Riverdale Country School

Riverdale Country School is an independent Pre-K through grade 12 day school in the Bronx, New York. It enrolls more than 1,000 students across two campuses, making it one of the larger independent day schools in the country. Riverdale has no religious affiliation, and its stated mission is to develop minds, build character, and create community.

Teaching at a school this size has real advantages. Departments are deep, courses run multiple sections, and specialist roles exist that smaller schools cannot staff. Language faculty teach across five programs: Chinese (Mandarin), French, Japanese, Latin, and Spanish. The Pre-K to 12 span also lets teachers follow student growth over many years.

Unlike a boarding school, Riverdale is a pure day school. Faculty head home at night, and the job centers on classroom work, advising, and coaching rather than dorm duty. That lifestyle matters for candidates weighing independent school teaching jobs in the New York metro area.

Compensation reflects NYC realities. Independent day schools here sit near the top of the national pay range because they compete with peer schools and a high cost of living. The finances support it: in 2023 the school reported about $94.8 million in revenue and $146 million in net assets, with fundraising up nearly 8 percent year over year. Standard benefits include health coverage, retirement contributions, and tuition remission.

Faculty hiring at Riverdale Country School spans Lower, Middle, and Upper School teaching roles, plus coaching, counseling, admissions, advancement, and operations. Most teaching searches open between January and April for the following fall.