Gateway Diplomas at Saddle River Day School: A Bold Pathway to College and Career Success + OPEN HOUSE Oct 11th + 23rd

In today’s competitive college landscape, standing out is about more than grades and test scores—it’s about demonstrating passion, initiative, and the ability to turn interests into action. Saddle River Day School’s Gateway Honors Diplomas Program is designed to help students do exactly that.

Launched in 2021, the Gateway Diplomas give Upper School students the chance to specialize in an area of interest through advanced coursework, research, and real-world experiences. Students who successfully complete the program graduate with an honors diploma that reflects not only academic rigor but also meaningful engagement in their chosen field.

Specialized Tracks for Focused Growth

The program offers seven distinct diploma tracks:

• Arts

• Humanities

• Civic Engagement

• Global Citizenship

• Medicine

• STEAM

• Entrepreneurship

Students apply at the end of 9th or during 10th grade, selecting the track that aligns with their passion. Once accepted, they embark on a pathway that blends Honors and AP coursework, field research, and internships or experiential projects—all guided by a dedicated faculty mentor.

Rooted in SRDS Core Values

Two of SRDS’s core values—Love of Learning and Intellectual Risk-Taking—inspired the creation of the Gateway Diplomas.

“We wanted to strengthen academic rigor and provide more applied learning opportunities that engage students with 21st-century, real-world skills,” says Head of School Jalaj Desai. Working with Director of College Counseling Karen Ferretti, the program was designed to both enrich the academic experience and give SRDS students a unique advantage in the college application process.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

A defining feature of the Gateway Diplomas is the field experience requirement. Students gain hands-on exposure that could include:

• Interning in a lab or medical research center

• Launching a startup or developing an app

• Studying abroad

• Working with an a composer or an artist

These experiences culminate in a capstone presentation during the senior-year— Gateway Diplomas Expo—a celebration of each student’s hard work, growth, and accomplishments.

A Standout in College Admissions

In a time when selective colleges are moving away from a purely numbers-based review, programs like the Gateway Diplomas stand out.

“Colleges are evaluating applicants holistically,” explains Ms. Ferretti. “They want to see leadership, clearly defined academic interests, and authentic engagement. A Gateway Diploma gives our students a compelling story to tell in their applications.” 

The results speak for themselves. This year, members of the Class of 2025 have earned admission to some of the most selective and inspiring institutions across the country, including Boston University, Bucknell, Colgate, Columbia, Cornell, Duke, Johns Hopkins, MIT, NYU, Vanderbilt, and Wake Forest.

Unique to SRDS

While other schools may offer capstone projects or focused electives, no other school in the region offers a multi-track diploma program that integrates advanced coursework, fieldwork, and formal recognition at graduation.

“This isn’t about adding stress,” says Mr. Desai. “It’s about creating opportunity—allowing students to pursue what they love at a deeper level, while preparing them for success in college and beyond.”

VISIT SADDLE RIVER DAY SCHOOL

• Grades K-12 Open House - Saturday, October 11th at 10:00 am (families can stay for Homecoming!)

• Grades K-12 Open House - Thursday, October 23rd at 6:00 pm

• Grades 9-12 Information Session and Tour - Tuesday, September 30th at 9:00 am

• Grades 9-12 Information Session and Tour - Tuesday, November 11th at 9:00 am

• Early Childhood Open House (Pre-K and K) - Monday, November 3rd at 9:00 am

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR EVENTS

Now is the right time to invest in your child's education. At SRDS we teach students how to think and not what to think, and we prepare students to be innovators, thinkers, and leaders.

To register for an event, please email or call Kris Sweeny in the Office of Admissions ksweeny@saddleriverday.org or (201) 327-4050.

Saddle River Day School

Pre-K3 to Grade 12

147 Chestnut Ridge Road  •  Saddle River, NJ 07458  •  Tel: 201.327.4050

Visit Website

About Saddle River Day School

Established in 1957, Saddle River Day School is a Pre-K3 through grade 12, co-ed, independent school serving just under 600 students. The school provides a robust curriculum and inspires students to achieve academic and personal excellence by teaching them how to think and not what to think. Each division (Lower PreK3-4th; Middle 5th-8th; Upper 9th-12th) offers a signature yearlong research program.

Saddle River Day also offers 30+ advanced placement and honors level courses, a full range of visual and performing arts as well as interscholastic athletics (grades 6th-12th), and highly individualized college counseling to encourage students to discover their passions and prepare them for whatever comes next. SRDS graduates are thriving at colleges like Duke, Columbia, Cornell, Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, NYU, Northwestern, Villanova and Wake Forest.

For more information about the project or Saddle River Day School, please visit saddleriverday.org.