The Campaign for Boyhood is a comprehensive fundraising campaign to help to ensure PDS remains a leader in all the ways boys learn, grow, and thrive.

The total goal for the immediate funding needs is $7,000,000. The total is comprised of $3,000,000 for the Dining Hall, $3,500,000 for the Outdoor Commons, and $500,000 for the Center for Educational Growth (professional development and programming). 

As a part of this process, PDS is also working to strengthen the endowment.

In 2025, the Center for Educational Growth was launched to formalize our commitment to research and professional development. As a part of our commitment to the Center for Educational Growth, a gathering space was remodeled last spring.

Future construction will be phased. Due to requirements of the architectural and construction plans, the Dining Hall must be the first phase. Construction will begin in January 2026 with the anticipation to be completed in Fall 2026. Following the completion of the Dining Hall, we plan to begin work on the Outdoor Commons. The construction timeline of the outdoor space is dependent on ongoing support of the campaign.

We anticipate that the disruption from construction will be minimal for the school day, AfterCare, and summer camps. All activities that were held in the affected construction areas have already been relocated. Likely the biggest impact to daily school life will be to carpool as we get further into the construction process. To get updates regarding changes to carpool, sign up for texts here.

The outdoor spaces are along the southern end of campus (along Central Avenue). In all, the Outdoor Commons will add more than 30,000 sqft of space (equivalent to seven basketball courts).

The Outdoor Commons will offer a myriad of opportunities for our boys. With close proximity to the building, it will be easy for classes to take advantage of the different spaces and learning opportunities outside. Research shows that sunlight and fresh air are beneficial for boys’ brains. Boys also benefit from changes in scenery, meaning this space will give our teachers another way to keep boys engaged throughout the day. With all-weather provisions, the Outdoor Space will be accessible for the entirety of the school year, not just when the weather is pleasant.

Not only will this space benefit the learning environment, it will also increase overall campus safety. The Outdoor Commons will be enclosed and fenced, which will offer safety for the space and the general campus. The plans for the space are a part of our ongoing campus security enhancements.

The dining hall will be moved from the basement to the heart of campus (behind the gymnasium and near the library), with entrances along the long hallway that connects the library to the athletic department.

By moving the dining hall upstairs and adding new kitchen equipment, PDS will be able to provide a greater flexibility during lunch. Also, at the beginning of the 2025-26 school year, we hired a new, full-time, food service director to oversee the current lunch program.  

Additionally, our team is working with leading food consultants who specialize in independent boys' school dining to help us evaluate everything from menu design and ingredient sourcing to overall variety and nutrition. All of these help us meet the unique challenge of feeding these boys. We're committed to a continuous improvement process—an ongoing effort to steadily enhance the dining experience.

 For the 2026-27 school year, the dining plan will be structured the same as past years.

As plans develop throughout the process, we will share more information. Parents will receive detailed information about the dining program well before you need to make decisions about the food plan—by the time food plan signup begins (typically in August).

At this time, no, participation in the food plan is not a requirement. We want families to choose the dining program because it meets their needs and expectations. For the 2026-27 school year, the dining plan will be structured the same as past years.

The 2026-27 dining plan will be structured the same as past years. As we evaluate the new opportunities that the Dining Hall will bring, we are excited for the ability for more intentional dining opportunities. One such option will be for boys to eat outside, further increasing the amount of time a PDS boy will get to spend outside during his school day.