The Lower School Experience
The world is interdisciplinary. We think school should be, too. 
Organizing our lower school curriculum around a central theme for each classroom allows students to draw rich connections within and between subject areas. Think graduate-level social science—complete with investigations, hypothesizing, writing, and story collecting—only with more field trips. Ranging from counting baby goats and predicting how much the garden will yield in the early years study of farm life to the in-depth studies about change makers and the activist movements they inspired in the later grades, our lower school students become creative, sophisticated thinkers.
Lower School at a Glance
G
Global Citizenship
- International Baccalaureate candidate school; part of a global community of 6,000 schools worldwide
- Immersive Spanish instruction beginning in preK
- Emphasis on cultural competence at all ages
- Bilingual After School Program
R
Relationships
- Every child known, valued, and understood
- A firm belief in collaboration both among and between faculty and students
- Social-emotional learning woven into every day
- Educational partnerships with Stony Kill Farm and Ramapo for Children
O
Opportunities
- Learning experiences with Vassar, the Culinary Institute of America, and beyond
- Art, music, and STEAM for every student
- Physical education 4x each week
- Free before-school care from 7:30 am
W
Wisdom
- Active learning that makes concepts tangible
- Learning how to think, not what to memorize
- Highly trained faculty passionate about education
- Ambitious, inquiry- and project-based learning
- Singapore Math: deep thinking & problem-solving
- All teachers trained in Orton-Gillingham multisensory reading instruction
Connecting their own dots.
At Poughkeepsie Day School, we recognize that children are curious and strive to give them the time and space to pursue ideas and knowledge. Students discover how glass is blown, see what connects them to the people and places of their community, and come to understand the ecosystem of the Hudson River.
Our Approach |
Academics |
Art, Music & Drama |
Physical Education |