Where academic excellence meets ethical learning
Pre-K–12th Grade progressive school fostering intellectual curiosity, ethical responsibility, and social justice
Our mission informs our philosophy
We challenge our students with an innovative, student-centered program, preparing them to become lifelong passionate learners, critical thinkers, and ethical leaders.
Since its founding in 1878, the Ethical Culture Fieldston School (ECFS) has been dedicated to progressive education, nurturing students’ intellectual curiosity as well as their ethical, virtuous, artistic, and athletic potential. Viewed through an ethical lens, our experiential, hands-on learning compels our community to care for our world, ourselves, and each other.
ECFS serves a community of Pre-K–12th Graders across four divisions. Ethical Culture is located in a historic building on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, while Fieldston Lower, Fieldston Middle, and Fieldston Upper share an 18-acre campus in the Bronx’s Riverdale neighborhood.
Our commitment to inclusion, fairness, and belonging is rooted in the mission and philosophy of our founder, Felix Adler, who also founded the Society for Ethical Culture. We embrace all student experiences and perspectives and embrace rigorous intellectual engagement and crosscultural understanding. Our community recognizes that living an ethical life is an ever-evolving journey. While our mission is enduring, the pursuit of an ethical life continues long after graduation. Our alumni enter the world and lead change, guided by the ideals learned at ECFS.
Academic Excellence
Our School challenges students to reach their full potential through the humanities, sciences, arts, and physical education. Dedicated teachers encourage active learning and engaging discussions in an atmosphere of academic rigor and creativity.
Ethical Learning
The exploration of being an ethical and responsible member of society forms the core of our curriculum and community.
Students also participate in service learning programs and community service projects with over 40 partner organizations.
Ethics at ECFS is defined by learning to make choices regarding care for oneself, others, communities, and the world. Our unique program prepares students to understand and uphold these values, emphasizing experiential learning, social justice, and sustainability. We value inclusion and diversity of thought, honoring all students for their unique contributions, cultural backgrounds, and beliefs.
Progressive Education
Our curriculum empowers students to become independent thinkers. Student-centered and discussion-based learning, along with the freedom to make mistakes, are integral to our students’ experiences.
Our talented faculty are the cornerstone of our progressive academic program. At every age, our program supports students’ growth as citizens and scholars. What often sets our School apart is our teachers’ dedication to experiential, project-based curricula that challenge students to think critically and transform their thoughts into actions. Our curriculum engages students’ hands and bodies as much as their minds, encouraging them to make, do, and feel.
Belonging
Ensuring that every student feels seen, heard, and valued is integral to our practice, curriculum, and experiences. We embrace a diversity of lived experiences and perspectives as a catalyst for rigorous intellectual engagement and cross-cultural understanding. An inclusive environment is built for students to take risks, be challenged, and be their authentic selves. We level the playing field to ensure that each student has the support and resources they need to flourish. Through developmentally appropriate initiatives, we educate students on principles of fairness and how to develop compassion and take action as engaged citizens.
Fostering an environment where every individual feels connected, accepted, and engaged is at the heart of our School. Building community is a top priority, recognizing the responsibility each of us has to the whole. Parent/ guardian involvement is encouraged through our parents’ association, where elected and appointed members liaise between the administration and parent/guardian body.
What makes ECFS unique?
Arts and Athletics Academics by division
The Global Community
Our goal is to facilitate holistic educational experiences where students come to understand their place in the interconnected global community. Students learn about social issues, participate in service projects, raise awareness, and use their voices to advocate for change, within the School community and beyond.
Our younger students are encouraged to be active members of the global community. While they often focus on local issues, they also engage in projects with a broader perspective.
Our older students have access to unique experiential learning opportunities through semester-away programs, engagement with foreign students, and special international and domestic trips.
Curricular Programming and Spaces
Our physical environment and technological infrastructure are student-centered, enabling rigorous coursework and socialemotional development. Every division and campus has dedicated areas to encourage collaborative, creative, and integrated projects, including:
• Three libraries across four divisions
• Design studios for engineering, robotics, computer science, and digital arts
• Specialized areas for focusing on math, science, woodshop, tech, art, music, and gardening
• State-of-the-art spaces with movable walls and audiovisual technology for interdisciplinary programs
At Fieldston Upper, students may select or create a major within the arts or pursue independent study. Additionally, 11th and 12th Graders take courses fulfilling the unique Adler Requirement, which entails two courses in semester-long English and History electives focusing on the histories and writings of marginalized people.
STEM Programming
This includes mathematics, engineering, robotics, woodshop, Rube Goldberg studies, and science research courses. Engineering classes are available for Fieldston Middle and Fieldston Upper students. High school students passionate about scientific research may also join the Science Research Program, a two-to-three-year commitment involving summer research internships, laboratory techniques and analysis, and project presentations.
Arts and Athletics Academics by division
Elementary Schools
Academic programming in our elementary school divisions is driven by students’ needs. We embrace a student-centered approach across all subjects, empowering students with agency and involving them in decision-making in age-appropriate ways. Through hands-on experiences, we ignite their curiosity and engage their senses, hearts, and minds as they explore, learn, and play.
Our youngest learners enjoy daily outdoor time and frequent physical education classes. We recognize the importance of nurturing intellectual, cultural, and artistic abilities, offering special subjects such as Spanish, art, music, woodshop, innovation, and science to enrich their educational journey.
Ethical Culture
Pre-K–5th Grade
Fieldston Lower
Pre-K–5th Grade
Our elementary schools focus on student-centered education, creating opportunities for them to follow their passions, ask questions, and find answers. Our curriculum emphasizes collaboration, problem-solving, and creativity, combining challenging academics with respect for all perspectives and universal critical thinking. At Ethical Culture, students use Manhattan as their laboratory, taking advantage of the campus’s proximity to Central Park. At Fieldston Lower, teachers utilize the Riverdale campus’s outdoor spaces and surrounding neighborhoods for in-depth studies. Both schools take full advantage of the many opportunities across New York City, the Hudson River, and tristate area for field trips. These experiences equip students with the skills to learn communally both inside and outside of school.
Middle and Upper Schools
Fieldston Middle and Fieldston Upper are rooted in progressive, multicultural pedagogies and inquiry-based learning. Student-centered classes focus on mastering concepts and skills through various methods. Students engage in project-based learning, collaboration, research projects, writing, journaling, and discussions. These experiences encourage risk-taking, curiosity, and critical thinking.
Both divisions cultivate a safe, inclusive environment where students can learn from mistakes through responsive teaching, independent projects, and social-emotional learning. Teachers maintain constant dialogue with each other and students, ensuring flexibility and adaptability to meet student needs and concerns.
Fieldston Middle
6th–8th Grade
Drawing inspiration from New York City, Fieldston Middle’s rigorous academic program embraces forward-thinking and diverse practices, responding to the nuances of adolescence. Teachers collaborate to integrate curriculum across subjects, focusing on principles of inclusion, ethics, belonging, and fairness. Students further develop critical-thinking skills, social-emotional capacities, and a joy of learning while growing as active community leaders.
Fieldston Upper
9th–12th Grade
Choice is central to a student’s life at Fieldston Upper, where interdisciplinary, experiential, and self-directed education thrive. Students are encouraged to take intellectual risks. Teachers focus on developing the whole student, cultivating leadership, ethical learning, independent thinking, and mindfulness. Student life is enriched in weekly assemblies and daily advisory groups with our skilled educators. In addition to a well-rounded experience including arts, athletics, and community service, students may also take advanced electives in English, history, math, language, science, and ethics.
Arts and Athletics Academics by division
Athletics
Interscholastic athletics develops physical, mental, and social skills; a positive self-image; and an understanding of teamwork. Our program empowers students while instilling self-confidence and creating leaders. We seek to imprint in individual athletes the dedication, discipline, and spirit of personal sacrifice a successful team depends upon. Making such a commitment nurtures our students’ character and supports the mission of the School.
• Over 35 Fieldston Upper sports teams
• Over 20 Fieldston Middle sports teams
• 4 NYSAIS state championships and 8 league championships since 2019
• 2 athletic fields
• 5 gymnasiums
• 1 pool
Arts
From the earliest music classes in Pre-K to electives in photography, graphic communications, stagecraft, and more at Fieldston Upper, ECFS weaves artistic practice into our students’ education. Our robust arts program emphasizes technical skill and creative expression, developing students who feel confident in their chosen art form.
• Over 70 courses in visuals arts, theatre/dance, and music at Fieldston Middle and Fieldston Upper
• Electives available in visual arts, graphic communications, theatre/dance, and music at Fieldston Upper
• Onstage play and musical performance opportunities
• Performing arts center and dance, art, and music studios
Arts and Athletics
2 expansive campuses across 18 acres
Approximately 51% of employees hold advanced degrees
Approximately 1,700 students commute from New York City, lower Westchester, and parts of New Jersey and Connecticut
15 2 1 4 1 5 1 1 2 12 14 ECFS is a LEADER among peer schools in providing financial access
39% of students and 54% of faculty/staff identify as a person of color
Over 80 student clubs available at Fieldston Middle and Fieldston Upper
Among the lowest student to faculty ratios in New York City buildings athletic fields pool performance spaces scene shop gymnasiums weight room yoga room art galleries art classrooms music classrooms and practice spaces
“We don’t want to watch from the sidelines — we want to actively participate in the School’s mission and have an impact .
— ECFS Parent
Philanthropy is at the core of our institution; it is our founding philosophy and sustains all areas of our ongoing legacy. Whether through donating, sharing talents, or volunteering, every ECFS family participates and gives back to our School in a way that is meaningful. Scan the QR code to read more about the strength and impact of our vibrant community.
