{{Short description|Prep school in Saddle River, New Jersey, US}} {{Use American English|date=August 2020}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}} {{Infobox school | name = Saddle River Day School | image = SRDS Main Hall no tree.jpg | image_size = 250x200px | established = 1957 | type = [[Private school|Private]] [[Day school]] | head_of_school = Jalaj Desai<ref>[https://www.saddleriverday.org/about-srds/welcome-from-our-head-of-school Welcome from our Head of School], Saddle River Day School. Accessed February 15, 2026.</ref> | address = 147 Chestnut Ridge Road | city = [[Saddle River, New Jersey|Saddle River]] | county = [[Bergen County, New Jersey|Bergen County]] | state = [[New Jersey]] | zipcode = 07458 | country = United States | coordinates = {{coord|41.030607|-74.084815|region:US_type:edu|display=inline,title}} | campus = Suburban | grades = [[kindergarten|K]]–[[twelfth grade|12]] | tuition = $54,100 (9–11), $55,100 (12) for 2026–27<ref>[https://www.saddleriverday.org/admissions/tuition Tuition & Financing], Saddle River Day School. Accessed February 15, 2026.</ref> | enrollment = 447 (plus 33 in PreK, as of 2023–24)<ref name=NCES/> | faculty = 61.0 [[full-time equivalent|FTEs]]<ref name=NCES/> | ratio = 7.3:1<ref name=NCES/> | us_nces_school_id = 00868768<ref name=NCES/> | colors = {{Color box|Navy}} Navy blue<br>{{Color box|Red}} Red and<br>{{Color box|White}} white<ref name=NJSIAAprofile/> | team_name = Rebels | yearbook = Retrospect<ref name=Clubs>[https://www.saddleriverday.org/our-community/student-life Clubs and Activities], Saddle River Country Day School. Accessed April 7, 2022.</ref> | newspaper = The Rebel Report<ref name=Clubs/> | publication = Periscope (Alumni)<br>Parents Guild Newslink | website = {{URL|https://www.saddleriverday.org/}} }} '''Saddle River Day School''' is a [[coeducation]]al, college-preparatory independent [[day school]], located in [[Saddle River, New Jersey|Saddle River]], in [[Bergen County, New Jersey|Bergen County]], [[New Jersey]], serving students in [[Pre-kindergarten|Pre-K3]] through [[twelfth grade]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Preschool in Bergen County NJ {{!}} Saddle River Day School |url=https://www.saddleriverday.org/academics/early-childhood-program |access-date=2023-05-04 |website=www.saddleriverday.org |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Private High School in Bergen County, NJ {{!}} Saddle River Day School |url=https://www.saddleriverday.org/academics/upper-school |access-date=2023-05-04 |website=www.saddleriverday.org |language=en-US}}</ref> Its student body is drawn from communities in Bergen, [[Essex County, New Jersey|Essex]], [[Morris County, New Jersey|Morris]] and [[Passaic County, New Jersey|Passaic]] counties in New Jersey and [[Rockland County, New York|Rockland County]] in [[New York (state)|New York]].
Saddle River Day School has three divisions: the Lower Division, the Middle Division, and the Upper Division. In 1966 it received accreditation from the [[Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools]], which expires in July 2027.<ref>[https://www.msa-cess.org/school-profile/?oId=0065e00000B8Rr5&typ=school-profile Saddle River Day School], [[Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools]] Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools. Accessed December 31, 2022.</ref> The school is also accredited by the [[New Jersey Department of Education]] and is a member of the [[New Jersey Association of Independent Schools]]<ref>[http://www.njais.org/page.cfm?p=365 List of Member Schools], [[New Jersey Association of Independent Schools]]. Accessed August 13, 2017.</ref> and the [[National Association of Independent Schools]].
As of the 2023–24 school year, the school had an enrollment of 447 students (plus 33 in PreK) and 61.0 classroom teachers (on an [[full-time equivalent|FTE]] basis), for a [[student–teacher ratio]] of 7.3:1.<ref name=NCES>[https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/privateschoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&ID=00868768 School data for Saddle River Day School], [[National Center for Education Statistics]]. Accessed September 1, 2025.</ref>
==History== Saddle River Country Day School, founded by John C. and Diane M. Alford on June 24, 1957, opened in September 1960 after overcoming zoning disputes. Originally housed in a mansion on the Denison estate, the school served grades five through twelve with an initial enrollment of forty-five students. Over the years, the school expanded significantly, adding new buildings like Alford Hall and North Hall, growing its student body, and enhancing its academic and extracurricular programs. The school was renamed Saddle River Day School in 1980. Despite facing challenges in the early 1990s, including a decline in enrollment and leadership changes, the school rebounded, introducing new programs and expanding its facilities.<ref name="History">{{cite web |title=History Of Saddle River Day School 1957-2007 |url=https://ibb.co/dPYBMcs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240828221335/https://ibb.co/dPYBMcs |url-status=usurped |archive-date=August 28, 2024 |publisher=Saddle River Day School |access-date=28 August 2024}}</ref>
The campus currently features three buildings:<ref name="History" />
'''Main Hall''': Houses the Lower School and offices for the Headmaster, Admissions, Development, Finance, and Administrative staff.
'''Alford Hall''': Used by the middle school, Alford Hall features science and mathematics classrooms, the Athansia M. Tsoukas Laboratory, the Margaret Clark Laboratory, facilities for art and music, the entire performing Arts Center, and the Connell Science Wing.
'''North Hall''': Contains the offices of the Upper School Dean, the Dean of Students, and the Director of College Placement. North Hall also includes The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), a full kitchen, senior commons, a gymnasium, locker rooms, a fitness room, and a music room.
The "Building the Future" campaign successfully funded a fourth building (Hall of Science and Entrepreneurship), with an expected completion date of mid-2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=Private High School in Bergen County, NJ {{!}} Saddle River Day School |url=https://www.saddleriverday.org/building-the-future |website=www.saddleriverday.org |access-date=28 August 2024}}</ref>
==Curriculum== The Lower School utilizes phonics for language arts instruction. An IDEAS Lab (Innovation, Design, Engineering, Arts, and Science) encourages constructionism through student interactions with their physical environment. This manifests through lessons in robotics, critical thinking, 3D design, and basic coding. Foreign language instruction begins in Kindergarten, and continues as a requirement through 12th grade.<ref>{{cite web |title=Private Lower School Curriculum |url=https://www.saddleriverday.org/academics/lower-school/lower-school-curriculum |website=saddleriverday.org |publisher=Saddle River Day School |access-date=13 August 2024}}</ref>
The Middle School offers a robust curriculum, with accelerated tracks in Science and Math, three world languages (Spanish, French, and Arabic), in addition to introductory courses in Business and Graphic Design.<ref>{{cite web |title=Middle School Curriculum |url=https://www.saddleriverday.org/academics/middle-school/middle-school-curriculum |website=saddleriverday.org |publisher=Saddle River Day School |access-date=13 August 2024}}</ref>
The Upper School offers the following nineteen [[Advanced Placement]] courses:<ref name="Upper School Curriculum">{{cite web |title=Upper School Curriculum |url=https://www.saddleriverday.org/academics/upper-school/upper-school-curriculum |website=saddleriverday.org |publisher=Saddle River Day School |access-date=13 August 2024}}</ref> [[AP English Literature and Composition|English Literature]], [[AP English Language and Composition|English Language]], [[AP United States History|United States History]], [[AP European History|European History]], [[AP Human Geography|Human Geography]], [[AP World History: Modern|World History]], [[AP Psychology|Psychology]], [[AP Macroeconomics|Macroeconomics]], [[AP Music Theory|Music Theory]], [[AP French Language and Culture|French]], [[AP Spanish Language and Culture|Spanish]], [[AP Calculus|Calculus AB and BC]], [[AP Statistics|Statistics]], [[AP Biology|Biology]], [[AP Physics C: Mechanics|Physics C: Mechanics]], [[AP Chemistry|Chemistry]], [[AP Computer Science Principles|Computer Science Principles]] and [[AP Computer Science A|A]].
Additionally, Upper School students can select a diverse range of electives from Linear Algebra, Artificial Intelligence, Middle Eastern Studies, and Photography.<ref name="Upper School Curriculum" />
Saddle River Day School also offers students in the 9th-12th grades the opportunity to participate in the yearly French Exchange Program. This program includes a two-week homestay in alternate years in Dijon, France.
==Athletics== The Saddle River Day School Rebels<ref name=NJSIAAprofile>[https://www.njsiaa.org/schools/saddle-river-day-school Saddle River Day School], [[New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association]]. Accessed October 20, 2020.</ref> participate in the [[North Jersey Interscholastic Conference]], which is comprised of small-enrollment schools in Bergen, [[Hudson County, New Jersey|Hudson]], [[Morris County, New Jersey|Morris]] and [[Passaic County, New Jersey|Passaic]] counties, and was created following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the [[New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association]] (NJSIAA).<ref>Mattura, Greg. [https://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/high-school/basketball/2017/01/09/boys-basketball-north-jersey-interscholastic-conference-matt-stone-stan-fryczynski/96312432/ "Small-school NJIC may debut its own league championship"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', January 9, 2017. Accessed August 30, 2020. "The small-school North Jersey Interscholastic Conference may debut its own boys basketball tournament this season, one season after introducing its girls hoops championship. The NJIC is comprised of schools from Bergen, Passaic and Hudson counties and the event offered to the 36 boys teams would serve as an alternative to likely competing against larger programs in a county tournament."</ref><ref>[https://www.northjerseyic.org/g5-bin/client.cgi?G5genie=265 Member Schools], [[North Jersey Interscholastic Conference]]. Accessed August 30, 2020.</ref><ref>[https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2020-10/2020-2021-lc-officers-schools.pdf League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021], [[New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association]]. Accessed October 20, 2020.</ref> Previously, the school was a member of the all-private Patriot Conference, but after a decision by the NJSIAA in February 2008, both [[Hawthorne Christian Academy]] and Saddle River Day School joined the Olympic Division of the [[Bergen County Scholastic League]] (BCSL) later that year, and remained in the conference until it was disbanded as part of the NJSIAA's 2010 realignment.<ref>Schutta, Gregory. [http://www.northjersey.com/hssports/Two_non-publics_enter_BCSL_Olympic.html "Two non-publics enter BCSL Olympic"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', February 7. 2008. Accessed February 7, 2008.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110724142847/http://www.njsiaa.org/NJSIAA/09leagueaffiliations.pdf New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association League Memberships – 2009-2010], [[New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association]], backed up by the [[Internet Archive]] as of July 24, 2011. Accessed December 15, 2014.</ref> The BCSL was disbanded as a part of a wide-ranging realignment of high school sports in northern New Jersey, and Saddle River Day moved to the new NJIC in the fall of 2010. With 133 students in grades 10-12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2019–20 school year as Non-Public B for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 37 to 366 students in that grade range (equivalent to Group II for public schools).<ref>[https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2020-11/general-classifications-2018-2020.pdf NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020], [[New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association]]. Accessed November 20, 2020.</ref>
The girls basketball team won the Non-Public Group B state title in 2018 (defeating [[Rutgers Preparatory School]] in the tournament final) and 2019 (vs. [[Trenton Catholic Academy]]), and was declared as the Non-Public North B sectional champion in 2020 after finals were cancelled due to COVID-19.<ref name=NJSIAAGirlsBasketball>[https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2020-11/2020-girls-basketball-history.pdf Girls Basketball Championship History: 1919–2024], [[New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association]], updated March 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024.</ref> The team won their first title with a 73-49 win against Rutgers Prep in the finals of the Non-Public B tournament final.<ref>Copper, Darren. [https://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/high-school/basketball/2018/03/10/girls-basketball-saddle-river-day-rip-rutgers-prep-earn-first-new-jersey-nj-non-public-b-title/413777002/ "Girls basketball: Saddle River Day rips Rutgers Prep to earn first title; IHA's run ends"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', March 10, 2018. Accessed October 27, 2020. "The Rebels gave New Jersey a good shake at the Barnabas Center racing past Rutgers Prep 73-49 to claim their first Non-Public B girls basketball state title Saturday. Saddle River Day advances to the six-team Tournament of Champions, which opens Wednesday."</ref> The 2019 team repeated as winner of the Non-Public B title against Trenton Catholic by a score of 79-67 in the title game.<ref>[https://www.nj.com/highschoolsports/article/no-3-saddle-river-day-girls-basketball-does-it-again-beats-no-6-trenton-catholic-in-non-public-b-final/ "No. 3 Saddle River Day girls basketball does it again, wins Non-Public B title"], NJ Advance Media for [[NJ.com]], March 9, 2019, updated August 22, 2019. Accessed October 27, 2020. "That score ended a Trenton Catholic run and put away any doubt in the Non-Public B final. It was all a part of a 30-point night for Sidor as she led Saddle River Day, No. 3 in the NJ.com Top 20, to a 79-67 win over No. 6 Trenton Catholic and jumped into second place all-time for career points in state history."</ref> The teams advanced to the [[Tournament of Champions (NJSIAA)|Tournament of Champions]] both seasons. In 2018, the team was the fifth seed, winning the quarterfinals by 92-63 against fourth-seeded [[University High School (New Jersey)|University High School]] before losing to number-one seed [[Manasquan High School]] 80-67 in the semifinal game played at the [[RWJBarnabas Health Arena]] to finish at 24-7 for the season.<ref>Lerner, Gregg. [https://shoresportsnetwork.com/manasquan-tops-saddle-river-day-to-reach-toc-final/ "Good as Advertised; Masonius Fuels Manasquan Into ToC Final"], Shore Sports Network, March 16, 2018. Accessed February 8, 2021. "She penned the latest chapter Friday night with a dominating performance that covered practically every shred of lumber on the court at RWJBarnabas Health Arena, collecting 26 points and 20 rebounds to complement her overall composure in powering top-seeded Manasquan to an 80-67 triumph over fifth-seeded Saddle River Day in the semifinal round of the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions."</ref> The 2019 team was the second seed and won the semifinal round by a score of 76-63 against number-three seed [[Manchester Township High School]] before losing in the finals to top seed [[Franklin High School (New Jersey)|Franklin High School]] by a score of 65-57 and finishing the season at 28-3.<ref>[https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2020-11/2020-girls-tofc-history.pdf NJSIAA Girls Basketball Tournament of Champions History], [[New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association]]. Accessed November 20, 2020.</ref><ref>Tartaglia, Gregg. [https://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/high-school/basketball/2019/03/17/tournament-champions-saddle-river-day-basketball-falls-franklin/3177765002/ "Saddle River Day basketball comes up short in bid for Tournament of Champions title"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', March 17, 2019. Accessed February 8, 2021. "The No. 2 seed Rebels bowed to No. 1 Franklin, 65-57, in Sunday's NJSIAA Tournament of Champions final at Rutgers' Louis Brown Athletic Center.... Saddle River Day finished its finest season at 28-3."</ref>
==Notable alumni== {{Category see also|Saddle River Day School alumni}} * [[Jay Feinberg]] (born 1968, class of 1986), founder and CEO of the [[Gift of Life Marrow Registry]]<ref>[https://www.giftoflife.org/posts/post/srds-creates-teen-focused-appeal-for-gift-of-life Students at Gift of Life CEO’s alma mater create teen-focused ad campaign], [[Gift of Life Marrow Registry]], August 29, 2017. Accessed August 13, 2024. "When Gift of Life CEO and Saddle River Day School (SRDS) alumnus Jay Feinberg visited the school in October 2016 to explain the organization’s mission to students, one teacher saw an opportunity."</ref><ref>[https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/bergen/ridgewood/2016/10/20/swab-mob-group-helps-to-save-lives-in-saddle-river/93057256/ "'Swab Mob' group helps to save lives in Saddle River"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', October 20, 2016. Accessed August 13, 2024. "The event was inspired by Gift of Life Founder and CEO Jay Feinberg, who graduated from Saddle River Day School in 1986."</ref> * [[Jeremy Glick]] (1970–2001), a passenger on [[United Airlines Flight 93|Flight 93]] on [[September 11, 2001]]<ref>[[Adrian Wojnarowski|Wojnarowski, Adrian]]. [https://www.espn.com/columns/wojnarowski/1251966.html "Glick lost his life, but won his final bout"], ''[[ESPN]]'', September 19, 2011. Accessed January 26, 2011. "He was an all-state wrestler for Saddle River Day School in Northern, N.J., a judo champion."</ref> * [[J. Mackye Gruber]] (born 1972, class of 1990), screenwriter and film director<ref>{{cite book |title=Retrospect |date=1990 |publisher=Saddle River Day School |page=19}}</ref> * [[Natalie Jane]] (class of 2022), singer-songwriter<ref>Lee, Gretchen. [https://www.saddleriverday.org/about-srds/srds-news/~board/news/post/natalie-janowski-22-to-exhibit-art-at-brooklyn-waterfront-artists-coalitions-national-art-show "Natalie Janowski, '22 to exhibit art at Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition's National Art Show"], Saddle River Day School, September 20, 2019. Accessed August 21, 2024.</ref> * [[Tor Lundvall]] (born 1968, class of 1987), painter and musician<ref name="2021 Annual Report">[https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1641759509/saddleriverdayorg/f11f3geu9azudnrisaxi/finalFDsrdsreport2111821.pdf#page=7 ''Bulletin and Annual Report 2021 ''], Saddle River Day School. Accessed August 13, 2024.</ref> <!--Alphabetized as "McKenna, Aline Brosh"-->* [[Aline Brosh McKenna]] (born 1967), screenwriter for ''[[27 Dresses]]'' and ''[[The Devil Wears Prada (film)|The Devil Wears Prada]]''<ref>Salemi, Vicki. [http://njmonthly.com/articles/lifestyle/glorifying-jersey.html "Glorifying Jersey; A noted Hollywood screenwriter uses her Jersey roots to help inform her storytelling."], ''[[New Jersey Monthly]]'', December 13, 2010. Accessed July 25, 2011. ""It's definitely part of who I am," says the Los Angeles-based scribe, who was born in France and moved with her family to Fort Lee when she was 6 months old. The family later moved to Demarest and then Montvale, where she lived from age seven until college. Brosh McKenna, now 43, attended Saddle River Day School, studied literature at Harvard and, after graduation, co-wrote ''A Co-Ed's Companion'' with her college roommate."</ref> * [[Grace Pak]] (born 1987, class of 2005), cake designer featured on [[Netflix]] show ''[[Is It Cake?]]''<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record-north-jersey-scholars/166141593/ "North Jersey Scholars"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', April 24, 2005. Accessed February 18, 2025, via [[Newspapers.com]]. "Grace Pak, Saddle River Day School Year of graduation: 2005"</ref> * [[Danielle Pinnock]] (born 1988), actress, comedian and writer<ref>Kuperinsky, Amy. [https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2021/10/meet-ghosts-star-danielle-pinnock-how-jerseys-joyful-spirit-is-making-people-laugh-all-pandemic-long.html "Meet ''Ghosts'' star Danielle Pinnock. How Jersey’s joyful spirit is making people laugh all pandemic long."], NJ Advance Media for [[NJ.com]], October 7, 2021. Accessed December 22, 2021. "Growing up in Teaneck, Pinnock earned a scholarship to Saddle River Day School, where she became a regular on the stage."</ref> * [[Lisa Rogak]], author, primarily of biographies and other non-fiction books<ref>Chollett, Laurence. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record-profile-of-lisa-angowski-roga/166140943/ "Sticks: One woman's guide to adopting life in the country"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', October 16, 1994. Accessed February 18, 2025. "Rogak, 31, was born and raised in Glen Rock and graduated from Saddle River Country Day School."</ref> * [[Schandra Singh]] (born 1977, class of 1995), artist whose work has been featured in ''[[New York (magazine)|New York]]'', ''[[Elle (magazine)|Elle]]'' and ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]''<ref name="2020 Annual Report">[https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1607363476/saddleriverdayorg/hxjhufyuyf2zpi9zccro/SupportSRDS-BulletinAnnualReportPDF.pdf#page=7 ''Fall 2020 Bulletin and Annual Report''], Saddle River Day School. Accessed August 13, 2024.</ref> * [[Thomas Turino]] (born 1951, class of 1970), [[Ethnomusicology|ethnomusicologist]] and author of several textbooks in the field<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record-saddle-river-day-school-gradu/191344380/ "Day School Graduates"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', June 9, 1970. Accessed February 15, 2026, via [[Newspapers.com]] Saddle River - Twentynine seniors from Bergen, Passaic, and Rockland counties been graduated the Country Day School.... Graduates from Saddle River included Brandon M. Alford, Gail A. Atkinson, Steven M. Cabral, Andrew E. Minton, Erica Tamblyn, and Thomas R. Turino."</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Retrospect 1970 |publisher=Saddle River Day School |page=70 |url=https://www.classmates.com/siteui/yearbooks/4182745203?page=70}}</ref> * [[Donna Thorland]] (born 1973, class of 1991), author and screenwriter<ref>{{cite web |last1=Administrator |first1=BCCLS |title=Discover: Donna Thorland: Donna Thorland |url=https://discover.bccls.org/authorized/donnathorland |website=discover.bccls.org |access-date=31 August 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == *[https://www.saddleriverday.org/ Official school website] *[https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/privateschoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&SchoolID=00868768&ID=00868768 Data for Saddle River Day School], [[National Center for Education Statistics]]
{{Bergen County, New Jersey High Schools}} {{New Jersey Prep}} {{NJIC}} {{NJAIS}}
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[[Category:1957 establishments in New Jersey]] [[Category:Educational institutions established in 1957]] [[Category:New Jersey Association of Independent Schools]] [[Category:Preparatory schools in New Jersey]] [[Category:Private elementary schools in New Jersey]] [[Category:Private high schools in Bergen County, New Jersey]] [[Category:Private middle schools in New Jersey]]