Name: Playground Build Day
Start: 2026-05-22T10:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-05-22T15:00:00-04:00
Location: Zena Democratic School

February 2026
Valentine’s Ball

February 13 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

A fancy dance party for students, staff, parents, friends, and alumni
No School – February Break

February 16 - February 20

School is closed for February Break
March 2026
Open House

March 21 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Zena Democratic School 84 Zena Road, Kingston, NY

ZDS Open Houses are the best way to learn more about the school. Students, parents, alumni, and staff members will be in attendance to give tours of the campus, discuss the school, and answer questions. Panel discussion at 2:00pm. RSVP >
No School – Spring Break

March 30 - April 6

School Closed for Spring Break
April 2026
Open House

April 18 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Zena Democratic School 84 Zena Road, Kingston, NY

ZDS Open Houses are the best way to learn more about the school. Students, parents, alumni, and staff members will be in attendance to give tours of the campus, discuss the school, and answer questions. Panel discussion at 2:00pm. RSVP >
May 2026
Car Wash

May 1 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Zena Democratic School 84 Zena Road, Kingston, NY

Imagine this, the outside of your car is filthy and you have no desire to clean it, so instead you drive to the school to pick up your child. When you arrive, smiling kids serve you refreshments through your car window. And then Luca, Autumn Sky and Miette (and some special guests) scrub your car […]
ZDS Theater Cooperative Showcase

May 2 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Zena Democratic School 84 Zena Road, Kingston, NY

The Theater Cooperative has been hard at work this spring and can't wait to share what they have been working on with Trine, ZDS parent and director! They will delight you with a showcase of monologues, scenes, one acts, and songs! Tickets are $10 at the "door" - show is outside on the ZDS stage. […]

$10
Trail Work Day

May 6 @ 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Zena Democratic School 84 Zena Road, Kingston, NY

Help us maintain the trails that run through our beautiful wooded campus!
Open House

May 16 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Zena Democratic School 84 Zena Road, Kingston, NY

ZDS Open Houses are the best way to learn more about the school. Students, parents, alumni, and staff members will be in attendance to give tours of the campus, discuss the school, and answer questions. Panel discussion at 2:00pm. RSVP >
Playground Build Day

May 22 @ 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Zena Democratic School 84 Zena Road, Kingston, NY

Join us as we maintain and add to our beloved playground!

February 2026

Valentine’s Ball

No School – February Break

March 2026

Open House

No School – Spring Break

April 2026

Open House

May 2026

Car Wash

ZDS Theater Cooperative Showcase

Trail Work Day

Open House

Playground Build Day

Parents’ experience of the school is a crucial factor in determining their childrens’ experience of the school. Children of parents who work hard to understand our philosophy, communicate with staff, attend events, and connect with the community usually get the most out of our program.

Students may receive a diploma if they elect to undergo our internal diploma process.

Every student and staff at Zena Democratic School is assigned a cleaning job by the Physical Plant Clerk.

At Zena Democratic School, the jobs of administration and maintenance are divided into roles called Clerkships;

At Zena Democratic School, a Cooperative (coop) is a group of like-minded students and staff who organize around a common interest, like music, art, or sports.

Screens are allowed at school, with restrictions.

Each student aged 13+ is automatically enrolled in our High School Advisor Program;

Age-mixing is one of the most potent developmental experiences at Zena Democratic School.

At Zena Democratic School, rule infractions and interpersonal conflicts are resolved using sophisticated restorative justice tools.

Zena Democratic School is located on a parcel of 67 wooded acres in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains in the Hudson Valley region of New York State.

Zena Democratic School is a direct democracy; each student and member of the staff has an equal vote in managing all aspects of the school’s operation.