We love Thornton Donovan! It's a small private school that provides exactly what our child needs - attention and care and at the same time, independence development and growth! We sent two children here and couldn't be happier. Small size classes, caring staff, strong academics and family feel - a great school all around! We look forward to their annual international trip overseas - this year to Vietnam! What a great opportunity to learn about new cultures and bond with other families. We highly recommend Thornton Donovan to everyone! read more

Thornton Donovan School - School trip to tour colleges Fall 2025 - Notre Dame - Language Schools Near Me - New Rochelle, New York

Thornton-Donovan is blooming! The school has a warm, enthusiastic atmosphere and a timeless charm that reminds me of the old good days -- when kindness, respect, and real human connection shaped the school year. Expectations are high, and not everyone is the right fit, but those who are here truly thrive. Every year brings new, meaningful programs -- this year a college-level psychology course and hands-on science research like the Oyster Project. Our Headmaster is caring, involved, and deeply loved -- every student's best friend, yet strong, thoughtful, and fair. The teachers are talented, inspiring, and passionate about what they do. The level of enthusiasm across the school is outstanding. What truly sets T-D apart is its spirit of unity. Students of all ages know and support each other -- it's heartwarming to see a first grader call out to a senior by name with a curious question and get a kind smile in return. This sense of belonging and genuine care fills the campus with joy. Thornton-Donovan isn't just a school -- it's a living example of what education should be: knowledge with heart, discipline with kindness, and community that lasts a lifetime. When you are a part of T-D, you are family. read more

Thornton Donovan School - Sam Oiseau'98. Always greeting you. - Language Schools Near Me - New Rochelle, New York

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I have sent my child to this school because she wasn't able to fit in at a big public school and we are so happy! She get personal attention and she is doing so much better! I wanted to share the letter I just wrote to the principal to give you an idea of how lucky we are to have found this school: "Hi Ms. Miller, I wanted to thank you so much for taking my daughter under your wing and working with her on her HW. She is catching up - with your help - and feeling so much better about school. She definitely has ODD which makes it so hard for me to do HW with her but we still try to do it at home every day. She does respond better to people outside her immediate family that is why your help and the help of her tutor has really jump started this process of her accepting the fact that she has to work a little more at home too. So just wanted to reiterate how grateful we are for your support. Also if school needs more tissues or pens or any other supplies you can think of - please let me know and I'd be happy to bring them in! Have a great day and I'll probably see you around soon!" read more

Thornton-Donovan was one of the main reasons we chose New Rochelle as our home. From the very first day we visited the wonderful facilities and met Mr. Van Lesberghe, Mr. Fleming, Ms. Keating, Ms. Zanzano, and Ms. Richy, we felt it was the ideal school for our daughter--it's the kind of place we would have loved to attend ourselves. From our first interactions, we received a warm and sincere welcome, something we truly appreciate as recent immigrants to this country. We are delighted and can already see significant progress in our daughter, who came from a daycare experience that was less than ideal, so we couldn't be more grateful to Thornton-Donovan and its staff. It's a niche school that feels accessible to all, like a small community where you genuinely feel harmony and a love for learning, with academic excellency centered on forming good human beings. read more

We have absolutely loved our experience at Thornton Donovan. Our children transferred here this year after several years in a low performing public school. We are thrilled! The teacher, staff, and community are supportive, kind, curious, and fair. We love TD and I can't recommend it highly enough. read more

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I went to Thornton-Donovan in the late 1980's after transferring out of a Yonkers public school due to it being very violent and overcrowded. It wasn't much of an improvement. The bullies were just as bad, there were merely fewer of them due to it being a smaller school. Doug Fleming (the headmaster) was both verbally and physically abusive towards me and any kids he didn't happen to like and also ignored bullying by other students, and I was glad to get out of that place. He should have been sent to prison for child abuse years ago. After two years, the Yonkers public school system had improved and I went to Gorton which was far better. read more

I went to this school for one year, 2019. The teachers were racist towards exchange students. The "headmaster" at the time (don't know if he's still there) Fleming, was very creepy to the girls at the school. During graduation I saw him slowly lowering his hands to one of the female students butt.(In front of a field full of parents) Besides the teachers genuinely not being good and hating there jobs. The staff is also really awful, rude and inconsiderate. They market this school as a one in a lifetime experience and the illusion of traveling to a different country. This does not give the student proper schooling and does not help them transition to college. I have PTSD from the teachers at this school as they were absolutely awful to me during this time. Im not going to write the details of there awfulness as I want to move on. However I had really bad grades due to the treatment there and was very sure I was not going to graduate. They assured me I was and I got yelled at. They made me attend graduation with my whole family there and called my name on stage and when I opened the book there was no diploma and caused me major embarrassment and the responsibility of telling my parents i was a failure. I'm writing this because I want to prevent parents from sending their children here. It saddens me to see other reviews of child abuse and racism. This school should be shut down. read more

I just wanted to post an update about my experience at T-D. This was years ago, but I've been getting messages stating that my review is "illegitimate". You probably have not seen the things that go on in T-D because you were probably not a student - or you just don't notice the underlying sneaky comments students make about other ethnic groups. Kids would say vicious things to each other when teachers were not around, or left unsupervised. It has been years since I even looked at this school, so I wonder if the environment has really changed. I will not be naming any names in this review. I attended T-D back in 2009 to 2012. As soon as I stepped foot in T-D, I knew I was going to have a hard time because I was so different culture-wise and class wise. I am from Jamaican descent, I had a thick accent, and I could not afford the same technology/materials that other students had. My "peers" would sometimes mock my accent, and I even had a math professor tell me to "pronounce my words correctly before I speak" to him. Everyone thought his comments about the way I spoke was funny, so they mimicked him constantly whenever they got the chance to. I was called ghetto for the way I spoke and also because of the music choice I listened to. If I didn't listen to rock music, or didn't watch certain shows, I just did not fit in. I would constantly get the question, "You don't watch/know (insert name or show here), what the hell is wrong with you?" I can name many, many, many examples of the times I felt uneasy, upset, or anxious around other students, but it would make this message too long. But here are two major instances. Before there were even sports in the school, we would have around an hour and a half lunch break to do whatever "sport" activity you like. Students would run around the campus , in that big muddy field, and play whatever sport they wanted to play. (Frisbee and throwing around a football was the most popular one). I one time heard a student call another student a "dumb ni**er" after he dropped the ball. I went to confront the student, and I asked him "why did you call him that?" Of course he looked flabbergasted, so he apologized and tried to explain to me his sad excuse of why he said those words. While he was speaking to me, the other student he was playing with ran over and asked what happened. I told him, "I don't like how he called you the n-word, it's not necessary and it's a disgusting word." The other student replied, "Oh, is it because you're a ni**er?" I replied saying , "I am not a ni**er! I am a human being, please show some respect!" He kept on calling a me a ni**er over and over again, so I ran off. I can remember my blood boiling while walking away, I couldn't handle my emotions, so I ran to the bathroom by the science lab to cry. I eventually came across this person again, and told him how I felt, and he said it was "just a joke" and I need to stop "overthinking it". Another major instance was when I finally got a computer for home and I decided to join Facebook. I added most people from school, but I was eventually cyberbullied. I'm not going to go into major detail because it was a major event that happened in the school - but a particular group of classmates recorded me crying and being taunted, and uploaded it to Facebook for everyone to see. The headmaster did not know about that incident expect for one teacher who stood up for me and forced them to remove the video. That video was literally the joke for whole entire year. I would walk by and people would mimic crying sounds and wheezing. After that, I attempted my first suicide attempt. That same year, I was pulled out and I had to attend therapy. I eventually went back to my own neighborhood, and attended a private school there. My life was so much better - I found my own group of people, graduated with honors, and got accepted into a prestigious college (which I graduated). My parents shelled out a lot of money to attend T-D because they believed I was hardworking and smart, and somehow this school would give me a chance to succeed in life. Listen, this was almost over several years ago, so I don't doubt things are under control and people are nicer than before - but that does not mean I cannot tell my experience about T-D. I read some other reviews, accusing mine of being "false" and that they had an "African-American" student attend the school just fine for several years. Good for them, but that was NOT my experience. There is a lot of favoritism within the school. There were a lot of students who would get passes for bad behaviors, whether it was by teachers or the headmaster himself. Take this information however you would like. Just know that not T-D was not this happy little place of wonderful students. Listen and look closely to how students talk to each other, and don't look from an employee perspective, look from a student perspective. read more

We love this school. It will be my daughter's 4th summer at Thornton-Donovan and she is very much looking forward to coming back! People who run it are genuine and great with children. Steven Schlitten taught my daughter to swim so well that she is now swimming as an adult . I'm absolutely amazed at what he did. I've had many different teachers myself but the result was not anywhere near hers, especially at the age of 7 ! We are very grateful to the way they treat us and can't imagine going elsewhere read more

I went to Thornton Donovan, grades 7-12. It may have been some 24 years ago but some of the most inspirational teachers that I ever had are STILL THERE! Mr Griffin and Mrs Petrosino! After Thornton Donovan I went to a good college, got my BA in 4 years flat, and have enjoyed a very successful career. As to the comments about the headmaster, Doug Fleming. I can tell you that I was NOT one of his model students in my day - far from it! I had my fair share of well-deserved detention :-) NEVER in any of that time did he EVER lay a hand on a student. Doug Fleming is a very capable educator and leader. The great people at Thornton Donovan helped to prepare and build the foundations of MY LIFE. read more

This is the worst school that ever existed. I was abused mentally by the principal because I had a learning disability and because my parents did not donate as much money to the school as some other parents did. I spent every single day studying in their library after school and going to the teachers for extra help but I was still bullied for being a supposed slacker by both students and teachers alike. I attempted suicide in my senior year and spent time in a psychiatric hospital and the school responded by attempting to expel me even though I'd never caused any trouble there whatsoever. I have severe ptsd as a result of my experiences in the school and am having torturous flashbacks as I write this. read more

The school did great things for my daughter and she left her old high school to focus at TD where she graduated well and went abroad twice, her grounding at TD helped her to graduate Summa Cum Laude from LIU where she was the top graduate in her program. Other kids I recommended who went there did well although a few decided the environment was not what they wanted and left and that's good too. The Headmaster is absolutely not a racist but perhaps age and time have caught up with him and he should play an even larger role in fundraising and preparing the next round of leadership as much as he loves being the headmaster. The Teachers are wonderful and absolutely make up for his occasional transgressions and yes aggravations but he is a Good Man and I say play to his strengths while wishing that he recognizes that time requires that he effect a transition for the good off all and the continuity of the school. I wish TD well and support its mission unequivocally. I am African American and the school is an Oasis for an otherwise bright and or talented kid who needs to find his or herself. read more

To Sara W. - Being white myself, I did not have to deal with being the target of racism -guess that's one thing I should be thankful for - but I sympathize and sadly can picture it happening there. I got bullied horribly there by both staff and students because I struggled academically due to a learning disability. I was also verbally abused by the principal when my mom fell behind on paying tuition. I ended up in the psych ward in my senior year due to the bullying I endured and what did they do? They tried to expel me for it. I had to fight a really distressing battle to get them to let me graduate. It didn't matter that I'd completed all my required coursework and earned my diploma. They just wanted to hold it from me with no just cause so that I would have to return for another year so they could get more money from my family. Saying the school is a dump is putting in much too nicely . I'd give it zero stars or less if Yelp allowed it. read more

TD Summer Camp has gone downhill My boys have gone to this camp for the last 3 years and it's gotten progressively worse; this summer, though, they complained nearly every day that they didn't want to go so I thought it was time to write a review. What's appealing about it is the fact that they have bus service and provide lunch (however, it includes sugary drinks and unhealthy chips/snacks), it costs less than other area day camps and you can select as many or few weeks as you like--so it's quite convenient. But from the quality of the food to the curriculum, the camp has declined. On rainy days, and there were many this summer, the kids mostly watch movies and play with legos. They could do this at home, I was disappointed to hear there weren't any crafts, or group/team games. The counselors in the play school camp (younger kids) are seriously lacking. TD insists you bring 2 bathing suits and 2 towels every day and the one day I sent my 6 year old with just one, the counselors wouldn't let him go into the pool the second time; he sat on the side on a very hot day! Really, no one could let him put on a damp suit? He also came home more than once with bruises and cuts that he said happened when other kids were 'piling' on each other. Despite bringing his pajamas in on PJ Day, he was confused about when to change into them and there was no counselor to help out. Five year olds need counselors with initiative! Neither of my kids advanced at all in the 'swimming lessons' and half the time they didn't go into the pool when they were supposed to. A particular non-highlight of the camp is the Closing Ceremony, in the middle of the afternoon on the last Friday. Parents are invited (basically, stalked by email to attend) and then you sit through performances and 'awards' of EVERY group (last year the counselors completely forgot to give my 5 year old a Best-of-Whatever and he was the only kid in the group without an awar.) Then there is a VERY long commercial about why TD is the place to go for private school. Next summer, I'll pay more to get more--someplace else. read more

I went to this school for 3 years and I had never felt so low and self conscious about everything. That school destroyed my self esteem. I was treated like an outcast by the students for being socially awkward. I was treated like an idiot by the teachers because I couldn't keep up with the work that the kids with daily tutors could. Their stupid concept of FLC's (a meeting with the students and all the teachers to talk about everything the student has messed up on recently) left me in tears each time. At one point in on of my FLC's, my family's financial situation was brought up and used against me to guilt me into doing better. The finances are not the business of a pre-teen girl. This school expects each student to learn the same and meet their exceedingly high expectations. It is the job of a teacher to adapt to the learning methods of each student. After leaving this school and moving to my public high school, I had such a horrible time adapting. I eventually figured out that I had a learning disability. The school ridiculed me for being behind for something I could never catch up to without proper medication! Money is everything in this place. read more

I created this account because there are some obviously false reviews posted here we happened to come across. I have a child who has been at this school for 7 years. It is a great school if it's the right fit for your child. I do not believe some of these reviews are legitimate. The school is very diverse. My child is white and has always been a minority in each class every year. The class has always been a mix of various ethnicities. There hasn't been a majority race in the class. We love the diversity which is hard to find in Westchester schools. It is true the school has very high expectations. If you want your child to get an easy A, this school is not for you. They expect a lot from the students and students that are able to meet those expectations thrive. It's a great school for students who are not being challenged in their current school. read more