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Open House
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Open House
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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

Cells Unbound: a Grade 7 Science Project

Step into the microscopic world! Our Grade 7 scientists at The Harley School took on the challenge of bringing cellular biology to life. From intricate 3D models to creative material choices, see how our students visualized the building blocks of life through this experiential science project.

Harley's NASA Hunch Program

Learn about the NASA HUNCH program at The Harley School, where students design and build solutions for life on the International Space Station. From the workshop to the launchpad, see how our students are making their mark on the cosmos—by applying creativity, hard science, and ingenuity.

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

Harley's Podcasts

Joy In Learning

The Harley Parley

Our Instagram Feed

HAC Volleyball: DIG FOR PINK Join us on Wednesday, October 14 at Allendale Columbia as HAC Volleyball hits the court for our annual Dig for Pink event! Help us reach our goal of $2,000 for the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester. Game ScheduleJV: 4:45 PM Varsity: 6:15 PM Raffle Baskets & Pricing We have over 30 gift baskets featuring items like Lululemon & Lush gift cards, spa products, Halloween/Fall goodies, Buffalo Bills gear, HAC apparel, and more! 1 Ticket: $3.00 2 Tickets: $5.00 5 Tickets: $10.00 12 Tickets: $20.00 30 Tickets: $40.00 Winners will be drawn during the second set of the Varsity match (you do not need to be present to win). Can't Attend But Still Want to Support? Take advantage of our Presale Offer: Get 1 ticket placed in every single basket for $40.00! Venmo: Scan the QR code on the flyer or send via Venmo (include your name and contact info). Players: You can also purchase directly through your favorite Varsity Volleyball player. Let's pack the gym in pink and reach our $2,000 goal for a great cause!
Students in one of our Primary classrooms (combined K and Grade 1) learned a seasonal poem called “Apples.” During small group literacy rotations, they visited the Poetry Center where they worked on putting the lines of the poem back together. As one student held up two different lines for consideration, the other checked against his copy of the poem to find the match. This activity builds visual discrimination of letters and words—even if they are not yet reading, they are looking at the text to find a match.
At Harley, bringing guest artists into our studios is about more than polished productions—it’s about deepening the artistic process. Currently, our Upper School cast of Pippin is rehearsing with performer and choreographer Nick Sanchez (Hamilton, Tarzan, Rent). Nick’s work with the students prioritizes intentional movement and student agency. By encouraging actors to take ownership of their movement and understand the "why" behind every beat, the choreography becomes an authentic extension of their performance.
Fairy house architecture, student-prepared dinners, and campfire songs. Grade 8 hit Camp Cory for a few days of hands-on creativity and camp life during Expedition Week. Highlights included building intricate natural fairy house structures with hand saws and mud, spending free time on the lakefront and courts, helping cook pasta for the group, and gathering around the fire for s'mores and music.
Navigating the waters together gave students a front-row seat to local ecology, physical challenge, and teamwork in one of New York’s most striking landscapes. It’s a signature Middle School experience designed to build confidence on the water and closer bonds off it.
Grade 10 spent their Expedition Week in the wilderness of the Allegheny mountains. From backcountry kayaking and backcountry cooking to trail navigation and late-night camp conversations, the trip challenged students to step away from daily distractions and rely on each other. Off-grid wilderness experiences like this are a core part of how Harley Upper Schoolers build resilience, self-reliance, and deep bonds that last long after they return to campus.
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