Harley’s Approach to College Counseling
“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.
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. 
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. 
Preparing Students to lead lives of great purpose
Founded in 1917, The Harley School is a private, independent school in Rochester, NY offering a college preparatory program for approximately 500 students in Nursery through Grade 12.
When you set foot on the Harley campus, you can 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 100% college acceptances for our graduates at prestigious colleges and universities, including Harvard, Stanford, and Vanderbilt for the graduating class of 2019.
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
Average SAT Score (Class of 2023)
Average Composite ACT Scores '20-'22
Sq. ft. Sustainable Living Building
Different Sports Teams
1317
Average SAT Score (Class of 2023)
29
Average Composite ACT Scores '20-'22
15000
Sq. ft. Sustainable Living Building
18
Different Sports Teams
More facts about Harley
Where Our Students Are Going
Our Most Recent Instagram Posts
In Their Own Words
“Science is about curiosity, asking questions, and finding new ways to explore possibilities and gather information. The best scientists are lifelong learners who think critically about the world around them. Harley’s approach to teaching the whole child produces the informed and engaged citizens of tomorrow. I couldn’t be happier to partner with Harley in my work and to be a Harley parent for my curious daughter.”
“The strong connection with my teachers and coaches is what I appreciate most about my Harley education. Knowing that they are available and always willing to help makes me feel confident in my ability to take on academic challenges. I know that their presence in my experience at Harley will last past my graduation and well into my future.”
Watch and Listen to Our Community in Action
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.
The Solenoid-Based, Midi-Playing Marble Metallophone
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.
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 Podcasts
Harley News
Season 7 Episode 01 – Climate Change
Joy In Learning: Episode 22, Diversity in Education
Diversity in Education Celebrating 25 years of Horizons at Harley, by digging into the great topic of equity in education. Our esteemed presenters will discuss diversity, equity, access and how they impact education in Rochester from elementary up through...
Middle School Teachers Focus on Supporting Our Students
Middle School Teachers Focus on Supporting Our Students
Grade 4: Punkin’ Chunkin’, STEAM in Action
Developed four years ago, the project culminates in an outdoor (weather permitting) test launch where students take turns hurling pumpkins into mid-air and cheering one another on.
Our Student Mental Health and Wellness Approach
One of the most significant changes in schools in the past ten years has been an increased awareness of student mental health and wellness needs. Harley has long endeavored to promote student wellness, and in the past several years, we have worked to have a more...
Teaching Applied Empathy to Our Children
by Beth Bailey An interview with Lower School counselor, Shelli Reetz There are several types of empathy: emotional empathy, when you feel an emotional pull; cognitive empathy, when you think about how someone might feel; and applied empathy, acting in a compassionate...
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