Portledge School:
Learning is just the beginning
Who We Are
Portledge School is where academic excellence and emotional intelligence meet to inspire next-generation thinkers with the confidence, skills, and values to achieve in an ever-changing world.
We are an inclusive community where every student has a voice, where adults model a love for learning, and where education expands beyond academics to include a full range of experiences—intellectual, artistic, athletic, social, and emotional—allowing each student to develop a sense of who they are and who they want to be.
Mission
Portledge School offers a competitive college preparatory program in a warm, inclusive community. Students are inspired to realize their individual potential by developing the critical thinking skills and moral courage necessary for lifelong learning in an increasingly complex world.
Portledge School defines Moral Courage as: Acting with Kindness, Purpose, Honor, and Respect while recognizing such actions may not be easy.
Portledge is a Place Where:
Achievement is Rooted in Confidence
Our forward-thinking curriculum uniquely prepares students through academic rigor and intellectual discourse within a supportive environment. We encourage our students to ask questions, take risks, try, fail, succeed, lead, and grow into confident and critical thinkers. We create immersive opportunities for students to dive into their passions while simultaneously reaching their academic goals. The result? An education with a deep level of personal connection that opens doors (and minds) to broad opportunities for achievement.
“Portledge really did prepare me for the complex world we live in today. The quality of instruction and the variety of options showed me the diverse and interesting things you can learn in this world.”
–PHIL HAN ’98
Kindness
is Valued
At Portledge, we aspire to an unparalleled family-like sense of warmth and welcoming. Our acceptance of one another offers an extraordinary sense of inclusivity and acceptance to children at a time in their lives when they need it most. The beauty of Portledge is that when you arrive here, you can be yourself because who you are “supposed” to be doesn’t exist. What does exist are powerful connections based upon a value of genuine kindness built upon trust and mutual respect. While we recognize each student’s unique individuality and background, it is a shared sense of belonging that makes our community a family and our campus a home.
“Being new to Portledge, I was unsure exactly what to expect. As soon as I got on campus, my advisor, new classmates, and teachers welcomed me and acted like I had gone to Portledge for years! Portledge is a special place and brought me my best friends. I excel at Portledge because of all the support systems in place. I hope to welcome other students into the community.”
- JOSIE H. ’28
Portledge is a Place Where:
Opportunity Drives Passion
If you want something, you have the power to make it happen: this is the ethos at Portledge School. A robust and accessible selection of co-curricular offerings provides Portledge students with opportunities to discover and explore interests beyond the classroom. What makes Portledge unique is how far students are able to expand these opportunities into passions that impact their personal and intellectual curiosity.
“Portledge provided me the opportunity to be able to learn and be challenged academically, while also having that familiarity and family.”
–CAROLYN SLANETZ-CHIU ’85
“I came to Portledge in 5th grade. It saw 8 years of my life. It’s not “it”. It’s the teachers that make it special. The whole atmosphere is catered to healthy development. And the small class sizes. They truly encourage personal development. I’m incredibly grateful I was able to attend Portledge.”
—TYLER WASSERMAN ’23
Being Known Inspires Growth
When students feel known, they have the courage to move outside their comfort zone and experience new levels of academic and personal growth. At Portledge, meaningful connections between students and faculty are built upon mutual respect, genuine care, and open communication. Students are surrounded by teachers who know, support, and celebrate their individuality and interests both in the classroom and on the fields. These relationships inspire the intellectual curiosity that drives students to push beyond potential and rise to their personal best.
Your Voice Matters
We believe that having a voice strengthens moral courage. Every day, we empower our students to examine the world around them, to listen, to reflect, and to use their voices to advocate for themselves and the greater good. By having the confidence to use their voice, Portledge students are equipped to build the integrity and resilience essential for them to navigate an increasingly complex world.
“I
was able to find myself here through the community. I carried that through college. I found my identity here.”
- GRACE WILSON ’23
An International Baccalaureate World School
Portledge School is proud to be the only private school on Long Island to offer the prestigious International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme. The IB pedagogy inspires exemplary teaching and meaningful learning that aligns with Portledge’s mission of instilling an authentic lifelong love of learning in our students. The IB Diploma Programme is internationally recognized as representing one of the highest standards in university preparatory education. It enables students to direct their own learning pathway and develop the skills and confidence they need to thrive and make a lasting difference.
In 2023, we expanded our IB curriculum to include our Early Childhood and Lower School, becoming a Primary Years Programme (PYP) Candidate School.
While Portledge is an IB World School, we also offer some Advanced Placement (AP) providing students with a broader range of advanced coursework options, catering to diverse academic interests. This combination enhances students’ college readiness by allowing them to choose an individualized and challenging curriculum best suited to their needs.
Portledge is committed to offering an admissions process that allows our inquiring families full access to our school and community. Our admissions team is happy to help you through the application journey, and we encourage you to attend an admissions event or book a tour of our stunning 63-acre campus.
For more information, visit www.portledge.org/admissions.
No matter where you start your journey at Portledge, you will discover the joy of learning, the warmth of belonging, and the foundation of critical-thinking skills to propel you to the next step of your academic journey.
KINDNESS PURPOSE
HONOR RESPECT
Portledge School
Locust Valley, NY 11560
admissions@portledge.org
www.portledge.org/admissions
516.750.3202
