, creating Egyptian tile patterns, setting up and running a class “empire,” and completing a scavenger hunt at the Met.

We love learning that feels like this.

At Saddle River Day School, learning begins with an intriguing problem to solve, a story that captivates or a question that provokes curiosity.

During a “Mystery Skype” session with another school, for example, a sixth-grade humanities class asked the mystery students yes or no questions about where they lived. They used these clues, along with maps and atlases, to determine the school’s location. We believe that when students are driven by their own inquisitiveness, learning becomes memorable and meaningful.

Head of School Eileen Lambert describes this principle with conviction. “The learning process is not about testing. It never should have been. Education is about individual children engaging with interesting material and letting the natural curiosity of the human mind flourish. This is what we’re doing. This is the future of education.”

Small classes allow teachers to stay closely connected with each individual’s progress. Our student-to-faculty ratio averages 7:1. Because all three divisions are housed on one campus, Middle and Upper School teachers get to know younger children as learners, and students develop friendships across grade levels. This closeness, combined with an emphasis on acceptance and inclusion, creates a friendly and caring environment where students feel supported personally and in their studies.

It’s easy to love learning when it feels like this.

“We’re not rushing or cramming just to pass a test; we’re really absorbing what we learn.”

–Upper School student

In 2015, 94 percent of students taking one or more AP exams scored a three or above.

Play Video

We love teaching.

Renowned mesoscopic physics and quantum computing expert Dr. Frank Milliken joined our science faculty in 2010 after a 30-year career at IBM. He is an accomplished cyclist and hiker who has hiked the Inca Trail and the Haute Route in Switzerland.

We love learning.

Paige Gould ’02 trained at the Culinary Institute of America and worked as a chef for nine years before opening Central Provisions in Portland, Maine, with her husband. The restaurant has received national attention from Bon Appétit, CNN and Eater.

We love learning.

Andrew Mandel ’96 designs and runs leadership development programs for Teach For America, a national organization dedicated to educational equity. Andrew recently received his doctorate in adult learning and leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University.

Read more about innovative teaching and technology, our mission and core values or browse the curriculum.

College Counseling

SRDS helps students and parents find the best college that fits the strengths of each individual through our college counseling program. SRDS students have attended some of the most selective colleges and universities in the country and abroad, including Dartmouth College, Cornell University, NYU and many more. Check out our recent acceptances and matriculation lists.