Choosing the right school for your child is one of the most important decisions a parent can make, and Allendale Columbia School offers a dynamic option for moms in the Rochester area. Allendale Columbia is a leading independent school in Rochester for students 18 months through grade 12. Located in Brighton, students come from 28 different school districts in the greater Rochester region, 46 zip codes, and 6 nations abroad. Currently, Allendale Columbia is home to 348 students which ensures small class sizes and individualized attention from teachers. Allendale Columbia’s Centers for Creativity and Entrepreneurship, Global Engagement, Humanities, and Invent Center for STEM & Innovation provide students with opportunities to engage locally and internationally to make a positive impact on the Rochester community and the world.
The story of Allendale Columbia School began in the fall of 1890, when Miss Caroline Milliman and Miss Alida Lattimore opened a school that would go on to become the Columbia School which would soon expand to become a kindergarten – grade 12 women’s preparatory school, known for its quality academics. In 1926, a group of Rochester businessmen and other interested individuals founded the Allendale School for Boys and gradually became a college preparatory school like its sister school, Columbia. In 1971, the leadership of the Allendale and Columbia schools agreed on a merger and combined to become Allendale Columbia School.
Little School
For moms with younger children, Allendale Columbia’s Little School might be what you are looking for! In 2020, the school opened The Little School for students 18 months to 3 years-old. The Little School provides an early childhood education based on a Reggio Emilia-inspired approach. To accommodate the growing program, an entire wing of AC was renovated and specifically designed as the Pre-Primary wing of the school with a separate entry and space for students to feel safe, learn, and grow.
Lower School
The AC Lower School Program structure includes Foundations, Project-Based Learning Units and Special Subjects like music, band, art, Spanish and STEM. Students spend a part of every day with their grade level teachers working toward basic mastery in reading, math and communication.
Project-Based Learning is a way of life in the Allendale Columbia Lower School. Students in kindergarten through fifth grade question, research, interview, survey, hypothesize, experiment, create, build, debate, and perform to gain knowledge. As this knowledge is shared with other members of the class, students move closer to a solution or a product that responds to the driving question.
Middle School
AC’s Middle School program challenges students to expand their worldview and helps students focus on their individual learning styles and strengths. Curriculum at the middle level is specifically tailored to students aged 11-14 with a focus on critical thinking, making connections, creativity, and forming the group collaboration skills necessary to work with a variety of people on different types of projects and assignments. There are four areas of curriculum that are interdisciplinary and have overlap with each other – Foundational Literacies, Invent Center, Entrepreneurship and Global Engagement.
Upper School
The Upper School, grades nine through twelve, challenges students to perform at the highest level, while providing support vital to academic and personal achievement. Designed to prepare students for college and beyond, the Upper School develops students’ independence and motivation to excel. Students can experience college-level learning in any of their Advanced Placement classes, and in select instances, students may create their own independent study courses. Allendale Columbia’s Class of 2023 (30 students) was accepted to 71 different colleges and universities and awarded nearly $3.3 million in four-year academic scholarships.
HAC Athletics
Each and every year, students at Allendale Columbia School and The Harley School participate in HAC Athletics. At AC, extracurricular activities are an extension of the classroom. For that reason, all students participate in a team sport. Student involvement in sports begins in middle school with modified team offerings for Grades 7 and 8, and in Grades 9 and 10, students are required to participate in a team sport of their choice.
Open House
Attending an AC Open House gives you the opportunity to tour campus, meet with admissions staff, and learn more about the school from faculty and staff. Can’t make it to an Open House event? Call 585.641.5344 to schedule a private tour!
