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Two female graduates in cap and gown walking with little girl in orange tee shirt
During the play, actors look at the audience and camera.
Excited young students in classroom
three students play in ECC's playground
Three elementary students decked out in Wildcat gear and facepaint at pep rally
Smiling student in conversation at a pep rally with lots of people behind
Two teachers working with a student with a drone
Three middle school students looking over robot components
Students walk together and laugh.
The back of Perkins Hall from above with fall foliage all around
kindergarteners on the bleachers proudly holding go wildcats artwork... with principal Ogden smiling
African dancers leading elementary school children in dance
in the classroom with students engaged with each other
ASL storytime on the playground with families and children gathered and big brick school building in the background
Three girls reading in the library on bean bag chairs with a teacher
Male teacher at front of the classroom with maps in social studies classroom. Two students off to the right excited and cheering when they get an answer correct.
Two young male students working outside... looking in microscopes, with spring trees and brick buildings in the background.
Aerial view of campus in fall with river running behind

Who We Are

Rochester School for the Deaf, a leader in creating a vibrant community of lifelong learners – one student, one family, one success at a time.

Latest News

Three children on stage with aprons and hats making hot cocoa

RSD Celebrates the Holidays with the Nutcracker

Our elementary students and staff created a bit of holiday magic with the Nutcracker. RSD TA Beck Folkerts directed this sweet adaptation of a holiday favorite. Clara experiences the magic of the holiday season as the Nutcracker comes to life. They navigate conflict with the Mouse King, travel through a snow storm, and meet the Sugar Plum Fairy who shows them around the magical Candy Kingdom. The RSD family wishes you all the very best this holiday season!
Yellow/blue graphic with swish, RSD graphic mark, QR code, and image of dark-skinned woman, with text as outlined in post

RSD presents Lauren Ridloff, 2024 Adventures in Education Speaker

Marvel's First Deaf Superhero

Wednesday, November 13, 2025
5:30pm reception | 7pm presentation

Adventures in Education is a cornerstone of Rochester School for the Deaf’s educational outreach and fundraising efforts. A long-standing RSD tradition, Adventures celebrates human striving, courage, and imagination.

We are pleased to announce that Lauren Ridloff – the acclaimed actor, advocate, and educator – will be our 2024 speaker on Wednesday, November 13, 2024. Lauren starred as Marvel’s first deaf superhero in the 2021 movie Eternals. She received a Tony nomination for her lead performance in Children of a Lesser God and was a regular on the TV hit The Walking Dead. As the first Deaf superhero, she works tirelessly to advocate for inclusion and representation and is an inspirational presenter and educator.
Blue and white graphic with text listed in story, a soccer ball, volleyball, and mascots of 4 participating teams.

RSD Homecoming 2024

September 20 & 21
Visiting teams include Ernest C. Drury School for the Deaf, Rhode Island School for the Deaf and New York School for the Deaf
Click through for schedule
Student sort canned good at pantry

RSD Home to Deaf Food Pantry

The Rochester Deaf Kitchen, which opened in September on the campus of Rochester School for the Deaf, is off to a very strong start addressing food insecurity in the Deaf community.
Nightime photo of Westervelt Hall with silhouette of students with arms raised

Your Generosity, Their Opportunity

As we close out 2023, we ask you to consider making a gift to RSD. It also allows us to create a campus and a community where students see possibilities, not limitations – where they can dream big!
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Testimonials

Our two children, looking at them now and the resources they have at RSD - they have friends and adult role models that speak their language. That's huge for us.

- Katelyn T.

RSD taught me more than academic skills in math, science, social studies, and ELA. I personally developed skills in independence, empathy, compassion and creativity.

- McKenna G.

Well-informed teaching and support staff who are inviting to new families who are striving to be sure they are doing the right thing for their deaf and hard of hearing children.

- Denise & William B.

We needed a place that could help our daughter's growth/language development and RSD was the best place for that. It's the first and last place we looked at.

- Jessica W.

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