Welcome to Head-Royce School

Head-Royce School is a diverse K–12 community nestled in the Oakland hills that serves families seeking a transformative educational experience.  Our mission is to develop students of character, intellect, and creativity.


 
 
 
Middle School Girls
Living Our Values

Living Our Values

We deliver on our mission by living our values: 

  • Students First: We prioritize student learning, development, and well-being.
  • Academic Excellence: We pursue knowledge and assess our learning to better ourselves and our community.
  • Diversity: We embrace our different perspectives, backgrounds, experiences and identities to expand and enrich what we can learn and do together.
  • Belonging: We create the conditions in which everyone thrives and brings their authentic selves.
  • Civic Engagement: We connect students to the local community and beyond to enhance their academic experiences and foster genuine engagement.

 

 
 
 
Ricky Lapidus, Interim Head of School
Our Head of School

 

Interim Head of School

Ricky Lapidus is the Interim Head of School. He brings deep institutional knowledge and extensive independent school experience to Head-Royce. A trusted and student-centered leader, Ricky has served as Head of Upper School since 2021, following 15 years as a teacher and administrator at Riverdale Country School in New York City. He began his career teaching English at Berkshire School and William Penn Charter School and has also taught in the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania. Ricky holds an undergraduate degree from Princeton University and graduate degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Montana.

 
 
 
Lower School Classroom
Strategic Direction

 

Strategic Direction

Every five to seven years, we engage in a strategic design process to understand what our community values most about the Head-Royce experience—how well we fulfill our mission, and which assets and competencies we should strengthen and evolve. Throughout the 2023-24 school year, we undertook this process, culminating in Pathways to Purpose, our new strategic direction. This framework informs the school’s near-term priorities, ensuring that our vision remains rooted in our past while embracing today’s innovations and the promise of tomorrow.

Read more

 
 
 
Middle School Diversity
Diversity, Equity, + Inclusion

 

Diversity, Equity, + Inclusion

We commit to fostering global perspectives, resolving conflicts, repairing harm, promoting inclusion, respecting differences, and prioritizing BIPOC leadership. We welcome discomfort, learn from mistakes, and invest in training and curriculum revision for an anti-racist approach.

Learn more about our DEI efforts.

 
 
 
Channing Hall 1892
History of the School

 

History of the School

The spirit of inquiry and innovation brought by our founder, Anna Head, over 137 years ago remains infused in our culture today. From innovation centers, internships, and integrated technology, to life skills classes, service learning, cross-divisional buddies, and small advising groups, we are equally dedicated to educational excellence and social-emotional learning.