The Masters School Dobbs Ferry: A Transformative Learning Experience
The Masters School, a leading coeducational day and boarding school for grades 5-12, is located on a beautiful 96-acre campus in Dobbs Ferry, New York. With a diverse and talented student body of 675 upper and middle school students representing 10 states and 26 countries, The Masters School distinguishes itself through its transformative approach to teaching and learning. This article delves into the various facets of the Masters School learning experience, highlighting its unique curriculum, dedicated faculty, innovative programs, and commitment to fostering a well-rounded education.
The Harkness Method: Active Participation and Meaningful Connection
At the heart of The Masters School's approach is the Harkness method. Around the Harkness table, the centerpiece of most classrooms, students are active participants in the learning process. The faculty have designed a robust and expansive curriculum that sets high academic expectations for students, encouraging independent thought and meaningful participation. Every discipline, including science, innovation, and math, utilizes the Harkness method’s seminar-style of learning. The Masters School celebrates active participation, deep understanding, and meaningful connection, emphasizing that "listening is just as powerful as speaking," and encouraging students to "advocate for yourself, but also make space for others."
Dedicated and Talented Faculty
The Masters School boasts a talented faculty, with seventy-two percent holding advanced degrees. All upper school faculty serve as student advisors, providing guidance and support to students both inside and outside the classroom. The faculty are masters of their craft, dedicated to fostering a stimulating and supportive learning environment.
Boarding Programs: Immersive and Flexible Options
Understanding the diverse needs of families, The Masters School offers both five-day and seven-day boarding programs. The five-day program combines the benefits of boarding during the week with the convenience of going home on the weekends. Students enjoy full-time access to residential faculty and school resources, as well as the opportunity to develop lifelong friendships. The seven-day program provides a fully immersive prep school experience, including a variety of weekend activities. Students in both programs come from 21 countries and 9 states, bringing a wide range of perspectives to every part of campus. These daily interactions foster intercultural fluency, expand global awareness and develop into lifelong friendships. By learning alongside peers from across the country and globe, every student grows in their understanding of the world and their place in it.
Global Engagement: Expanding Horizons
The Masters School emphasizes global engagement through cultural exchanges with schools in China, the Dominican Republic, Japan, and Senegal. The Global Studies program immerses students in transformative cultural experiences - both at home and abroad - to help them understand and navigate a complex, interconnected world with empathy and cultural fluency. During trips abroad, students learn through cultural immersion and discover countries’ rich histories by visiting important cultural sites.
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College Counseling: A Personalized Approach
Masters graduates matriculate at a broad range of schools, including the most selective institutions in the nation and abroad. The College Counseling Office takes a highly personalized approach to supporting students through the college process.
Innovation, Engineering, and Computer Science: Bringing Ideas to Life
The Innovation, Engineering, and Computer Science program empowers students from grades 5-12 to bring ideas to life through hands-on, project-based learning. Housed in the new Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center - a 21,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility equipped with cutting-edge technology - students explore design thinking, social entrepreneurship, engineering, and computer science. They tackle real-world challenges, nurture in-demand talents, and develop creativity, innovative thinking, and an entrepreneurial mindset - skills necessary to succeed in an ever-evolving world.
Science Research: Deep Dive into Discovery
Science Research is a three-year, college-level program in which students pursue independent projects under expert mentors in fields from biology to computer science. Through coursework, summer internships, and ongoing faculty guidance, they dive deep into their chosen topic while sharpening critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills while preparing to present at major competitions. Masters students regularly excel and receive top honors at prestigious regional and international fairs including the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), the GENIUS Olympiad, Regeneron Westchester Science & Engineering Fair (WESEF) and the New York State Science & Engineering Fair (NYSSEF).
Journalism Collaborative: Crafting Balanced Narratives
The Journalism Collaborative immerses students in the full spectrum of journalistic practice: interviewing, fact-checking, media literacy, and narrative crafting across web, print, video, podcast, and social media. Students tap into their curiosity by asking questions about and exploring the world around them, and, ultimately, crafting factual, balanced narratives. Equipped with industry-standard tools such as Adobe InDesign and Final Cut Pro, student journalists produce work that regularly earns awards and accolades from prestigious organizations including the National Scholastic Press Association, Columbia Scholastic Press Association and the New York Press Association.
Athletics and Arts: A Thriving Balance
Both athletes and artists thrive at Masters. The Athletics program fosters teamwork, emphasizes sportsmanship, and develops athletes’ physical and mental confidence. Experienced and passionate coaches create an environment that is both welcoming and challenging. Across a variety of media and in a wide range of settings, student artists can try their hand at performance and/or visual art. Courses offer students the ability to gain a deep understanding of production, theory, and history, developing their creativity, imagination, and skills.
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Co-Curricular Programs: Essential to a Well-Rounded Education
The upper school co-curricular program takes place throughout the entire academic year and is considered essential to a well-rounded education. Students might tackle global issues in Model UN, perfect their iambic pentameter in a Shakespeare production, pirouette across the stage with Dance Company, chase a great story with the school newspaper, partner with local nonprofits through service learning programs, and much more. All students participate in WinterMission, a mini-term during which they encounter new subjects, skills, and ideas that challenge them to explore the School's mission in unexpected ways.
New York City: An Extension of the Campus
Just 12 miles away, New York City serves as an extension of the campus, offering extraordinary academic and cultural opportunities. Students delve deeper into their academic studies through unparalleled opportunities in one of the world’s greatest cultural and business capitals. They meet with industry leaders, hone their research skills with guidance from scientists at top medical labs and universities, attend performances at the Metropolitan Opera, explore world-renowned museums, and study iconic architecture. For boarding students, weekends often include trips to the city.
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
The Masters School’s Admission team helps shape the School's anti-bias, anti-racist culture by enrolling mission-aligned learners, thinkers, and doers from diverse backgrounds with a variety of passions and perspectives. The school strives to create a fair admission process that is accessible and transparent to sustain a community characterized by kindness, courage, collaboration, and supported risk-taking. The Masters School admits students of any race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally available to students at the School.
Professional Development: Continuous Growth for Faculty
The Masters School is committed to the continuous growth of its faculty and staff. On-Campus Professional Development Days provide opportunities for teachers to delve more deeply into topics that support their individual and collective development and further the School’s ability to deliver on its mission. Off-Campus Professional Development Grants encourage faculty members to pursue learning experiences beyond the campus and to connect with experts and educators working in other schools and contexts. Faculty members can also request funding to support efforts to design a new course or further the development of the School’s curriculum.
Adapting to Challenges: Remote Learning and Community Building
During the COVID-19 pandemic, The Masters School demonstrated its adaptability and commitment to maintaining a strong learning environment. The school implemented a comprehensive Remote Learning Plan, relying on digital platforms like Google Meet and the Learning Management System (LMS). Teachers and students met daily in virtual classrooms, replicating the dynamic discussions that take place around the Harkness table. The Counseling Center remained fully operational and available remotely to students and their families, and many clubs continued to meet, albeit in a new, virtual fashion.
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The School also hosted a number of socially distant outdoor gatherings for students on campus throughout the month of September, giving students and faculty the opportunity to connect in person and take part in a variety of both social and bonding activities. During a summer when plans for traditional warm-weather activities were upended by COVID-19, a nascent program, Masters Summer Learning Initiative (MSLI), gave students the chance to connect with each other while continuing their education. Designed and team-taught by Masters faculty, the program included 23 remote courses that complemented the School’s existing curriculum.
Support for Students with Learning Differences
The Masters School has a Learning Enhancement and Development (LEAD) Office to work with those students who have documented learning differences and who require the services of a trained professional. The team of learning specialists is committed to providing academic support and works to enhance students' study skills, executive functioning skills, the development of a growth mindset, and self-advocacy. They also facilitate the accommodation process for students who have submitted documentation.
Advanced Study Courses
Beginning in the fall of 2027, Advanced Study courses will take the place of AP courses.
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