Buckley Country Day School in Roslyn

Posted: October 6, 2024

A RIP-OFF. This school is great if you have a genius child who doesnt need to be taught. For others, its a toxic environment, destroying your childs self-esteem and mental health. Expect relentless pressure, test after test, and teachers who give ZERO support. Its a home for teachers who cant get a job elsewhere; theyll tell your child to look up answers online while watching YouTube or texting their friends during class. A few teachers go even as far as bullying students and actively damaging young students out of pure enjoyment. Then, there is an issue of blatant favoritism toward children of the wealthy/influential; it's disheartening. Administrators ignore complaints and dismiss any concerns raised. The head of the school is only interested in clinging to his position, while the new upper school principal appears to be in retirement mode. If you love your child, STAY AWAY.

Posted: October 6, 2024

Posted: March 21, 2024

I have worked at Buckley for almost ten years, and I can't say enough wonderful things about the school. The curriculum is always evolving to meet the moment and the needs of its students, while staying true to its roots in the liberal arts.

The faculty and staff truly care for each and every child, by learning who they are as individuals and building a rapport with them over the years. Working with alumni, they constantly tell us what a strong educational foundation they earned at Buckley, supporting their academic success in high school and college. Buckley graduates are curious, think critically, and tackle each challenge they face with the tenacity and enthusiasm they built during their years at BCDS.

Coming to work at Buckley every day is a joy (no, really!), and the campus certainly adds to the experience of the community. With 28 acres of sports fields and grounds, a pond, three playgrounds, and a new dining room and six additional classrooms on the horizon, the facilities at Buckley are beautiful, functional, and steeped in history.

The parent community is warm and welcoming, and with monthly Parents' Association meetings and a Grandparents' committee, everyone in your family has the opportunity to be an active volunteer and participate in school events.

I am constantly impressed by Buckley students and alumni, and I feel very lucky to work at a school that embraces and celebrates each and every member of our incredibly diverse community.

Posted: August 22, 2023

I wish I could warn everyone about this school. As a current parent, I am continually frustrated by how the school leadership ignores the social and emotional needs of the students. Lots of parents choose this school because the public schools in Long Island don't have the resources for kids who require special education/special needs. It is choice made of necessity for many of us, but every year I am wondering if I should take my kids out because they hate it here.

But the school does not invest AT ALL in supporting students emotionally. The kids make each other's lives miserable - the peer groups are tight knit and most kids have been together since nursery school. The bigger problem is that bullies and problem kids often come from donor or legacy families and the school will NEVER ask the parents to deal with behavioral issues or discipline their kids. So, the blame is constantly put on the other kids (often families on scholarships). They finally hired a school counselor because so many kids were complaining to their parents about being bullied and depressed ... only to have the counselor be part time and so busy he can never meet with all the kids who need him. It's really awful. I would say avoid at all costs if you want to protect your child from being emotionally traumatized by being at school.

Posted: August 22, 2023

Posted: December 31, 2019

majority of buckley students come from quite wealthy families. not to say that i am poor, but i come from a different lifestyle than most of those kids. and it was obvious. i once had a friend come over to my house and the first comment they made was this house is so small. thats not a comment i would be making to anybody. another girl once came into school wearing balenciaga shoes, which are very very expensive. she made everyone aware that she had them, even teachers. there are also the students that cry poverty to others meanwhile their parents have the highest paying jobs that there are. one girl once broke down crying about how her family cant afford to go on vacation for spring break, but later that day her father picked her up in a tesla and volunteered to take her friends to the mall.

Posted: December 31, 2019

the school takes leadership quite seriously. they say they want to take students and turn them into leaders for society, but it seems they are doing the opposite. there are teachers that share inappropriate information such as political views and personal issues which most definitely influence students. this school also takes the definition of diversity to another level. what they fail to realize is that diversity includes more that just race. this school is giving its students the impression that they are untouchable and in charge meanwhile they are far from it.

Posted: December 31, 2019

if there was a button below strongly disagree, thats the one id press. i am a student with multiple learning disabilities such as ADHD and vision issues. i was required to receive certain accommodations and i never got them. in the upper school, teachers refused to accommodate my issues.

Posted: December 31, 2019

not much to say about their bullying since most students who bully are never caught by teachers and when other students report them they just deny everything.

Posted: December 31, 2019

as a former buckley student of 10 years, i would not recommend this school to anyone who is not able to mold to what the school wants you to be. i find that the lower school still has a successful approach to student wellbeing. upper school is just a trainwreck to say the least. there really isnt much to say other than that.

Posted: December 31, 2019

some teachers had a helpful and a
effective approach to homework, but some did not. there were teachers that would say ask a classmate or to search for the answer on your own. things like that dont help students learn the information or how to calmly and successfully approach work because they are stressed about finding answers.

Posted: December 31, 2019

again, there were those teachers that went above and beyond to make sure that students were in a good state physically and mentally. but that was mostly in the lower school. in upper school, i found that there were certain teachers that were quite close and that made it difficult to get to one individually. that didnt make it easy for students. as a student with multiple learning disabilities and requiring accommodations, i especially needed assistance from teachers that i did not receive. over time, it seems like all of the experienced and helpful teachers were either asked to resign due to sole stupid reason or a complaint by a parent that was completely out of context, or they resigned by choice because they realized how disorganized the school has become.

Posted: October 4, 2019

This is where Buckley really drops the ball. Buckley teaches its students that they are perfect and their perfection should NEVER be questioned. Teachers that challenge students are let go or pushed out. The result is a battalion of spoiled entitled children with no academic curiosity and no respect for anyone but #1. They don't respect their teachers, their parents or their peers. Lying for self advancement is rewarded at this school and the head of school is SO afraid that a student might complain to his parents he throws his faculty under the bus if a student so much as says their feels are hurt. Buckley parents aren't interested in integrity. They aren't interested in educating their children. They are interested in sending their children to Ivy league schools by any means necessary and woe to those who stand in their way.

Posted: October 4, 2019

Buckley was once a great place for education. Since the current head of school took over he has forced out all the excellent teachers that once made Buckley great. He surrounds himself with yes men but will throw any teacher under the bus the moment a parent questions their techniques. He is unwelcoming to alumni (but seeks their money.) The current head of school is one of the most morally bankrupt individuals I've ever had the misfortune of meeting and Buckley will not be a great institution of learning again until he is gone.

Posted: October 4, 2019

This is a school where the head of school has surrounded himself by teachers that kiss the students butts so as not to upset the parents. Teachers that challenged the students and promoted academic curiosity and excellence have been systematically fired or pushed out (mostly women) until those that remain are only there until a student decides he doesn't like a question he was asked or a look a teacher gave at which point that teacher will be removed. The families at this school are guilty, the kids are the WORST, and the board is spineless. Worst of all is the head of school who is a smiling sack of moral refuse. I am an alum with children and Buckley is the last place I would send my child under the current leadership.

Posted: October 4, 2019

The teachers here cannot be effective as they are given no administrative support to be so. They know that if they challenge or upset a student it could cost them their job. Teachers that taught for over 20 years were forced out for smaller reasons and the current faculty knows it so they must coddle or risk their jobs.

Posted: December 10, 2018

When I went to this school they gave us a good amount of homework and on the holidays they didnt give us any. Also, on Fridays no homework either.

Posted: December 10, 2018

Although some students dont listen, the teachers try their best to teach the kids life skills.

Posted: December 10, 2018

My friend has a learning disability and she has another teacher who tries to help her, but she is not separated from the class.

Posted: December 10, 2018

Their can be some bullying but very minor. There were post-it notes that said mean things on them. Whoever it was will get expelled. This girl in the same class as I am in is so annoying and mean she such a kiss up to the teachers.

Posted: December 10, 2018

Awesome its the best school Ive ever been to. At my old school I didnt feel like I belonged there. But Buckley feels like a second home.

Posted: November 29, 2018

Excellent school. Weve been at the school for two generations now & have felt very grateful to part of such a great, healthy environment.

Posted: June 12, 2018

I have been going to Buckley since I was in the lower school and it has been great! I have learned so much and I feel so fortunate for an opportunity to go to such a great school. However, there are some downsides.

1. SOME of the teachers- Most of the teachers are great, however some favor kids, and don't help other kids.

2. some/most kids are stuck up- I have noticed this before, but more than ever in the upper grades. Now my family has enough, however we don't have as much as the other kids living in mansions and getting iPhone Xs for no reason. It not only makes me feel like I am less, it also makes a bit of a divide in the grade. (and I have noticed this is mostly with the white kid).

I could go on and on about the good and bad about buckley but these things just stand out the most. Out of ten, I would rate it a 5.5/10.

Posted: June 12, 2018

Posted: September 26, 2017

I could not be more thrilled with Buckley. My son's comment after the first week at his new school was, "At this school I am allowed to make a mistake and learn from it, unlike my old school." My son now tells me how much he enjoys writing stories and recalls many fond details about his day, from art class to Spanish. The teachers are completely dedicated to seeing one's child thrive. The headmaster is extremely thoughtful and caring. Everything that the school does seems to be carefully thought out in order to support a caring and respectful community. That my son, who is extremely shy at 6 years old, was able to speak in front of the entire lower school assembly after his first week at a new school is a tribute to the supportive environment in which he now is thriving. Even the way they organize lunch at Buckley advances a culture of respect, manners and kindness. My son now makes conversation with us at the dinner table like he never has before. Finally, it is clear that Buckley is serious about diversity. Looking at the kids walking around the school (joyfully), one has no idea who the "haves" and "have nots" even are. There would be little room to feel left out based on the color of one's skin, because one sees many colors represented at Buckley. Buckley is to be commended for creating an atmosphere that many independent schools aspire but fail to create.

Posted: November 6, 2016

We went to the open house today and was encouraged to leave our 2.5 yo daughter with child care. They assured us she would be taken care by two teachers. During the middle of the open house, my husband went to check on her and found out they lost her. They didn't even realize she was gone. What made it even worse was the teachers' nonurgent attitude in trying to find her. I can't trust these people to take care of my child's safety.

Posted: November 12, 2015

We had a terrible experience at Buckley for a myriad of reasons, and have since switched our three children to another independent school. What a world of a difference! We can now fully see just what Buckley lacked. Buckley continuously comes up short with its administration, teachers, facilities, classrooms, etc. The school has been pulling heavily from Queens in recent years, and as such, there is a huge difference in the types of students that have started coming to the school. I can see how some would be happy here, but this is simply not the environment or the education that we wanted for our children.

Posted: September 8, 2014

I cannot say enough about this school. It has been amazing from Ms. Duffy in the admissions process to sending my child there in the lower school. Ms. Lyons is well educated in her realm. I know the Manhattan families that are looking for private schools are not that far from this gem and I'm glad we got in now before the word gets out and they start sending them in from Manhattan. Buckley is doing big things and just recently purchased more land next to school. So I can only imagine what going to take place here! So thrilled we chose Buckley for our family!!

Posted: March 9, 2014

The Buckley Country Day School has been a second home for our children for over four years, but this year we had to face the fact that we would need to find a high school for our graduating daughter. Our daughter was accepted into some of the most prestigious NYC private schools which is a testament to the extraordinary Buckley education, but the acceptance was not nearly as noteworthy as the compliments from admissions directors that accompanied those acceptances. The astuteness and maturity of the Buckley students can be directly attributed to Buckley s outstanding education and preparation of their student to meet the demands of a competitive high school. Buckley s parent body plays a tremendous role in ensuring their child is a committed and honorable member of the Buckley community. Buckley s values, its teachers, and it s dedication to academic excellence are consistent with the way we have raised our children. Buckley is resolute in its dedication to producing students who have a love of learning that extends beyond their years at Buckley. Buckley has helped us shape our children into confident and poised young adults. It is a truly exceptional place!

Posted: March 9, 2014

Buckley Country Day School has proven to be an excellent choice for our children. There are many reasons why Buckley is exceptional, but the one reason that makes this institution stand out from its competition is the school s Headmaster. Dr. Jean Marc Juhel s leadership is exemplary. An academic visionary he spends endless hours researching trends in education and implementing novel approaches to teaching. With the help of a dedicated and talented faculty, he models the virtues of hard work, empathy, and curiosity. He has implemented a challenging and transparent curriculum that is on par with New York City Independent schools. Dr. Juhel is the reason we chose Buckley years ago, and we continue to be impressed by his leadership. It has been a pleasure and a privilege for our children to be part of an institution of such distinction.

Posted: January 6, 2014

Terrible and tramatizing. I am a student at buckley and it is just..... ugh. The kids here or at least in my grade are all so preppy and stuck up. The girls all have like prada shoes and coach backpacks and the boys always brag about how many houses they have. I have one small house and I'm not extremely rich like they are. Also, the teachers have favorites. Like a lot. Usually they are the same, and they are usually the biggest donors to the school and they're parents are on a first name basis with them. THIS IS SO UNFAIR. Then for sports, we are divided into a and b teams. This is not the bad part, the bad part is that one gym teacher there for the A team is VERY mean to the B team and often shames us. Its very self-degrading. Also, honestly everyone knows that home games are better because it saves us the time of going on the bus and its closer to home. HOWEVER, the A team gets SO MANY HOME GAMES. Its not fair honestly. I HATE going on the bus and yet we have ONE home game. NO. If you're super rich and you like to brown nose all the teachers and the principle THIS is the school for you. If you want your child not to be bratty and excluding other people, DONT COME. This is truth

Posted: April 16, 2013

My son is just finishing up first grade at Buckley. My wife and I have been impressed by the fact that his teacher will answer emails the same day, will call us on evenings or weekends if anything needs discussing, and really seems to know our son well. There is good differentiation by ability, but without stigmatizing the fast or slow kids for being outliers (I'm not sure the kids even know which reading or math group is the "highest" or "lowest"). The administration has always been accessible and friendly. The school hosts a number of family-oriented events that help make the school into a community that includes the parents. It can be a little intimidating that some of the parents are so wealthy that they essentially pay tuition twice by donating tens of thousands at the fundraisers, but there are some for whom the tuition is a stretch as well (like us), and others on aid. The administration does not appear to treat the kids differently based on means as far as I've seen so far. To me it is just that many of the families genuinely appreciate the value of the education and those who can afford to give are inclined to do so. We just re-upped for second grade.

Posted: January 16, 2013

Here is the good: - Small class size - Active parent/teacher's organization and association - Beautiful building and grounds - Recent capital improvements to the lower school - Language arts, reading/writing are excellent - Gourmet lunches Here is the so-so: - Faculty is mainly from local schools like CW Post and Hofstra. 1 or 2 teachers from Ivy league schools - More experienced teachers have either retired or have been replaced by younger less experienced teachers. - Limited focus on math, and they utilize everyday math which is a somewhat limited curriculum. The Port and Manhasset schools also use the curriculum, so if you go to public school, you are still stuck with everyday math. - Expensive for what you get - Many of the original families that start with pre-school or pre-k are gone by 4th or 5th grade, so there is almost 100% turnover of families. If you live in Queens close to the Nassau border, this is a decent choice if you don't want to go to NYC schools. If you are in northern Nassau county, you are probably as well off at the public schools because the curriculum is similar and the staff has the same or more experience.

Posted: April 26, 2012

If I could give higher than a 5 Star rating for this school, I would. I have had two kids go through Buckley, each one very different, and in each case the school gave them an absolutely superior education, tailoring it to their individual strengths and bringing out their potential in such amazing ways. The curriculum is challenging and more advanced than even some private schools in our area. Smart Boards are evident in every room, with teachers that know how to integrate them into the curriculum. In fact, technology is a major differentiator for this school. They have a lap top program in the upper school and now an IPad program as well. But best of all, the teachers and staff, as well as the 6 Senior Administrators are top flight in all respects. They have just renovated their entire lower school and many common areas to be state of the art. The feeling at Buckley is just different. The kids think learning is cool, the teachers are great and knock themselves out for every child, and the whole place is about a combination of caring and challenging. One of the best decisions I made as a parent.

Posted: February 19, 2012

Buckley was nothing short of disappointing for our family. After having put both of our children in the school, we soon realized that it simply was not on par with other leading independent schools on Long Island. While the main building is quaint and charming, it is not nearly as technologically advanced or as progressive as the school and classes that our children are in now. The use of computers, Smart Boards, radiant floor heating, and high-res projection screens for class lessons are simply not as prevalent at Buckley. Buckley gives the illusion of having the most caring administration, and the most accredited teachers neither is the case in reality. The Administration consists of 3 people, and we were quickly reminded that the school is a business and all about the bottom dollar. They really don t care about the students and their advancement. Assistant Teachers don t even need a Master s degree they can be a stay-at-home mom. This school is laughable if I m going to pay a small fortune in tuition, I want it to be where our children can get so much more out of the teachers, staff, classrooms, and curriculum.

Posted: February 7, 2011

Buckley is a nurturing environment for my children that has become a home away from home. We have been there for 8 years. The faculty is top notch, incredibly smart and very caring. Children are encouraged to speak in front of their peers, ask questions and share their ideas. The curriculum is truly laid out with a global vision, making the students flourish into citizens of the world. The science program is amazing. I often am amazed to see what my children are learning and how eloquently they can explain it all. This is the only place on the North Shore of Island to send your children.

Posted: February 7, 2011

Buckley is a wonderful independent school and was the best choice for our son. We are so pleased with the academic rigor, the resources, and the teachers. The teachers are dedicated, very accessible and in constant communication with the parents. The students develop a poise and presence very early that serves them well beyond Buckley. They are kind, self-aware and develop a world view at a young age. I am sure that he is on track to be accepted to best High Schools (Long Island and elsewhere) and feel confident that he will get in wherever he applies. We looked at other schools and were invited to attend. I am glad that we chose Buckley. I recommend it to parents/students who are looking for a nurturing environment that values academic achievement, excellent teachers and strong leadership.

Posted: November 29, 2010

Sending our son to Buckley was simply the best possible choice we could have made. After 9 fabulous years (he started in kindergarten) at Buckley, he now attends a top-of-the-line prep school in Manhattan. With its hybrid approach of providing rigorous academics within a nurturing environment, Buckley prepared him in all possible ways to make a rather seamless transition to his top-flight high school: academic, emotional and social. Buckley truly develops the whole child to achieve his/her full potential. A five-star rating is almost too low!

Base	Distance
Mitchel Field	4.2 mi.
Fort Hamilton	21.3 mi.
Earle Naval Station	42.9 mi.
US Military Academy	45.6 mi.
Picatinny Arsenal	48.2 mi.

Buckley Country Day School

Roslyn, NY 11576

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Buckley Country Day School

Roslyn, NY 11576

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