Poughkeepsie Day School


Poughkeepsie Day School is an independent, progressive, coeducational school in the Mid-Hudson Valley serving students from a broad region of New York and Connecticut for PreKindergarten through 12th grade.

History

Founded in 1934, it was originally located at Hooker and South Grand Avenues in the city of Poughkeepsie where it began with 35 students and three faculty members. The school outgrew that facility and in 1963, it moved to custom built premises on the Vassar College campus at 39 New Hackensack Road, Poughkeepsie. The school outgrew that facility and in the 1990s acquired two buildings from IBM and moved to its current campus on Boardman Road.
The theater is named for school parent James Earl Jones, who funded construction and whose children attended the school. Pete Seeger, David Strathairn and Jack DeJohnette also had children or grandchildren who attended the school.
In April of 2020, the school announced that it would close in June after the completion of the current school year, due to financial concerns related to shrinking revenue. The announcement sparked an outpouring of support from alumni, parents, current and former teachers, and other committed stakeholders. A coalition of parents, teachers, and alumni is currently working to keep the school open and find a sustainable path forward.

School Mission

Poughkeepsie Day School offers a "progressive education that liberates the mind, ignites passion and purpose, and provides the world with the agile, resourceful, self-directed, community-oriented citizens it most needs".

Accreditation

Poughkeepsie Day School is accredited by NYSAIS and is a member of NAIS

Notable alumni