Where academic excellence meets ethical learning
Pre-K–12th Grade progressive school fostering intellectual curiosity, ethical responsibility, and social justice
Our mission informs our philosophy
We challenge our students with an innovative, student-centered program, preparing them to become lifelong passionate learners, critical thinkers, and ethical leaders.
Since its founding in 1878, the Ethical Culture Fieldston School (ECFS) has been dedicated to progressive education, nurturing students’ intellectual curiosity as well as their ethical, virtuous, artistic, and athletic potential. Viewed through an ethical lens, our experiential, hands-on learning compels our community to care for our world, ourselves, and each other.
ECFS serves a diverse community of Pre-K–12th Graders across four divisions. Ethical Culture is located in a historic building on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, while Fieldston Lower, Fieldston Middle, and Fieldston Upper share an 18-acre campus in the Bronx’s Riverdale neighborhood.
Our commitment to equity, inclusion, and belonging is rooted in the mission and philosophy of our founder, Felix Adler, who also founded the Society for Ethical Culture. We embrace diverse ancestries, identities, cultures, and beliefs, enriching students’ coursework and family involvement. Our community recognizes that living an ethical life is an ever-evolving journey. While our mission is enduring, the pursuit of an ethical life continues long after graduation. Our alumni enter the world and lead change, guided by the ideals learned at ECFS.
Academic Excellence
Our School challenges students to reach their full potential through the humanities, sciences, arts, and physical education. Dedicated teachers encourage active learning and engaging discussions in an atmosphere of academic rigor and creativity.
Ethical Learning
The exploration of being an ethical and responsible member of society forms the core of our curriculum and community.
Students also participate in service learning programs and community service projects with over 40 partner organizations.
Ethics at ECFS is defined by learning to make choices regarding care for oneself, others, communities, and the world. Our unique program prepares students to understand and uphold these values, emphasizing experiential learning, social justice, and sustainability. We value inclusion and diversity of thought, honoring all students for their unique contributions, cultural backgrounds, and beliefs.
Progressive Education
Our curriculum empowers students to become independent thinkers. Student-centered and discussion-based learning, along with the freedom to make mistakes, are integral to our students’ experiences.
Our talented faculty are the cornerstone of our progressive academic program. At every age, our program supports students’ growth as citizens and scholars. What often sets our School apart is our teachers’ dedication to experiential, project-based curricula that challenge students to think critically and transform their thoughts into actions. Our curriculum engages students’ hands and bodies as much as their minds, encouraging them to make, do, and feel.
Belonging
Ensuring that every student feels seen, heard, and valued is integral to our practice, curriculum, and experiences. We embrace a diversity of lived experiences and perspectives as a catalyst for rigorous intellectual engagement and cross-cultural understanding. An inclusive environment is built for students to take risks, be challenged, and be their authentic selves. We level the playing field to ensure that each student has the support and resources they need to flourish. Through developmentally appropriate initiatives, we educate students to recognize inequity, develop compassion, and take action as engaged citizens.
Fostering an environment where every individual feels connected, accepted, and engaged is at the heart of our School. Building community is a top priority, recognizing the responsibility each of us has to the whole. Parent/ guardian involvement is encouraged through our parents’ association, where elected and appointed members liaise between the administration and parent/guardian body.
What makes ECFS unique?
Arts and Athletics Academics by division
The Global Community
Our goal is to facilitate holistic educational experiences where students come to understand their place in the interconnected global community. Students learn about social issues, participate in service projects, raise awareness, and use their voices to advocate for change, within the School community and beyond.
Our younger students are encouraged to be active members of the global community. While they often focus on local issues, they also engage in projects with a broader perspective.
Our older students have access to unique experiential learning opportunities through semester-away programs, engagement with foreign students, and special international and domestic trips.
Curricular Programming and Spaces
Our physical environment and technological infrastructure are student-centered, enabling rigorous coursework and socialemotional development. Every division and campus has dedicated areas to encourage collaborative, creative, and integrated projects, including:
• Three libraries across four divisions
• Design studios for engineering, robotics, computer science, and digital arts
• Specialized areas for focusing on math, science, woodshop, tech, art, music, and gardening
• State-of-the-art spaces with movable walls and audiovisual technology for interdisciplinary programs
At Fieldston Upper, students may select or create a major within the arts or pursue independent study. Additionally, 11th and 12th Graders take courses fulfilling the unique Adler Requirement, which entails two courses in semester-long English and History electives focusing on the histories and writings of marginalized people.
STEM Programming
This includes mathematics, engineering, robotics, woodshop, Rube Goldberg studies, and science research courses. Engineering classes are available for Fieldston Middle and Fieldston Upper students. High school students passionate about scientific research may also join the Science Research Program, a two-to-three-year commitment involving summer research internships, laboratory techniques and analysis, and project presentations.
Arts and Athletics Academics by division
Elementary Schools
Academic programming in our elementary school divisions is driven by students’ needs. We embrace a student-centered approach across all subjects, empowering students with agency and involving them in decision-making in age-appropriate ways. Through hands-on experiences, we ignite their curiosity and engage their senses, hearts, and minds as they explore, learn, and play.
Our youngest learners enjoy daily outdoor time and frequent physical education classes. We recognize the importance of nurturing intellectual, cultural, and artistic abilities, offering special subjects such as Spanish, art, music, woodshop, innovation, and science to enrich their educational journey.
Ethical Culture
Pre-K–5th Grade
Fieldston Lower
Pre-K–5th Grade
Our elementary schools focus on student-centered education, creating opportunities for them to follow their passions, ask questions, and find answers. Our curriculum emphasizes collaboration, problem-solving, and creativity, combining challenging academics with respect for all perspectives and universal critical thinking. At Ethical Culture, students use Manhattan as their laboratory, taking advantage of the campus’s proximity to Central Park. At Fieldston Lower, teachers utilize the Riverdale campus’s outdoor spaces and surrounding neighborhoods for in-depth studies. Both schools take full advantage of the many opportunities across New York City, the Hudson River, and tristate area for field trips. These experiences equip students with the skills to learn communally both inside and outside of school.
Middle and Upper Schools
Fieldston Middle and Fieldston Upper are rooted in progressive, multicultural pedagogies and inquiry-based learning. Student-centered classes focus on mastering concepts and skills through various methods. Students engage in project-based learning, collaboration, research projects, writing, journaling, and discussions. These experiences encourage risk-taking, curiosity, and critical thinking.
Both divisions cultivate a safe, inclusive environment where students can learn from mistakes through responsive teaching, independent projects, and social-emotional learning. Teachers maintain constant dialogue with each other and students, ensuring flexibility and adaptability to meet student needs and concerns.
Fieldston Middle
6th–8th Grade
Drawing inspiration from New York City, Fieldston Middle’s rigorous academic program embraces forward-thinking and diverse practices, responding to the nuances of adolescence. Teachers collaborate to integrate curriculum across subjects, focusing on inclusion, ethics, and equity. Students further develop critical-thinking skills, social-emotional capacities, and a joy of learning while growing as active community leaders.
Fieldston Upper
9th–12th Grade
Choice is central to a student’s life at Fieldston Upper, where interdisciplinary, experiential, and self-directed education thrive. Students are encouraged to take intellectual risks. Teachers focus on developing the whole student, cultivating leadership, ethical learning, independent thinking, and mindfulness. Student life is enriched in weekly assemblies and daily advisory groups with our skilled educators. In addition to a well-rounded experience including arts, athletics, and community service, students may also take advanced electives in English, history, math, language, science, and ethics.
Arts and Athletics Academics by division
Athletics
Interscholastic athletics develops physical, mental, and social skills; a positive self-image; and an understanding of teamwork. Our program empowers students while instilling self-confidence and creating leaders. We seek to imprint in individual athletes the dedication, discipline, and spirit of personal sacrifice a successful team depends upon. Making such a commitment nurtures our students’ character and supports the mission of the School.
• Over 35 Fieldston Upper sports teams
• Over 20 Fieldston Middle sports teams
• 4 NYSAIS state championships and 8 league championships since 2019
• 2 athletic fields
• 5 gymnasiums
• 1 pool
Arts
From the earliest music classes in Pre-K to electives in photography, graphic communications, stagecraft, and more at Fieldston Upper, ECFS weaves artistic practice into our students’ education. Our robust arts program emphasizes technical skill and creative expression, developing students who feel confident in their chosen art form.
• Over 70 courses in visuals arts, theatre/dance, and music at Fieldston Middle and Fieldston Upper
• Electives available in visual arts, graphic communications, theatre/dance, and music at Fieldston Upper
• Onstage play and musical performance opportunities
• Performing arts center and dance, art, and music studios
Arts and Athletics
2 expansive campuses across 18 acres
Approximately 51% of employees hold advanced degrees
Approximately 1,700 students commute from New York City, lower Westchester, and parts of New Jersey and Connecticut
15 2 1 4 1 5 1 1 2 12 14 ECFS is a LEADER among peer schools in providing financial access
39% of students and 54% of faculty/staff identify as a person of color
Over 80 student clubs available at Fieldston Middle and Fieldston Upper
Among the lowest student to faculty ratios in New York City buildings athletic fields pool performance spaces scene shop gymnasiums weight room yoga room art galleries art classrooms music classrooms and practice spaces
“We don’t want to watch from the sidelines — we want to actively participate in the School’s mission and have an impact .
— ECFS Parent
Philanthropy is at the core of our institution; it is our founding philosophy and sustains all areas of our ongoing legacy. Whether through donating, sharing talents, or volunteering, every ECFS family participates and gives back to our School in a way that is meaningful. Scan the QR code to read more about the strength and impact of our vibrant community.
Supplemental Materials
Lower Schools
Explore
the vibrant world of Ethical Culture and Fieldston Lower
At ECFS, learning has a clear purpose, challenging our students to be daring thinkers, good and kind individuals, competent and skillful agents of positive change, and engaged with the world around them, laying the foundation for a lifelong love of learning.
Mathematics
Providing a strong foundation through visualization, real-life contexts, problem-solving, collaborative activities, and in-depth exploration
Language Arts
Designed to teach foundational reading and writing skills, building on inquiry and communication
Student assessments are used to differentiate instruction by adjusting what we teach , how we teach , and how students show their understanding of the work
DEI
AND BELONGING
Science
Earth science, chemistry, STEM, and biology taught through scientific inquiry by asking questions, defining problems, developing models, and analyzing data
Students engage in developmentally appropriate discussions of identity and community
Technology and Innovation
Social Studies Workshop Spanish Woodshop Music
Art
Homework gradually begins in 3rd Grade with intentional work
Ethical Culture enjoys the vastness of Central Park at its doorstep
Fieldston Lower utilizes our expansive campus for endless exploration
Strong parentteacher partnerships
Class sizes
18–22 students each; often with 2 classroom teachers and several learning specialists
Flexible grouping models meet students’ academic needs
PLAYFULNESS
Physical Education multiple times per week
A Diversified Approach to Teaching Math
Math specialists challenge students by prioritizing conceptual understanding and problemsolving over rote practices such as memorization and the times table. Students are encouraged to understand the “why” behind procedures, leading to a deeper comprehension of mathematical concepts.
Fun with Sustainability and Nutrition
The Earth Day and Nutrition Celebration offers a tactile, engaging experience for 2nd Graders to grasp the roles of sustainability and nutrition in their daily lives. The students experience seven dynamic stations, including composting, herb cultivation, nature art creation, taste tests, and recycling education.
Cultivating Global Citizenship
4th Graders lead a comprehensive study on migration, focusing on the experience of preserving cultural traditions, activism, and community engagement. Students develop global citizenship and learn how to become active agents of change.
Nurturing Digital Literacy
Step inside our
classrooms
where young minds are nurtured through innovative programs led by dedicated teachers who foster academic excellence, ethical learning, and creative exploration.
Immersion into Space Exploration
Students investigate the moon’s orbit around Earth and its impact on seasonal changes through a series of hands-on lessons and direct experiences, deepening their understanding and sparking curiosity about space exploration.
Expanding Joyful Learning
Alongside their rigorous academics, students have equal opportunities to pursue passions through a diverse array of after school programs, such as Tournament Chess, SuperScience, Lego design thinkers, violin, soccer, and so much more.
ECFS works to promote safe use of technology and online spaces among students, creating conversations about digital literacy in the classroom.
Navigating Identity and Belonging
Early in their education, students learn to navigate what racial identity means in the context of society through the Conversations about Race, Ethnicity, Ethics, etc. (CARe) program. It is an important tool for students growing and living in a diverse world.
Middle School
Dive deeper into the dynamic life at Fieldston Middle
Our students are inspired to be daring thinkers and compassionate individuals. Growing to be competent leaders and proactive agents of positive change, they become fully engaged with the world around them.
ACADEMICS
Mathematics
Pushing students beyond rote processes and into deep understanding of mathematical concepts and applications
English
Understanding themselves and their world through literature while learning to write clearly and coherently
Science
Exploring environmental, life, and physical sciences alongside historical perspectives and diverse contributors
Language
Students sample French, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, and Latin before selecting their primary language of study
Engineering
Hands-on, project-based engineering and design curriculum with advanced engineering instruction offered in 7th and 8th Grades
History
Interpreting history as the story of who came before us and how they have shaped our world
Ethics
Fostering critical inquiry, selfexamination, and moral growth through Student-to-Student peer mentorship program with high school leaders
Intimate advisory groups to build relationships and develop essential skills for success
Continuous support with a dedicated grade dean
Class size of approximately 17 students per classroom
Interdisciplinary work and project-based learning with an ethical lens
Interscholastic athletics program begins in 7th Grade
Improving mental health and focus with a no-cellphone policy
3 health and wellness support professionals
Deepening Literary Skills
English assignments include writing persuasive personal essays comparing students’ meaningful decisions with class readings, using analytical and intuitive thinking to influence decision-making skills.
Developing Global Citizens
Past international trips to Italy, Taiwan, Spain, and more have enriched students’ classroom lessons on language, culture, and history and have provided impactful experiences.
Steering Community Change
Hands-On Innovation
In a 7th Grade Model Building class, students experiment with materials and learn how to apply measurements and mathematics while constructing objects.
Dynamic Scientific Exploration
Peek inside our classrooms , where students’ curiosity sparks creativity and devoted educators guide them in pursuing academic excellence and ethical growth .
Shaping Confident Learners
Led by 11th and 12th Grade peer leaders, the Student-to-Student Ethics course presents lessons to Fieldston Middle students on personal growth, community building, and ethical issues, ultimately developing their social emotional learning.
Exploring Identity and Connection
Using the Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity (SEED) principles, 6th and 7th Graders have participated in group discussions emphasizing self-reflection and relationship building.
While 7th Grade students work on capstone projects proposing change within the ECFS community, 8th Graders partner with alumni to learn about effecting change across the New York City community.
Immersive Engineering Solutions
Fieldston Middle science classes aim to be informative, active, and a little playful, as seen during a lab experiment exploring homeostasis.
The Power of Movement
From emphasizing creative partnership and physicality to collaborating on choreography, the Dance program helps students discover the joy of movement.
Inspired by vaccines’ role in lessening the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, 8th Grade Engineering students designed packages equipped to protect microbit material simulating vaccines.
Upper School
Experience the energizing spirit of Fieldston Upper
Delivering a dynamic progressive education, Fieldston Upper blends intellectual curiosity, academic excellence, ethics, and community involvement to prepare students for advancement. Leveraging a strong arts program, extensive co-curricular activities, and a vibrant athletics scene, our dedicated faculty and staff support each student’s growth, preparing them to influence the world ahead.
ACADEMICS
Mathematics
Science
Science Research Program for expertise in lab methods, experimental design, scientific writing, and data analysis
History
Blending world and United States history with interdisciplinary humanities, integrating English, History, and Ethics, and semester-long electives exploring marginalized identities
Ethics
Inquiry-based work to build critical thinking, examine moral and social intersections, and explore identity, intersectionality, and more
Personalized College Counseling program
Approximately
10–15 students per classroom with an average 10:1 student-to-teacher ratio
English
Advanced courses in algebra, geometry, and trigonometry, often culminating with advanced topics in calculus Project-based
Strong critical thinking skills through exposure to multiple literature genres with opportunities for expansive electives
Language
French, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, and Latin; second language optional with department approval
Advanced courses in Math, Science, and Language
Independent studies and projects
allow seniors to explore beyond the standard curriculum and across disciplines
Healthy relationships nurtured through intimate advisory groups
Continuous support with dedicated grade deans and psychologists
A Semester “Away” in New York City
Taking 11th Graders on an immersive exploration of New York City, the interdisciplinary City Semester program introduces units on immigration, arts and literature, transportation, and more with the goal of encouraging students to propose solutions for urban policy challenges.
Athletic Distinction
With campus-wide celebrations for sports every season, the Fieldston athletics program offers students the opportunity to represent their Eagle pride, commit to themselves and teammates, and bond as teams.
Pursuing Independent Analysis and Critical Thinking
Shaping Confident Leaders
11th and 12th Grade peer leaders are trained to create and teach lessons on personal growth, community building, and ethical issues to Fieldston Middle students
Catch a glimpse into our classrooms , where a rigorous, progressive program and dedicated educators inspire students to become innovative thinkers and ignite a lifelong passion for learning .
Collaborative Service and Impact
As one of the largest volunteering opportunities for Fieldston Upper students, ECFS’s annual Special Olympics event is student-run, helping participants hone leadership skills and learn the value of dedication and effort.
Students passionate about scientific study may join the Science Research Program, spanning two years and incorporating summer research, laboratory methods, experimental design, and data analysis.
Cultivating Artistic Expression
The Theatre and Dance Department produces a fall drama and a spring musical, also guiding student playwrights in creating their own original work.
Global Service and Citizenship
Often incorporating service work and real-life application of their classroom lessons, international trip opportunities also feature explorations of historical and cultural landmarks, exposure to different lifestyles, and an emphasis on students’ capacity for morality and empathy.
Embarking on the Future — Internship Opportunities
Students turn to the Fieldston Summer Jobs and Internships Initiative for opportunities across New York City. Positions reflect a wide range of industries and types of work, providing students with experiential samplings as they consider their future.