IT'S MORE THAN WHAT I ACHIEVE. IT'S WHO I BECOME.
Our educational traditions and continuing innovation in teaching and learning practices benefit and provide many opportunities for our students.
ABOUT US
For over 100 years, our heads of school, faculty, and trustees have built a school community where each student receives a well-rounded, progressive, and compassionate education. Through meaningful lessons, our students become conscientious leaders, creative problem-solvers, and culturally aware citizens who connect to their school, local, and global communities. As a school, we are committed to understanding how the brain learns so that we can teach in ways that open minds and engage students.
The Detroit Country Day School community is vibrant, multifaceted, and welcoming. Students and families from many diverse backgrounds contribute to a rich and exciting culture. Our students develop intelligent, sophisticated worldviews through these unique engagements and connections, cultivating respectful, healthy outlooks that will continue to serve them throughout their lives. All these elements unite to keep Detroit Country Day School at the forefront of education in the 21st century.
THE DCDS DIFFERENCE
Connection. Character. Challenge. Detroit Country Day School is more than a school. It’s a place where students find their passions, pursue excellence in the classroom, and reach for victory on the athletic field. We develop creative visionaries and critical thinkers through academic rigor, immersion in the arts, and a commitment to innovative and extraordinary learning opportunities.
From an early age, students flourish in our nurturing learning environments, find a community where they forge lifelong friendships and build deep connections with faculty and staff. At DCDS, we don’t just aim for success; we pave the way for our students to thrive in the most competitive academic landscapes.
Simply put, we prepare students better than anyone else for the competitive college landscape and the global world beyond.
Throughout it all, our students are at the heart of everything we do. With an unwavering focus to fostering well-rounded individuals that goes beyond the classroom, we know that character is integral to their future success.
It’s more than what they achieve. It’s who they become.
OUR MISSION
Detroit Country Day School develops citizens and leaders of the world in a culturally diverse environment of academic rigor, competitive athletics, and artistic expression built on a foundation of service and character.
8:1
Student to teacher ratio
STUDENTS AT DCDS
Throughout Detroit Country Day School, students learn in an atmosphere that promotes self-confidence and self-esteem, allowing them to become independent learners and thinkers, well-prepared for college and beyond. Our goal is to develop and nurture the entire child.
“What makes my school special is the teachers. They care about me and help me learn.”
II Jack, 3rd Grade
“The small classes help you get to know your classmates and it feels like a community.”
II Shyla, 7th Grade
“The variety of different activities, clubs, sports, etc. is incredible and one of a kind because everyone can really do anything tailored to their interests.”
II Qassim, 11th Grade
Students learn through various perspectives and abundant class choices, balancing their passions with performance while appreciating a lifelong love of learning. The DCDS support team partners with parents, teachers, and healthcare providers to ensure the well-being of the whole child is addressed.
OUR FACULTY
Our experienced and highly trained faculty members challenge and support each student in academics and social, emotional, and physical growth. Faculty blend challenging academics and a supportive environment, weaving in principles of Mind-Brain Education. Faculty members provide a safe and nurturing environment, working with parents to optimize students’ education. Caring collaborative relationships connect students, teachers, and parents—one of the many advantages of a Detroit Country Day School education.
Many faculty members regularly present at national conferences and contribute articles to national publications. Our faculty receive awards and recognition in their respective disciplines annually.
“My most favorite thing is all the kindness from all my teachers. They really love me at school.”
II Jensen, 2nd Grade
OUR ALUMNI
More than 7,000 strong, DCDS alumni carry the lessons they learned at Detroit Country Day School into adulthood and often reflect on their years here as among the most rewarding.
Our alumni stay connected and get involved through our Alumni Association, regional gatherings, Homecoming, reunions, senior projects, special presentations, and more. Our alumni are a proud example of our successful legacy and a role model for future generations of graduates.
Notable Alumni Include
Steve Ballmer, Former Microsoft Chairman and current owner of the LA Clippers
Courtney B. Vance, Tony and Emmy award-winning actor
Kate Markgraf, Professional soccer player, NCAA, Olympic, and World Cup champion
Shane Battier, NCAA national basketball champion, MVP, two-time NBA Champion
Steven Kalkanis, Neurosurgeon and CEO of Henry Ford Health System
Pooneh Mohajer, Co-Founder and CEO of TokiDoki
ACADEMIC PHILOSOPHY
A good education should demand engagement beyond what can be delivered solely by lecturing or writing on a whiteboard. At DCDS, our mission statement propels us to develop citizens and leaders of the world who are able to face unfamiliar challenges and creatively find solutions. Detroit Country Day School delivers a unique pedagogy for 21stcentury learners that helps prepare students to become leaders in a global landscape, developing the complex, collaborative, and creative skills needed for future careers.
Our mind-brain-informed approach considers how the brain learns, and our faculty delivers age-appropriate, compelling, and innovative content. Our students are actively engaged in the learning process, with classrooms acting as collaborative centers to incorporate creativity, critical thinking, and analytical skills into the study of every discipline.
LOWER SCHOOL
Pre-K 3 - Grade 3
As a top Michigan private preschool and elementary school, we emphasize a developmental approach to learning that encourages students to make discoveries independently and allows teachers to tailor instruction to each child’s needs. Academic learning is enhanced by assemblies, community visitors, field trips, project work, guided play, and hands-on learning experiences. Our dedicated faculty give students the confidence to master basic skills and progress to higher levels of learning. Our Reggio Emilia-inspired early childhood education focuses on building learning experiences around a child’s interests and natural environment.
Immersion, innovation, & inspiration
Every talent, strength, & skill discovered
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Grades 4 & 5 II Grades 6 - 8
Our Middle School campus is unique in that it houses grades 4 & 5 and has a separate program for grades 6-8. All students in the building experience a college-preparatory education while building independence, experiencing a variety of opportunities within innovative spaces and a culture of character and connection.
The student-teacher relationships fostered through the advisory program are a foundation of the Middle School. Advisory provides students with a place of belonging, an adult advocate, and a person who can speak to the development of the whole child. In small groups, character is developed, and social and emotional learning is valued. Each student is known and mentored through advisory, striving to become their best self.
In the classroom, outstanding, supportive, and dedicated faculty recognize that every child develops and matures at their own pace. Students are encouraged to think critically, collaborate, and make mistakes through an innovative program that includes English, mathematics, science, history, world languages, STEAM, visual and performing arts, and physical education. Students explore and develop their intellectual, creative, and physical abilities within a supportive environment. The rigorous Middle School program is built on engaging and developmentally appropriate academics, preparing students to be independent learners who will succeed at the Upper School.
UPPER SCHOOL GRADES 9-12
Detroit Country Day Upper School students are part of a vibrant intellectual community. Our students encounter daily experiences that are challenging, broad, and meaningful. Students also participate in two sports or major activities, as well as clubs, plays, musicals, academic competitions, and more each year, reflecting our motto of mens sana in corpore sano, a sound mind in a sound body. Graduates leave with life lessons, which our alumni have repeatedly said sustain them throughout their lives.
The Upper School curriculum offers strong and varied classes that allow students to demonstrate their strengths, develop their potential, and pursue their passions. The comprehensive college-preparatory program, which includes Honors and Advanced Placement courses in each discipline, is designed to actively engage students in the learning process with a foundation that is also instrumental to our students achieving academic and problem-solving independence. The advisory program continues at the Upper School and students are supported by an advisor who can help act as a north star for the student. Our dynamic classroom environments foster critical thinking skills, build social interactions to gain confidence, and provide emotional support to motivate students.
Students will learn to unlock the best version of themselves here.
A world of experiences, relationships, & rewards
DCDS GLOBAL
The DCDS Global program is geared toward students seeking to learn, engage, and contribute to broader, more diverse global contexts. This exchange program prepares students to develop as active, informed, and empathetic global citizens by allowing them to travel to countries such as the Netherlands, France, and Spain. The program is elective, and travel experiences begin as early as eighth grade.
COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY
Detroit Country Day School believes diversity, equity, and inclusion are educational imperatives for the intellectual, social, and moral growth of every child. We honor the dignity of every human being and value the differences that exist and are expressed throughout our vibrant school. Members of our community are treated fairly and provided access to genuine opportunities to thrive. Our commitment is to nurturing an inclusive environment in which all students can participate fully and have a sense of belonging. Diversity, equity, and inclusion enrich learning and are essential characteristics of our school community.
COLLEGE COUNSELING
Our College Counseling team dedicates their time to providing individualized attention to each student as they navigate the challenges of high school and the college application process.
Through various assessments and meetings with the students and their parents, our counselors help students enroll at colleges where they will mature and emerge to lead productive and satisfying lives.
Our counselors take pride in matching students to colleges that meet their unique profile.
Starting in freshman year, our Assistant Director of Early Upper School Success meets with students to help ease the transition to high school and learn more about their interests. These interactions also offer students information on the multitude of opportunities available to them to gain real-world experience and discover more about themselves. This guidance continues through sophomore year.
In the junior and senior years, students and their parents meet regularly with one of our four college counselors to better understand the student’s needs and aspirations. The counselors also encourage college visits, and recommend students immerse themselves in opportunities to help build a favorable student profile.
College is a match to be made not a prize to be won
100% of Upper School students play one or more sports
DCDS ATHLETICS
Detroit Country Day School’s athletics program is integral to the school’s total educational experience. Our athletic philosophy emphasizes the development of our student-athletes physically, psychologically, socially, and personally while teaching them to strive for excellence and to understand that adversity and defeat are merely opportunities for personal growth. A broad range of athletic activities allows every student to participate in interscholastic sports.
Vital to the athletic program’s success is our ability to develop healthy lifestyles, staying true to the school’s motto of a sound mind in a sound body. We strive to teach commitment, self-discipline, self-sacrifice, self-respect, sportsmanship, cooperation, leadership, responsibility, loyalty, and pride in oneself and the school community.
The DCDS athletics program is dedicated to developing the entire student-athlete: mind, body, and spirit. Students who participate in sports learn to balance their academic workload with after-school commitments, preparing them with time management skills for college and beyond.
For a full list of our athletic offerings, scan the QR code, or visit www.dcds.edu/athletics
DCDS ARTS
The Visual, Performing, and Communication Arts Department strives to provide myriad experiences and a comprehensive art program for students in preschool through Grade 12. Drama, dance, vocal & instrumental music, visual arts, literary arts, forensics, and film courses enable students to reach their full potential and encourage them to experiment with and develop creativity. The Dance Studio; Seligman Family Performing Arts Center; Nicole and Stephen Eisenberg Studio Theatre; and The Studios (our film, podcasting, and innovation hub) afford DCDS students world-class performing and communication arts venues.
In music, our performing groups accomplish remarkable feats that place them among the finest programs in the state every year. Students in the theater and dance programs participate in experiences that are often found at the college level. The visual arts program produces outstanding young artists, some of whom have exhibited nationally.
Over the past decade, our arts program students have flourished under the guidance of our visionary arts faculty. Our faculty’s enthusiasm for sharing their passion for the arts is truly infectious and inspiring to our students.
70+ different visual, theatre, music, & dance electives offered
17 unique Visual & Performing Arts Conservatory programs
VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS CONSERVATORY
The Detroit Country Day School Conservatory focuses on building artistic capabilities for Upper School students possibly seeking a career in fine and performing arts. Within the program, students will experience the rigors of advanced study and practice in their chosen discipline, be mentored by faculty artists, and be counseled on higher education options. With more than a dozen and a half conservatory designations and seventy different visual, theater, music, and dance electives offered, the Conservatory Program is a significant part of the Upper School arts programming. Many students from the Conservatory Program have entered the nation’s most prestigious art schools, music conservatories, and theater programs.
Conservatory programs include creative writing, forensics and debate, dance, theater performance, theater production, band, choir, orchestra, acting, film production, ceramics, drawing, painting, fashion, jewelry, photography, and sculpture.
DCDS FACILITIES
Detroit Country Day School offers state-of-the-art facilities that enhance every aspect of student life. The school’s academic classrooms are outfitted with advanced technology, collaborative learning spaces, and include labs that foster innovation.
Students have access to professional-grade studios, theaters, and performance spaces within the arts program, allowing creativity to flourish through music, drama, communicative, and visual arts. Boasting ten art studios, the facilities allow students to explore all types of art and media. The Studios, newly built in 2024, chauffeurs in a new era of creativity, housing a podcast studio, an innovation lab with virtual reality experiences, and a stagecraft LED wall to create virtual scenes and transport actors anywhere in the world.
At Detroit Country Day School, we are committed to fostering well-rounded growth for all students. This is evident in our state-of-the-art facilities for academics, arts, and athletics. Our expansive gymnasiums, turf fields, and field house support a wide range of sports, providing students with the tools to excel both in the classroom and on the field. This holistic approach to education ensures that students thrive in a dynamic, engaging environment.
Not only are our Upper School students able to take advantage of these many facilities, but because the Middle School is connected to the Upper School, our younger students can utilize these outstanding resources too.
To view our interactive campus map, scan the QR code, or visit www.dcds.edu/campus-map
DCDS LOWER SCHOOL
Step into the halls of our elementary school, and you’ll instantly feel the magic. Our bright, welcoming hallways are more than just corridors; every corner is designed to inspire curiosity, nurture confidence, and foster a sense of belonging.
SCHLEGEL NATURE & FITNESS AREA
A gateway to environmental education and the Middle School and Upper School cross country team course, this area has tributaries of the Rouge River and beautiful paths where students and faculty enjoy outdoor educational experiences.
SHILLING FIELD HOUSE
Built in 2011, this 90,000+ square foot indoor turf field is the school’s biggest classroom. This facility is utilized for athletic practice and games, as well as physical education classes and special programs.
ARTS THE STUDIOS
The Studios, newly built in 2024, chauffeurs in a new era of creativity, housing a podcast studio, an innovation lab with virtual reality experiences, and a stagecraft LED wall to create virtual scenes and transport actors anywhere in the world.
DCDS collaborates with Stanford University as a part of the Stan-X program, where a small group of students take an advanced research course in molecular genetics, working side-by-side with researchers and DCDS faculty to create a genetically unique fruit fly line that will contribute to finding cures for diseases like diabetes, sickle cell anemia, and more. Students learn how to do professional bench work in biology, getting the chance to create novel strains of fruit flies. DCDS is the first school in Michigan and one of only a handful in the U.S. to partner with Stanford and become a Stan-X school.
PARENTS AS PARTNERS
At Detroit Country Day School, the partnership between our school and our families is an invaluable key to student success. Parents are essential collaborators in each student’s growth and development, and we deeply value the insight and involvement they bring to our community.
Our collaboration with parents is built on mutual respect and shared goals. Through regular updates, parent-teacher conferences, and involvement in school events, we encourage an ongoing dialogue that keeps families engaged in their child’s progress and experiences. Together, we work to nurture well-rounded individuals who are prepared for academic challenges and equipped with the character and citizenship needed to lead and serve in a diverse world.
At DCDS, we see our parents not just as stakeholders but as integral members of our learning community—partners who help shape the success and well-being of every student. We offer a number of avenues for family engagement, educational offerings, and volunteer opportunities. We are also grateful to be supported by three main partner organizations.
The Detroit Country Day Parents’ Association is the overarching parent organization for all three divisions. A team of executive committee members, as well as social and event chairpersons, builds fellowship and community among the Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools and helps facilitate a close relationship between home and school. The DCDSPA organizes, plans, and executes events throughout the year and works to benefit all students.
Friends of the Arts supports and promotes the Fine and Performing Arts curriculum, activities, and programs of the students attending Detroit Country Day School and encourages the continued development and growth of our nationally-recognized arts programs. The organization fosters support through active annual membership by parents, friends, alumni, employees, and students, as well as additional fundraisers and contributions.
The Blue & Gold Club helps support scholar-athletes at Detroit Country Day School by providing funds to enhance athletic facilities and programs for students of all age levels. The club’s resources and energies are committed to providing Detroit Country Day School students with second-to-none athletic programs and facilities.
TUITION RATES
We prioritize maintaining our excellent academic programming, creating uniquely inspired learning environments, and fostering a vibrant, diverse community so that our students are contributing members of society who can confidently face adulthood upon graduation.
We also recognize that the financial contribution for a private, independent education is an important consideration. The information on our website will help families determine the full cost of investing in a Detroit Country Day School education.
For tuition by grade level, please scan the QR code, or visit www.dcds.edu/tuition
BUS TRANSPORTATION
Detroit Country Day School offers all students a door-to-door bus transportation service. For pricing by location, please visit www.dcds.edu/tuition.
Detroit Country Day School admits students of any race, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students in the school. The school does not discriminate on the basis of religion, race, color, gender, national and ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status under Michigan or federal law, in the administration of the school's admission, financial aid/loan, educational, athletic, employment and other school administered programs, policies and plans.
The material contained in this booklet is intended to provide only general information and does not constitute a contract. Detroit Country Day School reserves the right to change any fees, curricula, or policies within this booklet without prior notice.
248.430.3587 II www.dcds.edu