Adventures in Learning
Welcome
As I walk through our beautiful, college-like campus in Dyker Heights or the hallways of the historic Park Slope mansion that houses our Lower School, I’m reminded of what drew me to Poly. Yes, I am proud of our expansive course offerings and extracurricular opportunities, our sprawling fields, impressive guest lecturers and community partnerships. But I am here because of the people. There is a sense of community, of belonging, at Poly Prep that is unique among schools and quite special.
When you speak with any member of our community— teachers, parents, staff, and especially students and alumni—they will tell you about Poly’s exceptional education. Poly is where they learned to think deeply, to write persuasively, to speak with conviction. Here, they discovered their affinity for math, their enthusiasm for debate, their gift for languages, their prowess on the field, and their love for the stage. While each conversation and educational pathway is unique, they all inevitably come to the same place. The relationships, they say, are what make Poly’s education truly extraordinary. Faculty are not just expert teachers, they are mentors who build deep bonds with students. Collaborative learning environments invite young people to explore ideas together and develop meaningful connections. A strong schoolwide support system ensures every student feels known, cared for, and empowered to thrive. In short, Poly is a second home.
Within this nurturing community, your child will have the opportunity to explore academics, arts, and athletics—to excel in all areas, to try new things, and, yes, experience setbacks, but always with the opportunity to get up and try again. This is the gift we give to young people:
the understanding that there’s not just one path to success, but many paths to explore, all supported by a community that believes in them.
Our approach to education is grounded in the belief that real learning doesn’t happen in an echo chamber. Your child will learn alongside peers who think differently, come from diverse experiences, and bring varied cultural backgrounds and values to our community. At the same time, they will see themselves reflected in our curriculum, our hallways, and our leadership. We are intentional about providing both mirrors—where students see themselves affirmed—and windows—where they gain insight into the experiences of others.
When your child graduates from Poly Prep, they will leave with a deep sense of purpose—an understanding of how their unique talents and values can contribute to something greater than themselves. During their time here, they will have had the opportunity to explore their passions, learn what they’re really good at, discover their growing edges, clarify their values and understand how to let those values lead them. Poly alumni bring a sense of self, a sense of purpose, and a sense of possibility to their work in the world.
I am so glad you are here. I invite you to meet our extraordinary faculty, staff, and students, and see for yourself the magic that happens every day. I look forward to getting to know you and your child, celebrating their achievements, and supporting their journey toward discovering who they are meant to become.
With excitement for the possibilities ahead,
Noni Thomas López Ed.D. Head of School
FAST FACTS
1,155
STUDENTS IN NURSERY TO GRADE 12
6:1
STUDENT-TO-FACULTY RATIO
101 STUDENT CLUBS
70+ NYSAIS CHAMPIONSHIPS
191 FACULTY MEMBERS
$14.5 MILLION IN NEED-BASED TUITION ASSISTANCE AWARDED TO 23% OF STUDENTS
25 VARSITY SPORTS TEAMS 55% ARE STUDENTS OF COLOR
7 STUDENT PUBLICATIONS
2 CAMPUSES 25+ ACRES IN BROOKLYN
34
ARTS PERFORMANCES ACROSS ALL DIVISIONS
6 CONCERTS ⋅ 13 THEATER PERFORMANCES 4 DANCE PERFORMANCES ⋅ 4 SHOWCASES 4 ARTS EXHIBITIONS ⋅ 3 CONSERVATORY RECITALS
18 UPPER SCHOOL AFFINITY AND ALLIANCE GROUPS
68 STUDENTS IN THE EXCELLENCE IN THE ARTS PROGRAM
3 FULL TIME SPORTS TRAINERS
44 BUS ROUTES ACROSS NEW YORK CITY
Why Poly?
Diversity
From Nursery to Grade 12, Poly is a place where curiosity and collaboration shift perspectives and open minds. Our school community is composed of students throughout the boroughs, from different cultures, religions, interests, and abilities. We use the diversity of our community to make us smarter, more thoughtful, and more empathetic. We value our differences and prioritize inclusion and belonging to strengthen our bonds. This shows up in everything we do at Poly—from curricular lessons and student-run forums to guest speakers and holiday celebrations.
Excellence
At Poly, the pursuit of excellence is a core tenet of our ethos. Our community knows that excellence is not a destination; it’s a journey of growth and development.
Dedicated faculty and staff serve as mentors, encouraging students to set high standards for themselves, embrace challenges, and strive for personal bests in all their endeavors. Whether it’s exceptional scholarship, masterclass performances, world-class athletics, creative expression, or bold leadership, Poly students put all of themselves into everything they do. They eagerly explore new paths while also delving deeper into their existing strengths. Our ultimate aim is to equip students with the necessary skills and mindset to flourish in an ever-changing world.
Brooklyn
It’s our deep commitment to community relationships through which this pillar is rooted. Our school thrives on the vibrant engagement of Brooklyn’s very own academics and authors, who graciously share their expertise and time with our students. Collaborations with renowned artists enrich the experiences of our performers and creatives. Distinguished institutions such as the Brooklyn Museum of Art play an integral role in our curriculum, offering one-of-a-kind learning opportunities. Our dedication to service finds us partnering with various organizations to support our neighbors—from food pantries to sustainability initiatives. Brooklyn is a microcosm of the world and we grow by fostering meaningful connections with those around us.
Lower School
Poly’s Lower School, encompassing Nursery through Grade 4, is an enchanting environment where every child is known and cherished. When you walk in the front doors, you immediately hear children’s exuberant voices. With its own separate campus, kids can be kids, and faculty and staff help make school magical by celebrating learning and the delight of each and every day. Lower School is a place of wonder, where the pursuit of knowledge is intertwined with the sheer joy of childhood.
Early Childhood Education
Students in Nursery through Kindergarten explore a wide array of creative, intellectual, social, and movement-based skills. Developing friendships and positive social skills are an integral part of their learning experience. They develop confidence in themselves and view Poly and their teachers as safe spaces. A love of learning is fostered through daily interactions and activities. Children wake up each morning and cannot wait to get to Poly.
Elementary Education
In our sunny Grades 1-4 classrooms, students learn to love reading, which leads them to research reports on immigration and to write their own stories and poetry. Children learn how to collaborate on a project and to encourage each other. Through music, dance, and art, they express themselves in new ways, and in physical education, they learn lessons about sportsmanship for a lifetime. In our science lab, children make discoveries about the natural world. Prospect Park across the street provides a frequent extension of this science learning, as well as a grand space for physical education activities, our Field Day, and a place to collect materials for art projects.
Aftercare and Enrichment
While the school day ends at 3:20 PM, many students remain for additional activities. Drop-in aftercare is available daily from 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM. Activities include homework support, art, games, music, indoor and outdoor play, story time, and more. All children are provided with a daily snack. Families may also sign up for a rotating selection of enrichment programming each trimester such as newspaper club, ballet, wizardry and potions, filmmaking, robotics, puppetry, earth science, musical theater, STEM, sports, chess, and more.
PROGRAM SPOTLIGHTS
Anti-Racist Curriculum
Art History
Augmented Reality
Author Visits
Brooklyn Bridge Project
Creative Writing
Dance Performances
Drama
Ecology Action Team
Ellis Island Visit
Embroidery
Family Study
Festival of Lights
Great African History Museum
Health & Sex Education
Hispanic Heritage Celebration
Identity Study
Indigenous Peoples Study
Instrumental Lessons
Justice & Fairness Study
Lifecycles
Logic and Coding
Lunar New Year Celebration
Mixed Media
Neighborhood Study
Responsible Digital Citizenship
Robotics
Singapore Math
Sequential Thinking
Student Government
Tenement Museum Visit
Middle School
We recognize the profound transformations that occur in a child’s life during these years. In Middle School, students continue to grow intellectually, emotionally, and physically. We empower them to embrace these changes and develop habits of mind, body, and spirit that will serve them throughout their lives. We nurture curious, broad-minded, and empathetic thinkers who grapple with difficult concepts, question what they see and hear, and are conscientious of their impact on the world. Poly faculty and coaches promote their development as critical thinkers and doers, their engagement with the arts, and their confidence on the athletic fields. Our students’ emerging intellectual acuity signals their readiness to seize moments of growth and change.
Support & Guidance
On entering the Middle School, students are assigned a dean who helps them design an academic schedule reflective of their interests and goals, monitors their progress, and ensures their fullest participation in Poly life. Their dean is their main contact point for the family throughout the entire Middle School journey. Guide, confidant, cheerleader, organizational coach, and seer, the dean is that gentle advocate who makes certain each child is seen, heard, and supported on the path to greater independence and personal agency.
Middle School Clubs and Activities
Middle School life is greatly enriched by a diverse range of clubs, extracurricular activities, and affinity groups each offering unique opportunities for students to explore new interests and talents, and cultivate lasting friendships. Longstanding clubs and activities such as the school newspaper, yearbook, and Middle School Musical are joined each year by new studentdriven clubs—from Dungeons & Dragons to embroidery & sewing and anime to K-pop. Beyond the school day, Poly PM offers trimesterbased activities including improv & sketch comedy, coding, step, debate, and run club, providing students with creative and technical outlets. For students seeking to deepen their musical abilities, Poly Conservatory provides specialized music lessons that help young performers advance their skills to the next level.
Grade 8 Capstone
In this exciting culminating project that demonstrates the synthesis of all they’ve learned in Middle School, Grade 8 students develop an original research question related to one of the major themes of their courses, conduct research, select evidence to develop a thesis, and produce a newspaper article, podcast, museum exhibit, or website to communicate their findings and present them to their peers and the Poly community.
HIGHLIGHTS AND GOALS
• Grade 5 students spend a year sampling French, Spanish, Latin, and Mandarin before selecting a world language to pursue more deeply.
• Teachers set intellectual risk-taking rather than performance as a key goal and prompt students to develop their identity as learners in a safe and productive context.
• Students begin to strengthen their executive function skills and are provided the tools necessary for academic success going forward.
• Based on a growing understanding of their own academic styles and needs, students learn self-advocacy skills.
• Study habits are developed and strengthened as assessments and grades become part of students’ academic lives.
• Students are encouraged to collaborate with teachers to set and reach high academic goals and overcome challenges.
• In keeping with their increased maturity and sense of responsibility, students enjoy more leadership opportunities, such as student government.
Upper School
In the Upper School, we recognize each student as an individual whose natural curiosity and energy are the foundations of a holistic education, and whose desire to find a place in the world deserves the best tools and pathways we can provide. This experience is centered on creativity, critical thought, and personal growth through the embrace of risk and challenge. Our courses are designed to spur questions rather than provide answers, and students are encouraged to connect their classroom learning to events in the world. In every discipline, we set standards of academic excellence aimed at fostering habits of mind that will serve our students throughout their lives. Our expectation is that students learn to read, write, analyze, and quantify with purpose, focus, and clarity.
Personalized Guidance
From the beginning of their high school career until its conclusion, every student meets with their Upper School dean to craft courses of study uniquely suited to their individual academic goals and interests. Students are encouraged to challenge themselves by selecting classes that introduce them to new modes of thinking and extend their knowledge and skills.
Independent Study
This unique option enables students to explore a discipline, subject, or specific topic in much greater depth. Working with a faculty advisor who also assists with constructing a syllabus, students undertake research that is completed outside the traditional classroom. Independent Study courses can run the length of a full school year or take place during one semester.
Science Research Program
This two-year program for applicants in Grades 10–12 engages students in scientific research through selfdriven experimentation. Students learn to read and use peer-reviewed academic scientific journal articles, write a series of formal papers for submission to local and national competitions such as the New York City Science and Engineering Fair, and collaborate with an outside mentor or professional scientist. Their work becomes the basis of a culminating paper, which they craft, revise, and polish in their final year. This course, taken in addition to the regular science sequence, gives students who are interested in pursuing STEM studies in college a significant head start.
Grade 12 Capstone
The culminating capstone requirement, Senior Plan, allows students to take all that they have learned in their Upper School career and apply it to a project of their own design. In a semester-long class, students choose and explore a topic, engage in independent research, summarize their findings in writing, and present their work to the community. Senior Plan Teaching Fellows guide students through the key stages during the semester: choosing a topic, articulating a focused line of inquiry, delving into sources and offering evidence of research, synthesizing findings, and reflecting on the process of learning.
Global Studies
This new certificate program offers a four-year interdisciplinary journey, combining rigorous language study with global perspectives. Students explore their relationship with and impact on the world through diverse coursework and co-curricular projects. The program culminates in a Grade 12 Capstone presentation demonstrating students’ advanced proficiency and global understanding. The highest performing students may earn the opportunity to study abroad, immersing themselves in their target language and enhancing their research for the culminating presentation in that language.
ELECTIVES
AND ADVANCED TOPICS EXAMPLES
Classics & World Language
Introduction to Japanese
Computer and Information Science
Advanced AI, Ethics, and the Costs of Power
Advanced Rocket Engineering in Simulation
Cybersecurity
English
Advanced Author Study: Toni Morrison
Advanced Seminar: Frankenstein’s Legacy
Advanced Seminar: Queering the Text
Magical Realism
Pulp Fiction and Noir
Satire and Society
History
Advanced U.S. History: How Indigenous History is Made
Advanced World History: The Enlightenment
Asian American: Intersection and Community Building in U.S. History
Decolonization in the Age of the Anthropocene
Origins and Consequences of 9/11
Slavery and Resistance
Interdisciplinary Law & Jurisprudence
Advanced Social Psychology Seminar
Science
Advanced Biology: Urban Ecology
Forensic Science
Visual Arts
Advanced Museum Studies with the Met
Advanced Photography Portfolio
Pop-Up Art & Paper Mechanics
Textile Arts
Performing Arts
Advanced Musical Theater Performance
Comedy in Performance: A Study in Creation, Production, Execution
Film Production
Music Composition and Songwriting
Piano Lab
“Poly encourages children to activate all parts of their minds and interests, and allows them to explore and succeed, and even fail.”
VARUN S., MIDDLE & LOWER SCHOOL PARENT
Academics
Each day at Poly is filled with engaging classes and experiences that will expand your child’s intellect, nurture a love of the arts, develop problem-solving skills, and build a sense of community and teamwork. The wide range of rigorous courses and innovative electives guarantees a challenging program to pique interests.
From Genius Hour in Lower School to History of Monsters in Middle School to Advanced AI, Ethics, and Power in Upper School—Poly’s curriculum reflects our commitment to a creative, stimulating, and relevant education.
An Anti-Racist Education
We believe that anti-racism is an essential component and precondition of academic excellence. A healthy multiracial democracy requires learning to honor the widest range of diverse voices and demands that we train all of our students to think critically about systems of power so that they can fulfill their responsibility to engage in purposeful progressive change. Dismantling systemic racism is imperative in order to realize every student’s full potential. This begins in our youngest grades with Anti-Racism Read-Alouds and books that are suggested for families to share at home. It continues in Middle and Upper School with innovative curricular programming, guest speakers, DEIB-focused assemblies for celebrating events such as Hispanic Heritage Month or discussing topical issues, and affinity groups where students can connect, share experiences, and work collectively toward common goals.
Curricular Travel
Exciting travel opportunities allow students to immerse themselves and what they’ve learned in the classroom to new environments and cultures. Trips to the American South, the Navajo Nation, Martinique, Argentina, the battlefields of World War I, Italy, Spain, and Cambodia (among others) have allowed students to venture beyond their comfort zones and explore their own country and the world in new and transformative ways. They return with deeper understanding of peoples and contexts—past and present alike— and, invariably, with an invigorated commitment to learn more.
Electives
Our ever-changing course options match students’ varied intellectual interests and reflect our faculty’s wide-ranging expertise. In every department, students choose from a menu of courses that promotes critical thinking and a love of lifelong learning, and in Upper School, includes close reading of challenging texts, interdisciplinary frameworks for analysis, and advanced quantitative skills.
Service Learning
This program promotes social responsibility, learning through experience, care for the community, and volunteerism. In the Upper School, students complete community service projects by the end of their Grade 11 year. Students have the opportunity to serve Poly and the wider New York City community by enrolling in one of our Service Learning Teams. They have removed invasive plants, done beach cleanup in the Rockaways, stocked food pantry shelves in Staten Island, and planted new trees. Middle School students participated in the ongoing Billion Oyster program to repopulate New York Harbor. Poly students also give back to the community with blood drives, coat drives, and canned food drives. Even our first graders rake leaves and pick up debris on our annual Prospect Park Cleanup Day.
Arts
Supported by a staff of professional artists, Poly provides an array of exciting courses—with a commitment to the hands-on experiential process of art-making—and a wide range of extracurricular activities, all of which build skills and encourage students to find their unique voice and expression. From the beginning, practice is combined with critique. We emphasize the relationships between art and life and encourage reflection on how art can be a way to express ideas critically and creatively.
Arts Partnerships
Dynamic partnerships and collaborations with renowned artists and esteemed institutions, such as Jazz at Lincoln Center, infuse our programs with an electrifying creative energy throughout all Poly divisions. Students engage with a diverse array of working professionals, from artists, composers, and dancers to filmmakers, art scholars, musicians, and storytellers, enriching their journey, instilling appreciation for a variety of art forms, and inspiring their own creative process.
Arts Pathways
Learning art at Poly is a purposeful and coordinated process to ensure students receive a concentrated arts education. When students enter Upper School, they choose one of three tracks: Multidisciplinary Arts, Performing Arts, or Visual Arts. The program cultivates creativity, artistic growth, and a supportive community of aspiring artists, empowering students to discover and nurture their true creative potential.
Excellence in the Arts
Designed for students entering Grades 11 and 12, the Excellence in the Arts Certificate Program is an applicationbased opportunity for young artists to gain additional coursework, community leadership, or service initiatives in the arts. As participants delve into their arts emphasis areas, they receive personalized mentorship, invaluable support for Grade 12 Capstone projects, and a platform to showcase their artistic achievements. Notably, completion of the program earns students recognition on their transcripts, demonstrating their dedication, passion, and excellence in the arts.
AREAS OF STUDY
Art History
Ceramics
Concert Band
Concert Choir
Conservatory
Dance
Debate
Digital Photography
Drawing
Film Production
Independent Study
Instrument Studies
Jazz Band
Mixed Media
Museum Studies
Music Theory
Music Production
Painting
Printmaking
Speech
Stagecraft
Strings Ensemble
Textile Arts
Theater
Voice
Athletics
Athletics, at its best, should feel like an extension of play: fun, engaging, and healthy. Our program gets Poly students moving every day. We give students the physical and mental resources to succeed, whether their athletic goals are to stay active and healthy, to play collegiate sports, or to become a professional athlete.
Our Program
Long Term Athletic Development (LTAD) is at the center of our athletic philosophy and practice. We believe in nurturing the physical, mental, and emotional growth of our studentathletes, prioritizing their overall well-being in their athletic journey. Through a carefully crafted program, we focus on age-appropriate training and skill development, ensuring that our students progress gradually and sustainably. Our experienced coaches and trainers utilize evidence-based practices to provide personalized guidance to each athlete, recognizing their unique strengths and areas for improvement. By emphasizing long-term progress rather than shortterm results, we aim to instill a lifelong passion for sports, fostering resilience, discipline, and teamwork in our students, both on and off the field. Our commitment to LTAD empowers our student-athletes to reach their full potential while leading healthy and active lifestyles.
VARSITY TEAMS
Baseball
Boys’ Basketball
Boys’ Cross-Country
Boys’ Lacrosse
Boys’ Soccer
Boys’ Squash
Boys’ Swimming
Boys’ Tennis
Boys’ Indoor Track and Field
Boys’ Outdoor Track and Field
eSports
Football
Girls’ Basketball
Girls’ Cross-Country
Girls’ Lacrosse
Girls’ Soccer
Girls’ Squash
Girls’ Swimming
Girls’ Tennis
Girls’ Indoor Track and Field
Girls’ Outdoor Track and Field
Girls’ Volleyball
Golf
Softball
Wrestling
MIDDLE SCHOOL TEAMS
Fall
Girls’ Tennis
Volleyball
Soccer
Tackle Football
Winter
Basketball
Wrestling
Spring
Baseball
Boys’ Tennis
Lacrosse
Softball
Track and Field
Our Campuses
Dyker Heights
Our 25-acre campus in Dyker Heights gives our Middle and Upper School students a true Country Day experience— academics, arts, and athletics all in one place. Updated classrooms in our historic main building convey history and a connection to Poly students of the past while providing a modern and state-of-the-art educational experience. A standalone science building offers Upper School students many lecture spaces and well-equipped labs. The Maker Space is home to many of Poly’s computer science classes, as well as our award-winning robotics team, esports team, and tech-focused clubs, such as Girls Who Code. A new 10,000 square foot Arts Center with rehearsal and gallery space joins Poly’s professional 380-seat theater. Our athletics program boasts newly renovated outdoor spaces with baseball, football, soccer, and softball fields, plus a track. Indoors, we have three gyms, world-class squash courts, a performance fitness lab, weight training and sports medicine room, and batting cages.
Transportation
Many Lower School families arrive at school by foot, scooter, bike, or car. Families who live more than a mile from the Park Slope campus have access to Poly’s eight-bus system.
At the Dyker Heights campus, 36 bus routes are available to get students to and from school. In the afternoon, students may choose the early bus at the end of the school day or the late bus if they remain on campus for after-school activities, rehearsals, or practices. Both afternoon bus routes are full service so students get home quickly.
There is no extra cost for using Poly buses.
Park Slope
World-class facilities abound at our Lower School in a LEEDcertified Park Slope mansion. The Lower School campus offers large, sunny classrooms, a language room, science lab, technology room, visual arts, music, and dance studios, a gymnasium, and an ample playground area. Across the street is Prospect Park, both our backyard and a natural extension of our classrooms.
The Results of a Poly Education
Our primary focus is fostering a fulfilling and enriching experience for our students throughout their time at Poly. By prioritizing the holistic development of each student, encouraging exploration of diverse interests, and cultivating a rich academic environment and strong sense of community, Poly graduates depart as confident, capable, self-directed individuals who are well prepared to take advantage of everything college has to offer.
The College Process
Students in Grades 9 through 12 each have a dedicated dean to support their success and happiness throughout high school. Starting in Grade 10, they begin to discuss life after Poly and take early steps toward college applications. As students progress toward applying in the fall of senior year, they have one-on-one support from their individual dean as well as the benefit of the whole team’s experience. The Upper School deans pool their collective knowledge and expertise to craft a list and strategy that works best for each student’s strengths, interests, and goals. They share insights and shape their guidance to help students navigate the college admissions process and choose their next educational steps with care, ensuring that they are not only well-prepared and well-informed, but also ready to think about life after Poly with ambition and independence.
The College List
The 139 members of our Class of 2025 will head off to 64 educational institutions across the country and around the world. Congratulations to them!
Auburn University
Bard College
Bowdoin College
Brown University
Bucknell University (3)
Colgate University (4)
Columbia University (2)
Cornell University (3)
Dartmouth College
Denison University
Drexel University
Duke University
Emerson College
Emory University (4)
Fairfield University (2)
Georgetown University (3)
Gettysburg College
Harvard University (2)
IE University Madrid (2)
Indiana University Bloomington (3)
Lehigh University (3)
Louisiana State University
Loyola Marymount University
McGill University
New York University (4)
Northeastern University
Oberlin College
Pennsylvania State University
Rice University (3)
Rutgers University
Santa Clara University
Skidmore College
Southern Connecticut State University
Southern Methodist University (2)
Spelman College
Stanford University
SUNY College at Oswego
Swarthmore College
Syracuse University (5)
Temple University
Trinity College (2)
Trinity College Dublin
Tufts University
Tulane University (8)
University of California, Los Angeles (2)
University of Colorado Boulder (3)
University of Connecticut (2)
University of Florida
University of Miami (4)
University of Michigan
University of Notre Dame
University of Pennsylvania (7)
University of Southern California (2)
University of Vermont (2)
Ursinus College
Vanderbilt University
Vassar College (3)
Villanova University (6)
Wake Forest University (4)
Washington University in St. Louis (4)
Wesleyan University (3)
Williams College
University of Wisconsin (6)
Yale University (2)
“Being a student at Poly has allowed me to live what I learned. Poly has been my home, my studio, my classroom, and my inspiration”
ALEXANDRA NAVA BALTIMORE ’20
THE NEW SCHOOL ’25, DUAL DEGREE, B.A. IN JOURNALISM, B.F.A. IN PHOTOGRAPHY
“I felt supported at Poly... the teachers and staff were very encouraging and pushed me to do big things.”
KRISTEN PALMER ’19
MIT ’23, B.S. IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE, MINOR IN CHINESE
DYKER HEIGHTS CAMPUS
PARK