The Ridgefield Academy and Landmark Preschool community celebrates childhood, pursues excellence, and cultivates kindness Our educational program is intellectually inspiring, and we foster joyful learning and mutual respect in all that we do We empower each student to rise to their authentic self, preparing confident graduates who shape their future with ingenuity and integrity.
ThreeCampuses,OneCommunity
Ridgefield Academy/Landmark Preschool is a preschoolGrade 8 institution with three campuses comprising our school community The Ridgefield campus is home to Landmark Preschool (ages 2-5) and Ridgefield Academy (kindergartenGrade 8). Landmark Preschool also offers a full-day program in Westport, CT and a half-day program in Bedford, NY
EducationalProgram
Students are immediately welcomed into a connected school community when they begin their RA/LP journey RA/LP offers a comprehensive educational program integrating traditional subjects such as math, science, language arts, and world languages with co-curriculars, such as music, drama, visual/digital arts, and athletics Treating others with kindness and mutual respect is valued within the school culture and curriculum Dedicated faculty, along with schoolwide programs, actively teach students how to be a good friend, how to act as a role model for younger students, and how to create positive change within their community As a school intentionally designed to serve preschool - Grade 8 students, RA/LP builds a strong foundation that prepares students to enter high school as capable learners, confident leaders, and authentic community builders
AccreditationandAffiliation
CAIS: Connecticut Association of Independent Schools
NAIS: National Association of Independent Schools
NAEYC: National Association for the Education of Young Children
Diversity,Equity,Inclusion,and Belonging
At Ridgefield Academy and Landmark Preschool, we celebrate the diversity of our school community, as well as the regional and global communities beyond our campus. We prepare students to navigate a changing world with agility and to understand their responsibility to foster connections with people of different cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives
Our community provides a place for individuals to be safe as their authentic selves, to have a voice, and to be valued for whom they are Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging must exist as natural components of our overall educational program, cultivating a community rooted in mutual respect and kindness.
We are committed to intentionally building and advancing an equitable and just community – students, their families, faculty, staff, and trustees – that models the respect and individuality that we want to see in the society around us. By working toward being fully inclusive, we strengthen our ties to each other and model ethical scholarship, leadership, and global citizenship
History
Founded in Georgetown, CT in 1975, Ridgefield Academy relocated to Ridgefield in 2000 and purchased the 42-acre property in 2005 An early learning campus in Westport opened in 1996, and Landmark Preschool was founded on the Ridgefield campus in 2003 Landmark Preschool expanded into Bedford, NY in 2015.
Enrollment
Ridgefield: 311
Westport: 186
Bedford: 78
Total enrollment: 575 students
Location: 451 from Connecticut; 124 from New York
AverageClassSize
Preschool: Typical class sizes range from 8-16 students; student-faculty ratio is 4-to-1 for 2s, 6-to-1 for 3s, and 7to-1 for 4s/Fundamentals
Lower School: Typical class size of 12-15 students; maximum student-faculty ratio of 9-to-1
Middle School: Typical class size of 12-15 students
Upper School: Typical class size of 12-15 students
CampusFacilities
Ridgefield Campus:
42 scenic acres
3 playgrounds: preschool playground, Outdoor Campus
Center, and Middle and Upper School playground
Hope Hall
Athletic facilities, including a turf field, gymnasium, and practice field
Turner Hall theater
Organic garden
Library and media arts center
Kitchen lab
3 science labs
Landmark Preschool's Westport and Bedford campuses are equipped with age-appropriate playgrounds, flex spaces, open and spacious classrooms, and technology, art, and music resources that meet the needs of preschool students
Programs
Service Learning Program
RA/LP's combines service opportunities with classroom lessons and advisory programs in order to teach civic responsibility, strengthen our school and neighboring communities, and enrich academic learning.
Kindergarten/Grade 8 Buddy Program
Each Grade 8 student is paired with a kindergarten buddy While meeting often over the course of the year, buddies develop special bonds and contribute to our connected school community.
Athletics
Grades 6-8 students play a competitive sport each season, Sports include: field hockey, cross-country, soccer, volleyball, basketball, dance, fencing, fitness, yoga, softball, baseball, lacrosse, and cross-country. Some teams compete against other independent schools in the Fairchester Athletic Association
High School Placement Program
RA commits to a high school placement process that finds the right fit for every eighth grader. The Head of School and Upper School Division Head lead an individualized process for each student, which includes school research, learning how to interview, and frequent parent and student meetings
Workshops
RA/LP students participate in a variety of hands-on experiences each year, including team building activities, leadership training, and social-emotional workshops taught by field experts and the school counselor.
RA/LP @ Home Learning
When necessary and appropriate, RA/LP offers remote learning opportunities to meet families' needs
Before and After Care, Clubs, and Summer Programs
RA/LP offers a wide variety of programs outside of school, including before and after care, enrichment clubs, and summer programs