Lawrence Woodmere Academy

Lawrence Woodmere Academy is a co-educational Preschool – 12th grade school averaging of 250 students enrolled each year with approximately 50 faculty members comprised of three divisions: Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools. The Lower School includes a Preschool program for 3 and 4 year olds, as well as kindergarten through grade four. The Middle School program includes grades five through eight. The Upper School program includes grades nine through twelve, and includes a course of study for students to earn a Global Scholars Certificate, the first such program on Long Island.

Lawrence Woodmere Academy was founded in 1912, as Woodmere Academy, and merged in 1990 with Lawrence Country Day School. The school now sits on a beautiful seven-acre campus, located only 17 miles from Pennsylvania Station, and offers state-of-the-art indoor facilities, including a historic auditorium and a modern library/technology center. Our guiding principles are based on our culturally-diverse student body and our dedication to each and every student’s individual strengths and learning differences.

As the only non-sectarian independent school on the south shore of Long Island, we are extremely proud of our 106 year history. Throughout these many decades, we have always remained focused on the relationship between educating both the mind and the heart. Our academic program is defined by college preparatory goals. In our curriculum you will observe both the depth and the breath of what is necessary to graduate exceptionally well-educated young people who also understand the responsibilities of citizenship and high character; two qualities that we believe are crucial to their future success.

As our guiding principles describe, we are fully committed to our culturally diverse student body. At the core of this commitment is our focus on global education. We know that our students benefit from the global program of studies that we have developed. This signature program provides our students with the skills we feel are necessary to excel in a rapidly changing world.

In addition, our faculty works diligently to create a learning environment where developing empathy and understanding becomes as important as excelling academically. At Lawrence Woodmere Academy, we customize our teaching so that every student is challenged according to what they most need for success. Our 6:1 ratio of students to teachers makes this possible. There is a positive energy one can feel on our campus that flows from outstanding teaching and an engaged student body, fueled by the extraordinary support of parents and alumni. This synergy represents the very essence of a healthy and successful independent school.

Recent research from the National Association of Independent Schools has indicated that the vast majority of families across the country who choose independent school education, do so for one or more of these four reasons: to help their child overcome obstacles, to help fulfill their child’s potential in a values-aligned community, to help their child develop into a well-rounded person who will impact the world, and to help their child realize his or her special talents. At Lawrence Woodmere Academy we believe that our mission and guiding principles align with these goals and we are confident that we can create these outcomes for our families.

Lawrence Woodmere Academy is a premier college preparatory school for students, families and educators who embrace quality education with shared priorities, passions and commitment in an environment that values wisdom and nurtures personal, community and global responsibility.

At Lawrence Woodmere Academy, we do more than just state our commitment to the individual academic success of our students. We demonstrate it every day by structuring learning, supporting understanding, nurturing development and encouraging creativity.

Evidence of our commitment to academic excellence can be seen in the critical thinking and problem solving skills that are featured in every classroom experience — including Lower School, Middle School and Upper School. We have the resources to match opportunity with student talent and interest, so that all our students can find their true voice, expressed in a safe and secure environment.

The dedication of our outstanding faculty to ongoing professional development enables our academic program to be innovative, challenging and responsive to different learning styles. Our students are actively engaged in the pursuit of academic excellence, which culminates in a carefully designed college guidance program.

Learning through a global lens: why does that inform our daily lives at LWA? In an environment of exceptional diversity where students can develop and practice cultural fluency, we take to heart and mind our obligation to educate future citizens of our increasingly interconnected world. Our students cultivate their college and world-readiness with the knowledge, diplomacy skills and strength of character to understand and appreciate multiple perspectives. For the LWA students to be informed, action-oriented agents of change in the world and to develop the dispositions to do so: that is what inspires our approach to teaching, learning and being Lawrence Woodmere Academy.