Buckley A-Z

Academic Divisions

Buckley is divided into three divisions: Early Childhood (Toddler through Kindergarten,) Lower School (Grade 1 through Grade 4,) and Upper School (Grades 5 through 8).

Academics

See Mission, Philosophy, and Core Values .

Board of Trustees

See Board of Trustees .

Buckley Bulldog

The Buckley Bulldog is the school’s official time-honored mascot, embodying the school’s spirit of tenacity, loyalty and courage in all endeavors. See Buckley Bulldog.

Calendar

See Calendar.

Campus

See History and Campus Photo Gallery.

Camp

For twenty-five years, Buckley Country Day Camp has offered thousands of children summer experiences rich in discovery, friendship, and just plain fun. We invite you to discover for yourself our spectacular campus and facilities, and meet our exceptional staff of dedicated educators. Please visit our Summer Camp website.

Class and School Size

Buckley’s Toddler through 8th grade enrollment is 339 students. Our average class size is 13. See Our School .

A recent federally funded study shows that students who attend small schools are less likely than others to engage in risky behavior because they feel better connected to their teachers and one another.

With our small size, the children are all personally known by the faculty, know each other, and feel a sense of connectedness to the school which fosters better learning.

College

See Secondary School Placement .

Community Service

Offering students opportunities for community service is consistent with Buckley’s core values, as emphasized in its Mission Statement . A few examples of our student’s community service projects in 2007-2008 are:
-Thanksgiving food baskets brought to a local shelter for battered women and their children
-Holiday parties for children in the county’s Headstart Program
-The Jump Rope for Heart program will raise funds for medical research

Contact Us

See Contact Us, or call the school at 516-627-1910. Click here for a list of extensions.

Curriculum

See Mission, Philosophy, and Core Values or Curriculum for details by subject area and grade level.

Directions

See Directions.

Diversity

Buckley embraces diversity.  The school draws students from more than twenty districts.  The top communities, representing 70% of our student body,include Manhasset, Port Washington, Herricks, Garden City, Douglaston, Douglas Manor, and Whitestone.  

Early Childhood

See Early Childhood .

Endowment

See Endowment .

Enrichment Program

See Enrichment Program .

Faculty and Staff

Buckley’s teachers are at the core of what makes a Buckley education unique. They are selected for their academic achievements, their passion for teaching, and for the richness of life experiences that they bring to the classroom. In research conducted with Buckley parents, they say that one of the qualities they admire most about the faculty is their strength of character. They believe our teachers provide the role models they want for their children.

Nearly three quarters of Buckley’s faculty holds advanced degrees. The average years of teaching experience is 13 years. On average, our teachers have been at Buckley for 8 years. See Faculty & Staff .

Facilities

See History .

Financial Aid

See Admissions .

Hagedorn Library Learning Center

See Hagedorn Library Learning Center.

Headmaster

Dr. Jean-Marc Juhel was named Buckley’s twelfth headmaster in 2001. A Ph.D. in American History, Dr. Juhel has over twenty years of experience in independent education leadership at schools such as Trinity School and Phillips Exeter Academy. Before joining the Buckley Country Day School, he was head of the upper division at St. Hilda’s and St. Hugh’s in Manhattan. See The Head's Page .

History of Buckley

See History.

Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth

The Johns Hopkins University Talent Search conducts national and international talent searches to identify, assess, and recognize outstanding academic talent.

In 2006-7, eight of our 5th and 6th graders were invited to the State Awards ceremony for distinguishing themselves in the Johns Hopkins University Talent Search. Five of our 7th and 8th graders who took the SAT scored as well as or above the average college-bound senior.

Languages

The study of World Languages begins in Pre-Kindergarten. A choice of French or Spanish must be made in kindergarten and is required through eighth grade. Spanish is currently offered through fifth grade only. Our Spanish option will continue to expand through the eighth grade one year at a time. Beginning in 7th grade, Latin is required. Mandarin Chinese is offered in our extended day program. See Curriculum.

Lower School

See Lower School .

Mission

See Mission Statement .

Music

Music is an integral part of the children’s experience at Buckley. Music classes are scheduled for all students in grades Nursery through eight. In the fourth grade, students learn how to play the recorder. In the Upper School, students can choose among chorus, band, or strings. See Curriculum.

Parents’ Association

See Parents’ Association.

Philosophy

See Mission, Philosophy, & Core values.

Plaques

Our graduates literally leave a part of themselves here in the form of their plaques. As a beloved Buckley tradition, 8th graders design and carve wooden plaques commemorating their years at the school. The plaques adorn the hallways of the school and remain there forever. It is the first thing alumni seek out when they return for their visits to Buckley.

Red and Blue

See Red and Blue Teams .

Secondary School Placement

See Secondary School Placement .

Standardized Testing

See Standardized Testing .

Student/Teacher Ratio

Buckley is a small school by design. The student/teacher ratio is an exceptional 6.6:1.

According to the latest figures from the New York State Department of Education, the average student/teacher ratio in most public schools is 16:1, and it is 17:1 in Catholic schools. At NAIS Schools, however the average student/teacher ratio in day schools is 9:1. See Our School .

Technology

In 2004-05, Buckley launched its new Technology Plan. See Buckley Bulletin on technology. Buckley is committed to graduating educated, competent users of current technology. Our goal is to make information and technology as readily available as paper and pencil across all disciplines and through grades K-8. We are continually enhancing the curriculum through technology, and providing faculty support to enhance teaching. In the fall of 2007, every classroom from grades 1 - 8 was equipped with SMART Board technology. See Curriculum and Computer Technology Program.

Toddlers

See Toddlers .

Tradition

Buckley honors the school’s long-standing traditions. Whether it is our Red and Blue competition, the creating of plaques by the 8th graders, or the annual performance by the 1st grade of The Nutcracker ballet, our 83-year history provides us with many traditions. Celebrating them provides a feeling of continuity in a changing world, and gives our students a sense of connection to our past.

Transportation

See Admissions .

Upper School

See Upper School .

Values

See Mission, Philosophy, and Core Values.

Why an Independent School

The National Center for Education Statistics, with funding from the U.S. Department of Education, conducted the National Education Longitudinal Study (NELS) to measure the lifelong returns of an independent school education. NELS traced the life experiences of students who were eighth graders in 1988 into the 21st century. See the results in a pdf of "Values Added: The Lifelong Returns of an Independent School Education."

Why Buckley

Buckley prides itself on educating and nurturing the whole child, providing a superior education to a diverse and intellectually capable student body. Our faculty creates an environment where students are held to the highest standards of effort, achievement, character, and leadership.

The early years have an immense impact on a child’s life. We invite you to come and consider Buckley Country Day School for your family, and see why thousands of parents over the last eighty-five years have chosen to entrust these early years of their children’s lives to Buckley. See Buckley Parents are Saying and Admissions.