Freedom Grounded in Community

The Zena Democratic School is a self-directed school that empowers students aged 5-18

to develop organically, participate fully in the democratic governing of the school, explore a wide variety of experiential and learning opportunities, and experience autonomy within a vibrant and caring community. Our core values are centered around the democratic process, personal responsibility, and engaged and compassionate community. As we transition from the Hudson Valley Sudbury School, we are committed to retaining the core principles of the Sudbury Model while proactively creating programs that offer more opportunities for support and connection. Join us at Zena and discover a truly expansive and inspiring educational experience.

4 Watercolor swatches entitled 'ZDS', 'Mission', 'Core Values', and 'Vision'.

7 overlapping watercolor swatches entitled 'Self Direction', 'Democracy', 'Connection', 'Diversity', 'Social Responsibility', 'Opportunity', and 'Safety'.

Our Story

On August 1, 2023 the Hudson Valley Sudbury School became Zena Democratic School!

“Zena” is the name of the road on which we are located; it is also a Greek word meaning “welcome,” which fits seamlessly into our dedication to being accessible to our community. We chose to include the word “democratic” in our name to underscore our commitment to democracy in our governance as well as our ethos; everyone here is fundamentally equal and celebrated as unique members of a dynamic collective.

This change reflected a transition, that had been underway for years, in our philosophy and practice; we shifted from an emphasis on individual autonomy and development towards an equal emphasis on proactively building caring and vibrant community. To that end, we created programs that offer more opportunities for engagement and connection at school. It is only natural that a vigorous participatory democracy would evolve in its own direction over time! We are deeply grateful to the Sudbury Valley School and will maintain our commitment to individual autonomy, democratic process, and personal responsibility for students; Sudbury values will remain at the heart of our school….

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