Testimonials

HVSS Was The Right Choice

As the mother of a HVSS “lifer” who started school there at age 6 and left at age 17 when he felt ready to step out into the world, my […]

We Love HVSS!

“We were long time homeschoolers and when we were looking for the next chapter in our children’s educational journey the only school that really fit our unstructured, variable, and free […]

Emily Orr’s Thesis

The last eleven years. For the last decade and one year, I’ve been watching students grow up, and have been surrounded by people who have watched me develop over the […]

Alumni Interview with Colin Thrapp

What have you been up to since graduation? Well during my last year at school I worked at Outdated Cafe in Kingston one day per week. I started there doing […]

Vanessa Testimonial

Vanessa talks about the school and the impact it has on her family and kids.

Nami Bates

“I went to the Hudson Valley Sudbury School for 2 years, and let me tell you those were the best 2 years of my high school life. Sudbury is such […]

I am (not) Autism

When I was 15, I dropped out of school. It was more of a passive decision than an active one. I just decided I was sick of sitting in a […]

James Davis – Director of Program and Marketing for Vanderkamp

Note: 20+ students, 3 staff members and some parents went on an overnight field trip to Vanderkamp Center – A Christian Retreat and Summer Camp. The following testimonial is from the […]

Kiran

[Ed. Kiran graduated from HVSS in 2015.] From the time he was an infant, my son Kiran (now age 6) has had issues around feeling safe. Cautious, perceptive, and highly […]

HVSS Was The Right Choice

We Love HVSS!

Emily Orr’s Thesis

Alumni Interview with Colin Thrapp

Vanessa Testimonial

Nami Bates

I am (not) Autism

James Davis – Director of Program and Marketing for Vanderkamp

Kiran

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.