Westorchard School

I agree entirely with teh positive assessments of Westorchard. My child was recognized as academically gifted and was given appropriate challenges along the way. She also made lots of friends with whom she still keeps in close touch although they are all now in the 20s. The teachers and the administrators are superb. Mrs Papi, her first grade teacher with many years of experience at the time, predicted that this child will go far. She went through the Chappaqua schools all the way - learning, having fun, playing two varsity sports. My daughter was accepted at all the Ivys and chose to attend Stanford University, from which she graduated Phi Beta Kappa.
--Submitted by a parent

Westorchard has a reputation as being the best out of the three elementary schools (Grafflin & Roaring Brook are the others serving New Castle), But I am disappointed with one very important academic component that is lacking. This school ignores the academically advanced students. The focus is on the "whole child" but they do not address a child that needs challenging work. If you are a parent of a child that needs in-school speech therapy, reading instruction, or has been classified for other reasons, you are lucky. There is support for your child at this school (and you have the State of NY at your back). But if you are the parent of an academically advanced student, be prepared to provide proof to the Administration that they are wasting your child's potential. And be prepared for the frustration you will feel once you have asked for the academic enrichment your child needs only to be provided with the bare minimum. They have a week dedicated to how proud they are of how inclusive they are but tune you out the second you point out their curriculum is not addressing the needs of the exceptional (or twice exceptional) students. This is not all inclusive, is it?
--Submitted by a parent

This is an awesome school. The school is well run. Children learn a very diverse amount of information. I am amazed at the speakers that come to the school from civil rights activist Ruby Bridges to local authors. The kids in first grade recently did a project studying the life of snails using real snails that they 'rented' for a week ! The kids loved it ! Chappaqua runs an inclusion model so in the classrooms you find children with special needs or kids with English as a second language totally mixed into the classes. Children are quietly pulled into side rooms for 1 on 1 speech therapy or Ot or whatever and the kids never seem to even notice so no stigma is attached. Parents are ver involved and parents volunteer to come in and read the story hour. Rxcellent school. Only negative is the after-school program is small.
--Submitted by a parent

This is a phenomenal elementary school. One where the teachers are committed not only to student learning but also to their overall development. The teachers work colloboratively and are constantly refining their practice. They truly model lifelong learning. The music, art and pe program are also of the highest caliber.
--Submitted by a teacher