FAQ

List of 10 frequently asked questions.

• What draws families to Masters?

  Our families come to Masters for a variety of reasons: the Harkness learning method, our close-knit community, our vibrant seven-day campus and the dedicated faculty. 
  
  

  Our School is ideally situated, set on 96 bucolic acres overlooking the Hudson River and just 12 miles from New York City. This proximity to one of the cultural capitals of the world provides meaningful enrichment outside the classroom, partnerships with and access to renowned institutions, and an abundant array of weekend activities. 
  
  

  With students hailing from across the country and the world, Masters is a truly global community. Whether around the Harkness table or the lunch table, students engage in meaningful exchanges of ideas and cultures. 
  
  

  To learn more about why families choose Masters, click here.

• What is the faculty-to-student ratio?

  The faculty-to-student ratio is 1:8. Every student has a "front row seat" around the Harkness table, which fosters interaction between the teacher and every student in the class. In addition, many faculty members live on campus and interact with students outside the classroom as dorm parents, coaches, Weekend Team members, club advisors and chaperones on school trips.

• Where do Masters graduates go to college?

  Reflecting the diverse student body at Masters, our graduates matriculate at a broad range of colleges and universities, including the most selective institutions in the nation and abroad. From small liberal arts colleges and music conservatories to large public universities, Masters is proud of the diversity and range of our college matriculations.
  
  Recent graduates have attended colleges including: Harvard University, Cornell University, NYU, George Washington University, Boston University, Northeastern University, Hamilton College, Skidmore College and many more. 
  
  

  For more on college counseling, click here.

• What AP courses does the School offer?*

  Masters offers its students a rigorous college preparatory curriculum. Core courses provide a solid foundation in critical thinking, and electives offer multiple opportunities for students to explore individual interests. Advanced Placement (AP) courses are currently offered in each department. In all, 14 AP courses are available to Masters students. Honors sections are offered throughout the science and mathematics curricula, and accelerated classes are offered in French, Latin and Spanish. 

   

  *Beginning in the fall of 2027, Advanced Study courses will take the place of AP courses. Please click here for more information.

• Are students assigned an advisor?

  Yes, every student is assigned an academic advisor. 

  
  

  In the Middle School, students are assigned a grade-level advisor who teaches in that grade. Students do not have the same advisor from year to year. Advisors meet with their advisees twice a week for advisory lessons and activities and support them every day during the Academic Choice period. 

  
  

  In the Upper School, students are assigned an advisor and meet four times a week with their advisor and advisory group. To foster and support students throughout their Masters experience, the group stays together for all four years.

• Are students required to participate in athletics?

  Yes, students in both the Middle School and Upper School are required to participate in athletics. 
  
  

  Physical education class is required for all fifth and sixth grade students and is included during the school day. Students participate in a variety of games and physical activities to develop basic athletic skills and to experience the joy of playing. Interscholastic team sports begin in seventh grade. Practices are held during the school day and games are played after school. Students may take dance to satisfy the athletic requirement.
  
  

  Students who enter the Upper School in ninth grade are required to complete three seasons of interscholastic sports by the end of their tenth grade year (three out of a possible six seasons). Incoming tenth graders are required to participate in one season of interscholastic sports during their sophomore year. Dance Tech III and the Winter Musical also satisfy the athletic requirement. 

• What are co-curriculars? 

  Co-curriculars take place in the fall, winter and spring seasons. We call them co-curriculars, not extracurriculars, because we consider them essential elements of our upper school curriculum. All students are required to participate in the co-curriculars of their choice throughout the year. When students are not playing on a team, they can choose from the many co-curricular programs; they can act in theatrical productions, dance, volunteer for community service programs, or work on the numerous school publications.

• Can day students participate in weekend activities? What types of activities are available?

  One of the advantages of being a student at Masters, boarding or day, is the ability to be on campus with peers and the faculty seven days a week. Every weekend, there are both on-campus and off-campus activities open to boarding and day students. These activities can include attending a Broadway show, hiking in the Hudson Valley, riding rollercoasters at Six Flags, or cheering on a professional sports team. 

• Does Masters have a dress code?

  Masters does not have a dress code. Rather, the School has a dress philosophy that allows for a range of styles as long as the clothing worn does not detract from our educational mission. Such a range of styles is appropriate for our diverse student body and inclusive spirit and permits students to respectfully express their individuality. 

• What states and countries do Masters students come from?

  Masters welcomes students from 10 states, 26 countries and more than 120 local zip codes. Students come from as far away as Mongolia, Ukraine and Ghana and as close as Scarsdale, Greenwich and Larchmont.