Sleepy Hollow

As educators, my husband and I know what to look for in terms of "style versus substance" of schools that claim to be able to focus on academics, social emotional learning, diversity, inclusion, equity, mindfulness, kindness and respect. We are blown away at how exceptional SD is at providing all of these things for our daughter. My husband was literally in tears at the back to school night after hearing about the details and intentionality around the lesson plans and approach to literacy and math, as well as the social and emotional aspects of learning in and out of the classroom. The teachers are masters and know what they are doing, and they are provided with the resources and professional development to provide an excellent research-based curriculum to the students. I've worked at many independent schools for more than a decade and SD stands out as one of the best schools that I've encountered in my history as an educator. We are so grateful that our daughter has SD!

Before you rely on the overwhelmingly positive reviews you see for San Domenico School on social media and review platforms, I urge you to consider the following: In my experience, the school's administration actively solicits positive reviews from families through their newsletters and targeted outreach. More specifically, parent "insiders"those who sit on school committees, the FA and the board of trustees are regularly encouraged and, in my opinion, pressured to post favorable reviews online.The result? A curated landscape of 5-star ratings that, in my view, does not reflect the authentic, unfiltered experiences of the broader school community. These reviews are largely generated by a select group of individuals with close ties to the administration people who are asked to paint the school in the most favorable light possible. When a school orchestrates its own praise rather than earning it organically, it raises serious questions about what is truly going on behind the scenes.

Very pleased with with our enrollment at this school. Very supportive staff and a beautiful campus.