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
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...
Harley Alumnus Appointed New Head of School
The Harley School is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Ryan Kimmet ’95 as its next Head of School, effective July 1, 2025. The decision, unanimously supported by the Board of Trustees and the Head of School Search Committee, follows a national search and...
Haudenosaunee Flag Raised at The Harley School in Historic Ceremony
The Harley School held a powerful all-school assembly on Friday, culminating in the raising of the Haudenosaunee Flag. The ceremony honored the enduring significance of the Hiawatha Belt, a symbol of the world's longest-functioning democracy, and featured...
Harley School Hosted Inaugural Medical Careers Day: Inspiring Future Healthcare Professionals
The Harley School successfully hosted its inaugural Medical Careers Day on Saturday, April 26, providing a free and informative event for individuals in grades 7-12 interested in exploring the diverse world of healthcare. The event took place at The Harley School...
Acclaimed Author James Kennedy Shared Insights at The Harley School
The Harley School was thrilled to host acclaimed author James Kennedy for a captivating community talk and book signing. The event, held on April 4, drew members of the Rochester community for an evening of literary exploration. James Kennedy is widely recognized for...
Harley School Students Selected for Prestigious NASA HUNCH Program Workshop
The Harley School announced that three of its students were selected to attend NASA’s Human Research Program Investigators’ Workshop (HRP IWS) in Galveston, Texas, from January 28 to January 31, 2025, as part of the NASA HUNCH program. The Harley team, named "Biofilm...
