Ross School Imagines Education to Prepare Students for an Ever-Changing World

Set amid the serene landscape and natural beauty of the Hamptons, Ross School is defining education for tomorrow, with an interdisciplinary curriculum built on global understanding, independent scholarship, and rigorous inquiry. The school prepares students to approach an ever-changing world with confidence, creativity, and a willingness to engage with new ideas and challenges, while a close-knit community of day and boarding students brings together families from across the United States and 25 different countries.

Many independent schools continue to equate achievement with adherence to a single, prescribed academic path. Ross takes a markedly different view, supporting students as they pursue diverse interests and develop their individual strengths while remaining grounded in a shared sense of community.

 

A Philosophy Built for Change

The school was founded upon the conviction that education ought to prepare students not just for the world as it exists today, but for a world in perpetual flux. Such preparation demands more than the mastery of facts; it calls for curiosity, adaptability, creativity, critical thinking, and the fortitude to confront problems as yet unencountered. That founding philosophy endures, shaping the freedom Ross affords its students to pursue their own passions.

“We believe that combination of rigor, relevance and individual attention is what families increasingly value and what has allowed Ross to grow while remaining true to its founding vision,” says Tom Sturtevant, Head of School.

No Single Path to Success

At Ross, success comes in many forms — evident in coursework that unites STEAM and STEM disciplines with independent endeavors such as the Upper School’s Senior Project, and in Field Academy, where students journey to distant countries and communities to study cultures, ecosystems and economies firsthand. Through these experiences and the guidance and support of teachers who know them well, students have the opportunity to pursue their individual interests, build on their strengths and challenge themselves in meaningful ways.

“That means two Ross students can have very different academic experiences and both be successful,” Sturtevant says. “One might pursue visual art at a high level; another might become deeply engaged in how the climate is impacting local ecosystems; another might discover a passion through Field Academy or athletics.”

A Home Away From Home

Ross’s international students live not in a conventional dormitory, but in small, family-style residences shared with faculty. The arrangement affords them a supportive, close-knit community during their American education — one that a larger residence hall might otherwise preclude.

“Rather than a traditional large dormitory model, Ross boarding students live in smaller, family-style houses with other students and faculty,” Sturtevant says. “That creates close relationships and a community that feels more like home, while giving students access to the academic, cultural and recreational opportunities of the Hamptons and proximity to New York City.”

Among Ross’s parent community is Shirley Roseman, whose two children are enrolled in Grade 3 and Grade 6 at the school.

“Ross has become so much more than a school to our family — it has truly become an extension of our family,” says Shirley Roseman, a Ross School parent. “There is a level of care here that feels incredibly special and rare. Teachers know and care for my children whether they’ve taught them directly or not, and because of that, my kids feel deeply seen, known, and safe. As a parent, there is nothing more meaningful.”

Ross offers students an education grounded in academic rigor, individual attention, and the freedom to explore, providing the foundation and confidence to engage deeply with complex questions, pursue intellectual challenges, and become independent, creative thinkers. This approach prepares students not only for the opportunities ahead, but for a world that will continue to evolve.

About Ross School

Ross School is an independent Early Childhood–Grade 12 school nestled in the Hamptons, approximately two hours east of New York City. The School’s interdisciplinary and experiential approach to learning, together with its close-knit international community, prepares students to think independently, engage meaningfully with a changing world, and approach the future with curiosity, confidence, and purpose.

Learn more about Ross School at ross.org