Administrators and board members at the Ross School have approved a reorganization of grade levels at its two campuses, with an eye toward “optimizing resources and enhancing students’ overall educational outcomes,” according to Tom Sturtevant, the head of school.
The Lower School campus on Butter Lane in Bridgehampton, formerly serving nursery through fourth grade, will eventually also house the fifth and sixth grades. The Upper School campus on Goodfriend Drive in Wainscott will ultimately house grades seven through 12. For the upcoming school year, sixth graders will remain on the Goodfriend Drive campus while the fifth graders switch to Butter Lane. The transition should be complete in the 2025-26 school year.
This “aligns with childhood and adolescent developmental stages,” the school said in an announcement. Additional benefits include “expanded teacher teams fostering multiyear relationships with students and families; strengthened curriculum cohesion and professional development; and ensuring facilities are tailored to match student development and long-term plans,” the school said.
Renovations at the Butter Lane campus are underway to boost the science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) curriculum, as well as upgrade play spaces and recreational facilities. “Most importantly, Butter Lane will continue to be an age-appropriate setting fostering resilience and confidence,” the school said.
On Goodfriend Drive, there will be a renewed focus on the seventh-grade program “to instill academic skills foundations and preparation for success in the advanced curricula of Ross’s upper school,” the school said. The move will also enable Ross to align more closely with the policies and logistics of Section XI, the organization that governs competitive school sports programs, as well as foster “a more socially balanced academic-advancement and personal-development environment” for students in the seventh through 12th grades.
Before the decision was made, school officials held forums for parents at every grade level to share their feedback and suggestions.
“What was most energizing for me, throughout the planning process, was the level of passion and engagement demonstrated by the entire school community,” Mr. Sturtevant said in an email to The Star. “My confidence in what we can accomplish together continues to grow, and I am even more committed to working with my team, our students, and our families to ensure that Ross is the best school for our children and young adults.”