Indi

This is Indi, a singer and athletic pescatarian and reserved lover of white lions who is, according to those who would know, the low-key funniest person you’ve never met. Indi loves fidget toys, cozy-chic fashion, and obviously white lions (it’s a thing). Lately the Hudson Valley has been covered in ice, and Indi has been collecting good specimens and polishing them, creating “plates,” and then dropping them on “the hard ice” to watch them shatter. We are impressed by the bizarre originality of this activity 👏🏼

One of Indi’s favorite things to do at school is work at the school store, which she often does alongside her friends. On working in the store, Indi says “well, I like looking at food. I like working with food. I like buying food. Because, it’s delicious. And I like working in the store because it feels good to have responsibility.” Indi says she likes the school “because it’s so organized, and I like that you can choose what you want to do. No one is going to boss you around and tell you what to do.” She also noted that she loves knowing she has an equal vote and a voice in the community. Perhaps most importantly, Indi is a generous and beloved friend, and a member of a sweet trio of like-minded good eggs. She really appreciates being able to make friends of different ages (we do too!) One of her besties says, “Indi is so funny! She talks in funny voices and makes weird noises! When I think about her…I feel so happy. And I start laughing!” ✨

Indi, we feel so, so lucky to have you here, shattering ice, fantasizing about white lions, and making your friends laugh. We’re happy you feel valued and free and appreciate having real responsibility. We hope you’ll be around for many more years to come!

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.

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

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

Each student aged 14+ is automatically enrolled in our High School Advisor Program;

Screens are allowed at school, with restrictions.

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.

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

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

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

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.