The Rivers School

The Rivers School is a coeducational, college preparatory day school for students in grades 6 through 12. At Rivers we take pride in the fact that we are not a “one size fits all” school. Our talented faculty is driven by the belief that each student is unique, and we focus our work on each student’s journey to find and to develop his or her unique attributes and passions. We offer a rigorous program in a caring, supportive community where each child is known, understood, and valued. We know that this approach propels our students to live happy, productive lives and we work to that end every single day.

“Excellence with Humanity” drives everything we do. From our comprehensive advisor program to diversity initiatives, from an innovative interdisciplinary curriculum to programs that enhance student leadership - The Rivers School prepares students for an ever-changing world.

Rivers challenges students to attain their highest levels of excellence in academics, arts, and athletics. We set high standards and expect students to participate actively in their learning. We cultivate a caring, respectful, and collaborative environment that encourages student performance, including demonstration of logical thought, informed and articulate voice, creative vision, and integrity. Rivers is dedicated to preparing its students for leadership in a world that needs their talents, imagination, intellect, and compassion.

Our school is a community that upholds the values expressed in the Rivers seal: “Integritas et Sedulitas.” We value responsibility, honesty, compassion, diversity, and respect, acknowledging that our actions have a profound impact on ourselves, on others, on the environment, and on the community as a whole. We acknowledge that the diligent pursuit of intellectual, creative, physical, and moral excellence is essential to one’s strength of character.

The Rivers School believes that excellence in education and social development requires a diverse, inclusive and socially responsible community. We seek students, trustees, faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds and provide opportunities for a broad range of experiences and viewpoints. As a community, we encourage students and adults to value themselves, celebrate differences, promote mutual respect, and participate with confidence and courage in a global society.

At Rivers you will establish lifelong friendships — with students and faculty — and will develop a thirst for lifelong learning. When the time comes, you will work closely with our highly respected and devoted college counselors, whose individualized attention results in excellent college choices for our graduates.

The Rivers Middle School brings together enthusiastic, caring teachers and a dynamic and collaborative atmosphere in its goal of educating early adolescents. With generally 120 students in grades 6, 7, and 8, the Middle School offers a personal, integrated, and exciting program, creating a community of learners in which young people feel comfortable taking intellectual risks and growing both as students and individuals.

The core group of Middle School teachers and administrators has spent years working with early adolescents and perfecting a program that best suits the age group. Early adolescents are just discovering how to move from concrete to formal thinking. They begin the middle school years learning through direct contact with ideas, events, and people as they transition into being more formal and creative thinkers able to visualize, conceptualize, hypothesize, reason, and deal in the abstract. Our program is designed to consider the many needs of this age group and is structured in a way to grant students a level of freedom to explore. This type of environment provides students with more opportunities for responsibility so they can be challenged in a rigorous environment while also learning through experience.

Middle School teachers value the partnership between home and school. Every sixth, seventh and eighth grader is assigned an advisor who will serve as a mentor and friend throughout their Middle School experience. Each multi-grade advisor group consists of one advisor and approximately eight students. Daily contact between advisors and advisees promotes trust and friendship. Agendas and activities within meeting times vary but include goal setting, portfolio organization, check-ins, thought-provoking conversations about world and community events, and other group-building initiatives.