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 School celebrates student creativity with annual showcase event
The Harley School enjoyed recent coverage of our Student Innovation & Creativity Showcase, highlighting work across all divisions. Student work included examining and organizing the archival history of the school, NASA Hunch robotics, glassblowing demonstrations, and studying the cardiology field to name a few.
What If Your Child Could Be Both a High Achiever and a Happy Human Being?
Dr. Kimmet was a recent guest on “Rochester Speaks.” Here’s part of the blurb about the episode:
“What If Your Child Could Be Both a High Achiever and a Happy Human Being? Harley Says Both Are Possible.”
Dr. Ryan Kimmet, Head of School at the Harley School in Rochester, makes a compelling case that academic rigor and student wellbeing are not opposites and that the century old progressive education model pioneered by John Dewey might be exactly what kids need right now.
How diverse schools prepare Rochester students for a global workforce
Despite the shifting political conversation around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), one reality remains constant: our workplaces, customer bases, and communities are becoming increasingly diverse. Organizations that understand how to collaborate across differences and design products for a wide range of users are gaining a measurable competitive advantage. Knowing how to operate in a high-performance market with colleagues, customers, and competitors from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives is not simply a social value—it is a differentiator. By Dr. Ryan Kimmet, The Harley School
The Cost of Certainty | Purposeful Learning
In today’s landscape, it’s easy to understand why certainty is so prized. The more we know, the better our decisions should be. The more confidence a leadership team has at a critical moment, the more likely they are to get it right.
But is certainty a realistic goal anymore or even the right one? By Dr. Ryan Kimmet, The Harley School, Rochester NY
Strategy Sets the Destination, Culture Determines the Journey
Dr. Ryan Kimmet explores why culture determines the success of strategy in both business and education. Learn how The Harley School builds a “village” culture. Originally published in the Rochester Business Journal.
Filmmaking Workshop in Rochester NY at The Harley School Is Eye-opening for Attendees
Students at The Harley School and Horizons at Harley in Rochester NY master the art of filmmaking with James Kennedy, the founder of 90 Second Newbery Film Festival. See how local Rochester news coverage on Channels 8, 10, and 13 captured the magic!
