Thornton Donovan School

Teachers seem to be brilliant enough though extremely "cliquey". Lower school director has her favorites (which is quite evident in the hallways) and this seems to be the cas with the students as well. Glad my child is graduating and moving on to a more mature atmosphere!
--Submitted by a parent

Several have remarked that T-D has very high teacher turnover. This is probably because you can't live in NYS on the salaries they offer teachers, and the school offers no health insurance for employees. Not a good way to treat your teachers. To put it kindly, the headmaster is an "odd bird." Plus, from my research, the school is not accredited by any reputable governing body like NAIS or NYSAIS.

I went to Thornton Donovan, grades 7-12. It may have been some 24 years ago but some of the most inspirational teachers that I ever had are STILL THERE! Mr Griffin and Mrs Petrosino! After Thornton Donovan I went to a good college, got my BA in 4 years flat, and have enjoyed a very successful career. The great people at Thornton Donovan helped to prepare and build the foundations of MY LIFE.

My children both attended the Lower School and one left after 8th grade to attend a larger high school. They both felt like they were part of a family and enjoyed the fun projects, including international travel, linked to the country of study each year. They knew my kids very well, understood how they learned and seemed to really care about them. For this, I consider their time at TD to have been a gift. The kids are diverse, some brilliant and unusual. No cliques or other typical school issues. An eclectic group with an assortment of interests. As for the lack of gym, my kids ran around every day at recess and were more active than ever there. That constant exercise was much more important to me than a structured gym class at their ages. Kids can still participate in their local sports programs, which one of my kids did. It's a special place but not for everyone. Great for a child who is smart and travels to the beat of his own drummer. It doesn't offer the full programs of a larger school, but what it does offer is very special.
--Submitted by a parent

I like Thornton-Donovan. However, one should understand that it is an iconoclastic school for iconoclastic children. If you have a child who marches to his or her own drummer, this might be the school for you. There is no large institutional bureaucracy with which to deal as the headmaster runs the school unilaterally. This can be either a good or bad thing depending on whether the headmaster likes or dislikes your child. The headmaster understands children with unusual talents and will go out of his way to accommodate them as long as they behave reasonably. He's not particularly fund of parents although he'll put up with them as long as THEY behave reasonably. if you want a place where a child can learn without school getting in his or her way, take a look at TD.
--Submitted by a parent

Staff turnover at TD is due largey in part to teachers being lured away by higher salaries and better health benefits. All staff members must hold a Masters Degree with most now holding Doctorate Degrees. Class size is kept small so that students may have the differentiated instruction so important in education today. Expectations and accountablity are held high for all in grades K-12. It appears that those with unfavorable reviews didn't have the same expectations for their child as the staff/faculty did!
--Submitted by a parent

I am a parent of a child in the lower school. I have read through some of the negative reviews and some of the information posted is just not true. There is P.E., there is outdoor recess (my son comes home with grass stains from playing football everyday to prove it!), and the facilities are beautiful and lovely old homes (not cold and clinical like most other schools). Yes, there is no gym, put the school is currently under construction for beautiful new playing fields, basketball courts, etc. There is tremendous structure, with room for creativity, in the lower school. The headmaster, Doug Flemming is a warm, welcoming and wonderful man. Agreed, a bit eccentric, but it's his independent spirit that permeates the school and is responsible for it's open and creative culture. A very unique and special learning environment. We're hooked!
--Submitted by a parent

I had 2 kids in the lower school for about 3 years. I found the teachses to be very well rounded at knowledgeable. However, as another parent pointed out they do have problems retaining and attracting good teachers. The facilities are also mediocre at best. The real problem here however is the headmaster, who does plays favorite with the kids and refuses to listen to the parents. I went to TD with high hopes and left disappointed.
--Submitted by a parent

Im a new student at t-d & everyone is so welcoming & helpful also really friendly they make you feel part of the family right away the teachers are great & the head master Mr.Flemming is just such a great guy hes so fun & his sense of humor is really refreshing & he knows its also important to laugh & have fun other than always being serious but don't get me wrong if u screw up uh oh ! But hes a great guy and i feel really safe there & im hoping to stay there as long as i possibly can.
--Submitted by a student

I've been a high school student for about a year now and I don't know much about the lower school. I'll say, it's unusual. I sometimes wish that they had a slightly structured curriculum. And about extra currics and sports, they have none, which is a real disappointment. But those are the things I don't like. What I do like is the amazing close knit community. I also love that it gives you an education, not just in academics, but in life and morals. The headmaster is probably the strangest man I've ever met, but that doesn't matter to me. If you're looking for a close knit community with great morals, go to it. If you want structure, definitely do not!
--Submitted by a student