About Us

Founded in 1958 by a group of devoted parents, Harbor Country Day School is a nonprofit, independent private school for preschool through eighth grade in Suffolk County, New York.   We are located in the Township of Smithtown nestled in the quiet Village of Head of the Harbor along Long Island’s north shore about 90-minutes from New York City.

Harbor students approach learning with a fearlessness that only comes from knowing that they will be safe and accepted regardless of whether they succeed or fail. They embrace the hard work that comes with a rigorous curriculum like Harbor’s because they are taught from the day they enter the school how to work with purpose, and how to make it fun.

Public speaking, community service, athletics, cross-divisional mentoring programs, upper school leadership retreats, social-emotional learning programs --all of these opportunities, and so many more, help children realize their full potential as individuals and as leaders so that when they leave Harbor, they are fully prepared to master the challenges of secondary school, college, and life beyond.

We are chartered by the New York State Board of Regents and is accredited by, and a member of, the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS).  It is a non-sectarian, non-profit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code governed by a self-perpetuation board of trustees.

 

A Message from Our Graduates


OUR SCHOOLS

Our Statistics

Harbor Country Day School Data  
Number of Students 160
Average Class Size (PK to K) 9
Student-Teach Ratio (PK) 1:6
Average Class Size (K to G8) 16
Student-Teacher Ratio (G1 to G8) 1:14
Faculty w/Advanced Degrees 80%

 

SOME HARBOR HIGHLIGHTS

  • Global language programs: Mandarin, Spanish
  • Inter-league athletics: soccer, basketball
  • Regents classes offered in math and science
  • Honors classes offered in math
  • Cross-discipline STEAM curriculum
  • Fine arts and performing arts programs
  • Singapore Math program
  • and much much more.

 

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Get Your Harbor Uniforms Here

 

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Meet Andy Sperling

Head of School

 

I was struck by the authenticity of the mission, as well as the differentiating factors that I have come to know are deeply embedded in the culture.

Andy has been an independent school educator and leader for more than twenty years prior to joining Harbor Country Day School in 2020 to help lead us into the next chapter of our rich history.

Education

MA; Educational Administration,
Northern Illinois University,
DeKalb, IL

Certification; Nonprofit Management, School Leadership
Northwestern University,
Evanston, IL

BS; PK-8 Education,
Mathematics Specialization
Illinois State University,
Normal, IL

More about Andy

Andy is a passionate educator and storyteller.  He and his wife, Hilary, who is from Baltimore, have three children between them. Andy’s son, Tim, is an architect working at a firm in Cincinnati, Ohio, while Hilary’s daughter, Avery, lives in New York and is pursuing her MBA at Johns Hopkins University. Her son, Ethan, is majoring in Information Sciences at The University of Maryland.

Andy is a recreational cyclist, NFL enthusiast, and contemporary jazz aficionado! He and Hilary love to travel, exercise, and take cooking lessons together.

 

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