Founded in 1917, The Harley School is a private, independent school in Rochester, NY offering a college preparatory program for approximately 450 students in Nursery through Grade 12.
When you set foot on the Harley campus, you immediately sense education is different here.
Our approach yields outstanding outcomes to be sure: the highest SAT scores in the region for the past five years, and college acceptances for our graduates at prestigious colleges and universities, including Harvard, MIT, McGill, and Kings College in London.
However, the most important part of our story isn’t results like these; it’s how our students are given the opportunity, the gift really, to be who they are: authentically and with the support of a caring community all around them.
In Their Own Words
“I love Harley. The Harley community’s devotion to progress, especially evident in our mission of diversity and inclusion, gives us unique potential as a school that can be a place welcoming to all. And, honestly, I am incredibly grateful for this community. Being who I am, as a queer and trans person, it is not an exaggeration to say that this school saved my life.”
—Kai DeJesus ’19; Undergraduate Student, Harvard College; Political Outreach Lead (MA), Brand New Congress
“There’s nothing I love more about Harley than our community. My teachers take time to talk with me or share things they think I’ll find interesting, and my classmates are always willing to help out if there is something I don’t understand. There’s plenty to love about Harley, especially the welcoming and supportive community—that’s why I’ve been here since Grade 1.”
—Luke H. ’25
Future Students
Our diverse learning community champions intellectual challenge and empathy, powered by students who act with care for themselves, each other, and the world.
Academic Programs
Harley fosters a culture of academic excellence where exploration, risk-taking, and intellectual curiosity fuel innovation and lifelong learning. (link to academic overview)
Culture & Community
Our vibrant learning environment fosters academic achievement, personal growth, a strong sense of community, and fun.
Innovative Student Projects
Grade 5: Wolf Tank Project
Wolf Tank is much like “Shark Tank,” a popular TV show that gives entreprenuers the opportunity to pitch their ideas to a panel of business people and investors. Middle School students in Grade 5 were given the opportunity to develop their own inventions—from prototype to pitch.
Grade 2: Twoville Post Office Project
Among a number of inventive, interactive projects, the Twoville Post Office, begun in 1982, is an annual student favorite. The goal? To give the students an enjoyable way to learn how to read, practice authentic writing, try new things, and hold roles of responsibility.
The Solenoid-Based, Midi-Playing Marble Metallophone
Two Upper Schoolers were inspired by The Wintergartan Marble Machine, which sends thousands of steel marbles around an enormously complex circuit to make music. Their version uses circuits, coding, 3D printed parts, and more to play any midi file song file, from Free Bird to Mary Had a Little Lamb.
Grade 3: Harlic Garlic Project
One annual tradition that ties Grade 3 students to the Microfarm is Harlic Garlic. Each year, Grade 3 students sell the garlic that they have grown the previous year (and harvested over the summer), and at the end of the fall, they plant another round of garlic for the next class.
Harley News
What parents want from Rochester private schools
The following is excerpted from the Rochester Business Journal What parents want from Rochester private schools By Caurie Putnam//October 1, 2025 Ryan Kimmett The Harley School Dr. Ryan Kimmet, Ed.D., is head of school at The Harley School, a private, independent...
From Paddle Shaping to Peace Songs: Harley Joins the Erie Canal Bicentennial
Nyaweh sgeno (I'm thankful you are well). For those who don't know me, I'm Trish Corcoran, and I teach Indigenous and Environmental Studies at The Harley School. For the past two years, our students have loved trying their hand at paddle shaping right here on campus,...
A Harley Alum Returns: Mark McGrain ’73 Visits Campus
We were thrilled to welcome back one of our own, Mark McGrain '73, a celebrated jazz composer, trombonist, and educator who recently visited campus to work with our Jazz Band. Mark has spent over 50 years as a journeyman musician, with the past 25 years in New Orleans...
A Trip to Remember: Harley’s Seniors Head to Atlanta
After years without a senior class trip, a beloved Harley tradition is back! This fall, the senior class will travel to Atlanta from October 8–10 for a unique, immersive learning experience focused on history, culture, and social connection. The destination is no...
Bringing Shakespeare to Life: A Middle School Banquet with Macbeth
Every year, Mrs. McKee's English class takes a unique approach to Act III, Scene IV of Macbeth—the infamous banquet scene. To truly immerse students in the drama and significance of the scene, Mrs. McKee transforms the classroom into a full-fledged banquet! This year,...
Harley Robotics Students Invited to NASA for Prototype Feedback
ROCHESTER, NY – June 25, 2025 – Three Harley School robotics students, Sol S., Charlie C., and Henry W., recently returned from NASA after presenting their lunar robot prototype. The students were invited to NASA to receive feedback from agency engineers on their...
