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Our Values

We’re a school like no other. Come explore.

Who We Are

A message from Kathryn Kaiser,
Transitional Head of School

At Harley, we envision a thriving environment in which we all become our truest and best selves. Our values, both in school and beyond, are community, academic excellence, joy in learning, wellness, and sustainability.

We believe children are innately curious about the world and joyfully engaged in it. We value the spirit of exploration and collaboration in their drive to solve problems, both big and small. Our faculty cultivate an environment of academic exploration, where taking risks, making mistakes, and engaging in constructive discourse are integral to intellectual growth. We encourage compassionate connection within a diverse community, where each individual is valued and supported to reach their full potential. 

We support the habits of physical and mental well-being through social-emotional learning (SEL), mindfulness, and athletics. Our priority is preparing the mind and body to allow for positive, interconnected impacts on one’s health and overall well-being. 

We advocate for a sustainable future—and believe sustainability encompasses the interdependence of the environment, the community, and the economy on both macro and micro levels. This essential framework drives curriculum and community decision-making in ways that allow us to care for the planet and each other.

Harley is a college-preparatory school, and we have an extraordinary record of college admissions. However, our goals also include ​​nurturing students’ strengths and helping them reach their full potential. 

The Harley program is highly personalized, which allows classes to be student-centered and inquiry-based, an approach which can’t be replicated in large sections or within the limitations of the Common Core. Harley’s breadth of educational opportunities provides an environment for innovation, creativity, and scholarly pursuits that set the stage for student contributions to the greater good while, as our motto states, they “Become What Thou Art.”

We invite you to learn more about us and our community.

Grandparent and Special Friends Day is a beloved annual  tradition at Harley

Leadership

The Head of School, Administration & Board of Trustees

The Head of School is supported by a dedicated administrative team. The board and administration work together to advance Harley’s mission, provide organizational oversight, and set policy.

Harley’s board of trustees provides strategic leadership by enlisting its members’ talents, expertise, and commitment to the school in areas of governance, finance, enrollment, diversity, and philanthropy.

Our Mission

Vision: We envision a thriving world in which we all become our truest and best selves.

Mission: We are a diverse, inclusive community of learners rooted in empathy, strengthened by challenge and exploration, and emboldened to act with care for each other and the world.

Values: Joy in Learning, Diverse Community, Academic Excellence, Mental and, Physical Wellness, Sustainability

Commitment to Diversity

The Harley School believes diversity enriches all groups or communities, and the individuals that are a part of them. Diversity of race, ethnicity, geographical origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, familial or economic status, etc., forms the fabric of our society. The Harley School seeks out students, families, and employees who value and contribute to the diversity of our institution and community.

Harley's Diversity Mission

In the Characteristics of a Harley Graduate, a faculty-driven aspirational document that guides our decision-making and vision, we say we  seek to cultivate A civic person…a pluralist (globally aware, tolerant, appreciative of difference); a respectful steward of community and  environment; and a compassionate individual who knows what it means to take care of another human being. A commitment to pluralism and  empathy, then, is integral to the mission and purpose of the school. We see a pluralistic and empathetic outlook as a core “outcome” for our  students. 

Toward that end, we seek to be a diverse community in which diversity in all its forms is cherished and freely explored. We do so in academic  contexts, choosing as readings and projects work that supports this goal; we do so in community contexts, cultivating mutual understanding  and respect among our students and a sense of responsibility to the broader community; we do so in social contexts, developing the skills of  empathy, appreciation, and collaborative problem-solving; we do so in admissions, financial aid, and hiring, as we invite underrepresented  populations to join our community; and we do so in all of our everyday decision-making. 

We further commit to regular self-assessment of our diversity mission and the effectiveness of our ongoing efforts to live up to these  aspirations.

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Acceptance of differences. Respect for others. Self-respect. These are the pillars of a Harley education. The following principles are taught and practiced from Nursery to graduation.

  • I have the right to have the respect of others. I have the responsibility to respect others.
  • I have the right to feel safe. I have the responsibility to help others feel safe.
  • I have the right to an atmosphere that promotes learning. I have the responsibility to promote learning through my preparation and participation.
  • I have the right to have my property respected. I have the responsibility to respect the property of others.
  • I have the right to expect the best of others. I have the responsibility to be my personal best.

Average SAT Score

Average Composite ACT Scores '20-'22

Sq. ft. Sustainable Living Building

Different Sports Teams

1317

Average SAT Score

29

Average Composite ACT Scores '20-'22

15000

Sq. ft. Sustainable Living Building

18

Different Sports Teams

More facts about Harley

Non-Discrimination Policy

The School admits students of any race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and national or ethnic origin to all of the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, staff hiring practices, and athletic or other School-administered programs.

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Explore our enrollment and application process.

Financial Assistance Opportunities

A Harley education is possible for your child.

The Harley School

1981 Clover Street
Rochester, NY 14618
(585) 442-1770

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©2023 The Harley School

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College Counseling

Harley’s Approach to College Counseling is highly individualized and student-centered. Students have direct access to college counselors throughout their Upper School experience, but really, each student is part of a team including faculty, administration, and staff. It’s our job to support each student and we want nothing more than to send students on to the next step of their journey at a right fit school for them. The student centered and driven process is wrapped in care, expertise, and professionalism.

We host college reps during times students are available (no need to miss a class) so they can make connections and learn more about potential schools. We also arrange campus visits for classes as field trips, host an alumni college day (where recent Upper School graduates return to share advice and answer questions), and help connect students with our international alumni network. In fact, representatives from schools all over the world actively seek opportunities to come to Harley and meet with our students!

Our college counselors are accredited and are part of national/global conversations on admission trends. They also attend and present at conferences across the country.

Beginning with our Grade 11 parent night, we offer informational sessions for parents, including one devoted just to financial aid. Our partnership with families is critical, as the college admissions world changes very quickly and having an expert to guide students and families through the process is essential.

View the downloadable College Counseling Guide

Clubs

“Club Rush” is an afternoon every fall in the Upper School when students have the chance to sign up for clubs for the year, and each year it is very different because new clubs are created based on student initiative and enthusiasm.

A few of this year’s choices: Sports Media, Social Action Club, Journalism Club, Feminism Club, Student of Color & Allies (SOCA), Gay-Straight Alliance, Tri M (music honor society), E-Sports Club, Euchre, Key Club (service), Animation Club, Dungeons & Dragons, Sustainability Club, Jewish Cultural Club, Astronomy Club, Biomimicry, and Beyond Soup (social justice/service).

Athletics

​Each and every year, students at The Harley School participate in HAC Athletics, and their success continues to be impressive, both as students and athletes. Our athletic program is an integral part of Harley, teaching student-athletes invaluable lessons about teamwork, time management, persistence, and competition.  Our program allows them to develop physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally as they represent their school on and off the field. They grow, mature, and work hard to be the best teammate they can, while creating lifelong memories with teammates who often remain friends for life. 

Helping our athletes to reach their potential are some of HAC’s best assets: our coaches. More often than not, they are drawn from the ranks of our faculty and  have a deep understanding of the personalities and abilities of the student-athletes on their teams.  

We strive to find the right balance of academics, exercise, and personal growth for everyone.  By offering a variety of sports at many different levels, all student-athletes find a sport they can be successful in. It is with great pride and pleasure that my team and I work to enrich the athletic lives of all our HAC student-athletes. Go Wolves! 

To learn more check out our athletics page.

Student Leadership

Our Upper School is filled with formal and informal opportunities for students to take on leadership roles. Whether following passions or learning new skills, student-driven opportunities take many shapes.

– Independent study: one trimester, full year, and multi-year projects have included automating our solar chimneys, coding handmade musical instruments, or developing a class on financial literacy for underserved high school students.

– Serving on student council

– STEM: Climate curriculum program, biomimicry program, NASA Hunch program

Clubs

“Club Rush” is an afternoon every fall in the Upper School when students have the chance to sign up for clubs for the year, and each year it is very different because new clubs are created based on student initiative and enthusiasm.

A few of this year’s choices: Sports Media, Social Action Club, Journalism Club, Feminism Club, Student of Color & Allies (SOCA), Gay-Straight Alliance, Tri M (music honor society), E-Sports Club, Euchre, Key Club (service), Animation Club, Dungeons & Dragons, Sustainability Club, Jewish Cultural Club, Astronomy Club, Biomimicry, and Beyond Soup (social justice/service).

Hospice

Unlike this class, death is not an elective. Although it is one of two universal human experiences, our culture often ignores, denies, or misconstrues the true nature of death and dying. What happens when we bear witness to this natural process in the cycle of life and develop our ability to be fully present with others when they need us more than ever? It has the potential to change us deeply and fundamentally while shining a brilliant light on the path of our own lives.

With the support of their classmates, teacher, and comfort care home communities, senior students are offered the chance to care for others who truly need their purposeful, non-judgmental attention. In the home-like setting of a comfort care home, opportunities for learning extend beyond a traditional classroom rubric and conventional methods of evaluation. In this course, students will certainly find tangible “learning outcomes” by studying the medical/physical processes associated with dying and the basic nursing assistant skills of comfort care. The ultimate goal, however, will always be rooted in true relationships and connection, which occurs only through empathy and compassion.

Learn more about the Hospice Program at Harley HERE.

Capstone/Independent Studies

This program utilizes environmentally-focused approaches to education and hands-on learning in order to foster the next generation of leaders through a lens of sustainability and problem-solving.

Food & Farm: These year-long and trimester-long classes are held outside as much as possible, allowing students to become leaders in our various growing spaces. They cover environmental justice issues as well as hands-on work such as planning and overseeing planting, harvesting, and preparation of the gardens.

Past year-long focus projects have included: Creating a native plant shade garden in the Wild Wood area, redesigning our hydroponic system, overhauling Harley’s high tunnel, and improving the irrigation system for the MicroFarm.

Culinary Arts: These classes have a two-fold purpose: to give students practical skills in cooking and the science behind different techniques in the kitchen, learning about food justice, food sourcing, labor topics, and sustainability.

Past topics have included: Examining a plant-based diet, looking at the carbon footprint of different meals and food preparation methods, proposing a low carbon footprint menu to the dining hall, links between food labeling and environmental issues of food production.

Beekeeping: This one trimester class provides hands-on training in beekeeping, how to be a beekeeper, and safety and other techniques for working with bees. Once trained students help with all aspects of Harley beekeeping such as hive inspections, honey collection and extraction, and teaching students in Lower School about our hives.

Students pick a research topic addressing honeybee health and the larger environmental picture.

Social Justice

At Harley, our students learn how to evaluate social systems in order to identify complex problems in society through a lens of social justice. They take a hands-on approach to working for a fair, equitable society by researching, exploring and evaluating different perspectives, and offering solutions—both theoretical and practical.

Our faculty integrate social justice into our broader curriculum to assist students in gaining a foundational knowledge about what makes a democracy function. By gaining skills in ideating supportive pathways they become more exposed and experienced to how communities can undergo healing and restorative actions.

 

Capstone/Independent Studies

Students may create independent studies with supervising teachers throughout their Upper School experience or, during Grade 12, they can design Capstone projects—intensive collaborations with Harley faculty and off-campus mentors—involving rigorous academic study and culminating in public presentations. They are empowered to create their own curriculum, set goals, and work on time management skills in order to accomplish their objectives.

Independent Studies run the gamut from The Psychology of Sports to Furniture Design to The Neuroimaging of Alzheimer’s Disease. Capstones, meanwhile, are as diverse as the students who pursue them: Fictional Rochester, Autobiographical Art, Biomimicry Education, Organic Fuel, and Rochester Refugees. 

Indicative of Upper School curiosity and creativity, pursuits such as these distinguish our graduates in college. Through deep dives of this sort, Harley students master more than speaking, writing, and computing: they learn to communicate, advocate, collaborate, organize, listen, and empathize. 

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Alumni Profile: Vandebroek

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2021 Lives of Great Purpose Awards

1000 Words

Commencement 2022

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Retirements and Fond Farewells