Why Choose a Private School for Just Three Years?

Philosophy

At Ridgefield Academy, we believe that childhood should be celebrated. An intentionally designed preschool - Grade 8 model allows kids to stay kids longer. Here, middle school students enjoy being young adolescents without the presence and pressures of a high school. As the oldest students in our school community, students in Grades 6-8 embrace early and genuine leadership opportunities—serving as role models for younger students, leading school assemblies, engaging in service learning, and representing the student body on the Student Council.

The middle school years are formative for the development of students’ academic learning styles, strengths, and identities. At RA, a key component of our mission is to prepare graduates who are self-assured, and this is cultivated during the middle school years. Each student is recognized as an individual and is encouraged to find and use their own voice. By the time students reach Grades 7 and 8, they want to speak their mind, express their opinions, and actively participate in the process of choosing a high school.

The high school selection process is a real-life exercise in applying the self-assuredness students gain during the middle school years at RA. Researching, interviewing, and making decisions with the support of their school and families empowers students, fostering growth and independence. Graduates of RA look forward to the exciting high school journey ahead—filled with new opportunities, challenges, and friends.

“I am very excited for a change and a new step in my life. I know I will have no problem making friends and connecting with my peers because of what RA has taught me during my time here.” ~ James O., ‘21

The High School Placement Process

1. Informs students and their families.

   Beginning in Grade 7, general and individual parent meetings inform families of both the placement process they are beginning with their student, as well as the nuances of the current admissions landscape. Ridgefield Academy also annually provides A Guide to High School Admissions, a step-by-step handbook with a calendar and directory of schools, admissions contacts, interview tips, and data on selection criteria. To submit the best high school applications possible, it is important for students and their families to be well-informed and understand the admissions landscape.

2. Provides individualized expertise.

   It is part of Ridgefield Academy’s institutional DNA to view every student as an individual with different learning styles, needs, interests, and strengths, and the high school placement process is no exception. In the beginning of their eighth grade year, students meet one-on-one with the Head of Upper School, as they consider and research local private day schools, boarding schools, and public high schools. As students narrow down their list, visit, and interview at schools they are considering, the Head of Upper School helps both students and families manage and debrief the experiences.

“In the final months of school, as we prepare to leave RA, each of us will choose what school community we will be part of next. We have all grown so much as a class and as a community, and the last few years have given me a clear image of the type of community I would like to belong to going forward.” ~ Aniseh S. ‘21

Does it work?

Ridgefield Academy’s high school placement process has seen immense success. Admissions teams at local day and boarding schools consistently recognize RA students' skill and capacity as students, but also celebrate their strong sense of self, their leadership as representatives to student government and as team captains, and their confidence as self-advocates. Ridgefield Academy alumni are known to be valued in and additive to their school communities.

“RA prepares you perfectly. There is no better word for it.” - Annika M. ‘15

Most recently, 27 members of the Class of 2025 graduated from Ridgefield Academy. Students in the Class of 2025 will attend private boarding and day schools, and local public schools in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York.  Learn more about the Class of 2025 and view the full list of high schools they are attending here.

“With the help of RA, I have gone from a quiet little girl who was nervous to talk to anybody to someone who is not only a hard worker but also someone who has something to say. Now that I'm going off to high school, I am excited to continue to develop my new found voice and continue to grow as a student.” ~ Madden A., ‘21