PRINCETON DAY SCHOOL Opportunities of a Lifetime. Every Day.
Throughout its storied history, Princeton Day School’s single charge has been to provide the children we serve with the finest independent school experience. In doing so, we have crafted a century-long tradition of excellence, opportunity, and independence, readying our students to lead lives of meaning and purpose. Surrounded by faculty members of exceptional character and ability, drawn to the School from across the nation and the world, our students engage daily in the real business of education: mastery of critical skills; exploration of ideas and ways of knowing; challenges of athletic and extracurricular endeavor. They experience the joy of discovery as they complete their odyssey into a world that awaits—and truly needs—their talents, curiosity, confidence and willingness to lead. We invite you, like these students, to explore all that Princeton Day School has to offer.
Paul J. Stellato Head of School
Our Mission
Princeton Day School nurtures the mind, the body, and the character of each student.
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Overview A WORLD OF POSSIBILITIES: Princeton Day School
students explore our organic garden and campus ponds; they meet authors, policy makers, and visiting artists; in later years, they choose courses that could be found at a great liberal arts college. Students take to the stage in Broadway-caliber plays, travel the globe through international exchanges, and compete as members of 74 interscholastic teams in 24 sports—from lacrosse to fencing to ice hockey. AN EXPECTATION OF EXCELLENCE: The atmosphere
at Princeton Day School is one of community, filled with warmth and support—and consistently high standards. Whether a second grader is revising a story or a senior is completing a lab, the expectation is that the work will be his or her best. The result is a culture of achievement in which young people show themselves capable of amazing things.
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Upper School HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM The rigorous curriculum offers breadth, depth, and many choices, allowing students to individualize their education and graduate with a unique transcript of achievements. INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION: With small class sizes and a student-to-teacher ratio of approximately 8:1, a
Princeton Day School education offers an exceptional degree of individual attention and support. Faculty members across the School are extremely well-qualified; seventy-four percent hold advanced degrees. ADVANCED CURRICULUM: Princeton Day School offers courses that allow even the most high-achieving
students to pursue their interests to the fullest. These range from two math courses beyond BC Calculus to 18 Advanced Placement courses, including Art History, Latin, Physics, and Statistics. In addition, students have the opportunity to take classes at Princeton University. THE STEAM INITIATIVE: An ambitious new STEAM initiative at PDS includes a revitalized interdisciplinary
curriculum with courses in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics as well as a new STEAM facility. All students will acquire a baseline of literacy in STEAM disciplines so they can be engaged, informed participants in a 21st century world increasingly defined by questions at the intersection of science, math, technology, and society.
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THE 9TH GRADE CORE CURRICULUM: A common, foundational experience
for all 9th graders, these core courses emphasize the enduring relevance of the liberal arts and traditional academic disciplines while also exploring connections through interdisciplinary studies. Including a 9th grade STEAMinar and a World History and World Religions course, these classes prepare students for an interconnected world and instill key academic skills and mindsets. DISTINGUISHED VISITORS: Programs such as Pioneers in Science, the
Rothrock Lecture Series, the Moll Community Service Lecture series, and the Imagine the Possibilities program (supported by the John D. Wallace, Jr. ’78 Memorial Guest Artist Series Fund) bring a steady stream of inspiring guests to Princeton Day School to interact with students and faculty. Recent visitors include author Ben Mezrich ’87, scholar Dr. Cornel West P’18, Professor of Animal Science Dr. Temple Grandin, Dr. Deane Marchbein of Doctors Without Borders, and author Jeffrey Eugenides P’17. GLOBAL STUDIES PROGRAM: An evolving variety of programs allows our
students to experience learning environments far from Princeton—including the School Year Abroad (SYA) programs, Chewonki Semester School, Semester at High Mountain Institute School, School for Ethics and Global Leadership, the Conserve School, as well as school-sponsored travel to China, India, the United Kingdom, Italy, and France. Princeton Day School also hosts a foreign exchange student each year.
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RECENT AWARDS IN THE ARTS • Outstanding Achievement in Pushing the Envelope in Academic Theatre, New Jersey Theatre Awards, 2017 • Outstanding Acting Ensemble, New Jersey Theatre Awards: 2013, 2015, 2016 • Outstanding Musical Production, Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards, 2014 • Educational Impact Award, Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards, 2014 • Outstanding High School Theatre Program, Northeast Region, Stage Directions Magazine, 2014 • Scholastic Art & Writing Regional Awards: More than 150 Awards in 2016 and 2017
Students have the opportunity to travel with the Performing Arts Department to the annual Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, to perform an original work. ARCHITECTURE: With a selection of more than a half-
dozen elective courses, students have the opportunity to explore architectural concepts in depth and create ambitious original works, all in a dedicated space that emulates a professional architectural design studio. Over the past five years, graduates from the PDS Architecture Program have been accepted into top college architecture and engineering programs based on their portfolio, including Cornell, Washington University, Carnegie Mellon, Notre Dame, and Tulane. PRINCETON DAY SCHOOL • 6
RECENT HONORS IN ATHLETICS
ATHLETIC TEAMS
• Boys Lacrosse: Mercer County and NJISAA Prep State Champions • Girls Soccer: Mercer County and NJISAA Prep State Champions • Boys Soccer: NJISAA Prep State Champions • Girls Lacrosse: NJISAA Prep State Champions • Field Hockey: NJISAA Prep State Champions • Boys Ice Hockey: NJISAA Prep State Champions • Fencing: NJISAA Prep State Champions • Boys Tennis: NJISAA Prep State Champions • Girls Tennis: NJISAA Prep State Champions
Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Fencing, Field Hockey, Figure Skating, Football, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Squash, Tennis, Track & Field, Volleyball
COLLEGES ATTENDED BY RECRUITED ATHLETES OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS Amherst College, Bard College,
Boston College, Boston University, Bowdoin College, Brown University, Bryant University, Colby College, Connecticut College, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Dickinson College, Duke University, Emory University, Franklin and Marshall College, Gettysburg College, Goucher College, Hamilton College, Harvard University, Howard College, Kenyon College, Lehigh University, Long Island University, Middlebury College, Massachusettes Institute of Technology, Muhlenburg College, New York University, Oberlin College, Princeton University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Skidmore College, Swarthmore College, The George Washington University, Tufts University, University of Chicago, University of Miami, University of Notre Dame, University of Pennsylvania, Vassar College, Villanova University, Wake Forest, Washington and Lee University, and Williams College • 7
STUDENT LIFE A COMMUNITY OF LEADERS: Princeton Day School is a place of close connections and a community in
which you can find your place. With nearly 40 student clubs and affinity groups representing a wide variety of interests, including the EnAct (Environmental Action) Club and Black-Latino Student Union, there are countless options for our students to pursue their passions. In addition, there are 20 clubs in which students are selected or apply for membership, including the Mock Trial Team, Model UN, The Spokesman (student newspaper), the Science Olympiad Team, and Student Ambassadors.
PEER LEADERSHIP: In the Peer Group and Bridges
programs, a group of selected seniors mentors the entire 7th and 9th grade classes. COMMUNITY COUNCIL: The student governing
body of the Upper School. PEER TUTORING: Staffed by hand-selected juniors
and seniors, the Writing Center and the SiMS (Success in Math and Science) Center are available to all Upper School students.
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RECENT ACCEPTANCE TOTALS AT SELECT COLLEGES
Bard College: 17 Barnard College: 8 Bates College: 7 Boston College: 20 Boston University: 46 Bowdoin College: 9 Brandeis U5niversity: 11 Brown University: 13 Bryn Mawr College: 9 Bucknell University: 30 University of California, Berkeley: 6 Carleton College: 4 Carnegie Mellon University: 15 University of Chicago: 15 Colby College: 14 Colgate University: 8 Colorado College: 6 Columbia University: 9 Connecticut College: 26 Cornell University: 13 Dartmouth College: 9
Dickinson College: 29 Duke University: 15 Elon University: 20 Emory University: 13 Franklin & Marshall College: 31 The George Washington University: 24 Georgetown University: 15 Gettysburg College: 20 Hamilton College: 17 Harvard University: 3 Howard University: 8 Ithaca College: 17 Johns Hopkins University: 22 Kenyon College: 15 Lafayette College: 29 Lehigh University: 36 Massachusetts Institute of Technology: 3 McGill University: 7 University of Miami: 28 University of Michigan: 18
Middlebury College: 9 New York University: 56 Northeastern University: 30 Northwestern University: 9 University of Notre Dame: 7 Oberlin College: 11 University of Pennsylvania: 11 Princeton University: 22 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: 13 University of Richmond: 17 Skidmore College: 27 University of Southern California: 17 Stanford University: 6 Syracuse University: 28 Trinity College: 27 Tufts University: 25 Tulane University: 25 Union College: 12 Vanderbilt University: 5 Vassar College: 9 Villanova University: 40 University of Virginia: 14 Wake Forest University: 17 Washington University, St. Louis: 25 Wesleyan University: 8 College of William and Mary: 12 Yale University: 8
COLLEGE PREPARATION: The College Counseling Office offers an outstanding set of resources and services to
help students identify a list of schools that will meet their individual needs. The College Counseling Office provides: • Individual meetings with students and families (open to all Upper School families) • A weekly college seminar class for juniors and seniors, covering all aspects of the college admissions process • Several programs to guide parents through the college search and application process (for parents of students in 7th through 12th grade)
• Expertise from three college counselors, all of whom have worked in selective college admissions offices and have collectively visited more than 200 colleges • Guidance in the athletic recruiting process • Visits from admissions representatives from colleges and universities around the country and around the world •• 99
Middle School HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM With a devoted and highly experienced faculty, the Middle School is a dynamic and vibrant place filled with variety and opportunities to make meaningful connections. MINI-COURSE WEEK: Each winter for one week, Middle School students take a step
back from their regular coursework and embark on fascinating learning adventures by taking mini-courses with titles like New York, New York, Solar Engineering & Service, Gettysburg, Chocolate Immersion, and Stop-Motion Movie. It’s a oneweek course of focused, experiential study, in which students discover how to learn across disciplines and grapple with complex, real-world issues. DESTINATIONS AND CONNECTIONS: A rich variety of excursions beyond campus,
ranging from a visit to Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City to the Penn Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Philadelphia, adds depth and realism to the lessons of Middle School. The annual eighth grade class trip to Echo Hill is a highly-anticipated event where students learn about environmental issues and sustainability. THE DaVINCI PROGRAM: A new and innovative program with courses on a wide
range of subjects, including robotics, sustainability, coding, and service learning, that aims to engage students as the captains of their own learning. Each Middle School student will take courses of their choosing in which they take risks, explore individual passions, develop new interests, and use multiple disciplines to solve problems and create original solutions.
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The Middle School at Princeton Day School is a safe and supportive environment where each student is valued, celebrated, and known.
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STUDENT LIFE
ATHLETIC TEAMS
FOCUS SPEECHES: Each week two or three eighth graders deliver
Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Fencing, Field Hockey, Figure Skating, Football, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Squash, Tennis, Track & Field, Volleyball
a speech in front of the entire Middle School about an important personal experience. They work carefully with their advisors to prepare and deliver poised and often moving speeches. From fifth grade on, students know that one day they’ll have their turn. EIGHTH GRADE MUSICAL: Each spring the eighth grade stages a
musical—the entire eighth grade. Many students take to the stage while others staff the stage crew and tech booth. Whether the show is The Lion King, Peter Pan, The Sound of Music, or Happy Days, the result is an impressive example of both stagecraft and esprit de corps. ADVISORY PROGRAM: Middle School students are all part of
small advisory groups. Each faculty member advisor sees his or her students everyday, and also meets with them each week in advising sessions. Advisors know their advisees well, following their progress in school and daily life. They are a source of guidance and support, and an excellent resource for parents.
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Lower School students pose questions and collaborate, turning their classrooms into deserts and rain forests, exploring the organic garden, and reading and discussing inspiring books — always on a journey to learn and discover more about themselves and the world around them.
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Lower School HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM At Princeton Day School, the overarching goal is to teach the whole child; lessons in social and emotional development are combined with a rigorous academic program. PURPOSEFUL INTERDISCIPLINARY LEARNING: To make learning meaningful, lessons in the Lower School
connect ideas with one another, with the real world, and with students’ lives. When students learn about birds in 1st grade, they not only study the physical features of the bird, they create a 3D model of their own; they learn bird calls and create a spectrogram; they create bird feeders for the campus; and eventually the students incubate and watch new chicks hatch in their classrooms. Each complementary activity deepens understanding, making the subject far more relevant and impactful.
FOCUSING ON TECHNOLOGY AND CREATIVITY: Increasing competence and
practice in using the tools of technology are essential elements of learning in the 21st century. The Lower School classroom teachers, librarian, and technology coordinator work together to design and adapt the classroom curriculum in new and innovative ways, using best practices in technology for education. Our classes blog, Skype, code, and program, all the while learning key digital citizenship skills. A 1:1 iPad program as well as Apple desktop and laptop computers are the primary tools used. • 15
STUDENT LIFE IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES: Nationally renowned writers, poets, and illustrators,
including Newbery and Caldecott prize-winners, come to campus each year to share their insights with students through hands-on small group workshops and assemblies. Lower School students learn about the guest artist weeks in advance of the visit, ensuring a level of understanding and preparation that enriches the experience for all. THE OPERETTA: This highly anticipated annual show brings together an original
story, borrowed pop and Broadway melodies, and as many starring roles as there are children. It is a production where each and every 4th grade student has the opportunity to shine. CHESS: Princeton Day School offers Lower School students the opportunity to learn deep concentration, as
well as how to think spatially, strategically, and sequentially through chess courses. Chess is also offered as an after school activity in the older grades. 4TH GRADE LEADERS: Each year, our 4th grade students rotate through four leadership classes. Whether
students are leading an assembly, teaching our community how to recycle, or spearheading a service learning initiative, they become confident public speakers, as well as role models for the Lower School community.
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At a Glance Princeton Day School is an independent, coeducational day school for students in grades PreK through twelve based in Princeton, New Jersey. ENROLLMENT: Princeton Day School enrolls approximately 950 students. FACULTY: 135 faculty members; 70% with advanced degrees CLASS SIZES: Lower School: 12-16; Middle School: 14-16; Upper School: 8-16 CURRICULUM: A rich and rigorous college preparatory program grounded in the liberal arts, math, and
sciences for academically talented and motivated students. CAMPUS: Princeton Day School’s 106-acre campus is located on a hill, just two miles from the center of
Princeton, and includes extensive athletics fields, an organic garden and outdoor classroom, tennis courts, an indoor ice rink, and the historic Georgian brick building, Colross, which was erected in 1799 and moved to campus in 1929. ATHLETICS: Our athletic program, which consists of 24 sports and more than 74 teams, 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 athletic participation and physical fitness. FINANCIAL AID: Approximately $5 million of Financial Aid is awarded to 25% of students. Please see
www.pds.org for current tuition, fees, and more information about Financial Aid. VISITING CAMPUS: Tours and interviews are offered throughout the year and visitors are always warmly
welcomed. Please contact the Admission Office to schedule your visit.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
To learn more about Princeton Day School and the admission process, please visit us at www.pds.org, contact us via email at admissions@pds.org, or call the Admission Office at 609-924-6700 x1200.
Our students leave Princeton Day School well equipped for college and beyond: prepared to act knowledgeably, to lead thoughtfully, to share generously, and to contribute meaningfully. PRINCETON DAY SCHOOL • 20
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www.pds.org PRINCETON DAY SCHOOL 650 Great Road Princeton, NJ 08540
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Photos: Michael Branscom, David Bremer, Christine Cantera, Nancy Erickson, Matt Pilsner
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