Name: No School – Thanksgiving Break
Start: 2024-11-27T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2024-11-29T23:59:59-05:00

September 2024
First Day of School

September 9, 2024 @ 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

First Day of School!
Ice Cream Social

September 13, 2024 @ 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Zena Democratic School 84 Zena Road, Kingston, NY

Families are invited to join us for fun with new and old friends & lots of ice cream!
Open House

September 21, 2024 @ 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. Reservations can be made on the Open House Event Page
Fall Potluck

September 27, 2024 @ 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Zena Democratic School 84 Zena Road, Kingston, NY

A family friendly event for feasting, gathering around the campfire, and enjoying eachothers company!
October 2024
No School – Rosh Hashanah

October 3, 2024

No School - Rosh Hashanah
No School – Indigenous People’s Day

October 14, 2024

No School - Indigenous People's Day
Open House

October 19, 2024 @ 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. Reservations can be made on the Open House Event page
November 2024
No School – Election Day

November 5, 2024

No School - Election Day
No School – Veteran’s Day

November 11, 2024

No School - Veteran's Day
No School – Thanksgiving Break

November 27, 2024 - November 29, 2024

No School - Thanksgiving Break

September 2024

First Day of School

Ice Cream Social

Open House

Fall Potluck

October 2024

No School – Rosh Hashanah

No School – Indigenous People’s Day

Open House

November 2024

No School – Election Day

No School – Veteran’s Day

No School – Thanksgiving Break

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.