Student-Centered Holistic Development

Conducts external curriculum reviews across K–12 for academic departments including Drama, Math, Music, Science, and Technology. Engages in ongoing academic improvement through curriculum revision and evaluation.

Supports more than 50 student-led clubs and offers 18 summer programs that extend learning and engagement beyond the academic year. These programs foster leadership, collaboration, and intellectual exploration.

Implements K–12 wellness, advisory, and DEIA programs with dedicated staffing and time in the academic schedule. Includes student-led groups such as the Student Diversity Leadership Council, identity-based affinity groups, and antiracism working groups involving students, parents, faculty, and trustees. Also supports a Staff and Teachers of Color (STOC) group and a Parent Equity Committee.

Organizes annual traditions such as Mountain Day, which includes outdoor excursions to Bear Mountain, and cultural celebrations like the Lunar New Year, where students perform Mandarin plays. Regular assemblies and performances in the Performance Hall strengthen community bonds.

Provides experiential education through a roof garden program that teaches plant life cycles and sustainability. Offers interdisciplinary courses such as "Measure, Cut and Code" in the Idea Kitchen, integrating art, technology, and science through project-based learning.

Revises and formalizes faculty and staff hiring, professional development, evaluation, and growth programs to support recruitment and retention. These capacity-building efforts strengthen the school’s educational foundation.

Provides robust music, visual art, drama, and dance programs, including three orchestras, 20 annual mainstage and dance performances, and individual instrument distribution starting in Class III. Students engage in performance opportunities such as concerts, choral instruction, and student-developed dance productions in ballet and modern dance.

Conducts regular educational excursions, including weekly visits to cultural institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art for art history students and kindergarten trips to city green markets to support sustainability and nutrition projects.

Awards $10.4 million in financial aid annually to support student access and enrollment. This grantmaking activity ensures socioeconomic diversity and affordability for families across New York City.

Offers a comprehensive academic program for girls from Kindergarten through Class XII, currently enrolling 794 students from 120 different ZIP codes. The curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, creativity, and character development, with instruction across core disciplines including English, history, math, science, modern languages, classics, art, drama, and music.

Operates a gracious dining program in which all Lower School students participate, fostering responsibility, etiquette, and community care through shared meals.

Operates 14 varsity sports teams and provides physical education classes with a no-cut policy for students starting in Class V. The athletic program supports student participation and development in sports and physical wellness.

Operated the African Dream Camp from 2005 to 2011, delivering counseling and life skills education to 6,000 Liberian children through two-week sessions multiple times per year.

Offers vocational skills training to parents and community members, with approximately 560 currently enrolled (500 women and 60 men), and over 1,500 women trained since 2017. Graduated 350 adults in seven disciplines, equipping them with job-market-relevant skills.

Runs the Children's Health Clinic at African Dream Academy, providing free healthcare services to students, staff, and the surrounding community. The clinic opened in April 2016.

Provides full-time, tuition-free education from nursery through 12th grade to 1,500 students at two campuses in Paynesville, Monrovia, Liberia. The school was established in 2012 and expanded incrementally to include all grades, graduating its first senior class in 2022.

Hosts annual fundraising events including benefit concerts, movie screenings, seasonal shopping events, and campaigns such as the Dream Holiday Red Bag Campaign to support school operations and mission.

Supplies all enrolled students with daily meals, free healthcare through an on-site clinic, clean water, school uniforms, transportation, learning materials, and access to facilities including libraries, computer labs, and science labs.