Miami Country Day School

Miami Country Day School is the most inviting school that fosters a nurturing community for students to thrive and engage in a multitude of academic and extracurricular activities. Teachers, faculty, and parents are extremely supportive of each motivated student's endeavors to succeed in every way possible. From personal experience, I can say that the teachers at MCDS care about their students as if they are their own children, and it shows. As a result, the Country Day community remains a close-knit unified community, and always will. Students, teachers, faculty, and parents would do almost anything for another member of the school s community. Students feel as if MCDS is their second home and see its members as their family who will always be there no matter the circumstance or the amount of time that passes by. Graduating from Miami Country Day School was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. It was extremely upsetting to think about a life away from Miami Country Day School. However, I know that my friends and teachers will always be there for me when I come back home from college.

My kids have been here for seven years. They love school, and they have a quest for knowledge. The school inspires creativity and critical thinking. For parents that believe that academics are only measured by a rigorous curriculum, MCDS is not that type of school. Students are encouraged to work collaboratively and thoughtfully. The children are kind and respectful, as emotional intelligence is part of the learning experience.
—Submitted by a parent

We came from Le Petit Papillon which was a nightmare. Our son is now at MCDS and he is having the time of his life! The campus is great and parents hang arround all the time. This school is a community. It's non profit, run by people who care about the kids and not about the money. You only live once. Take advantage of this wonderful school!
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter went to school here for one year in elementary school. Our family thought our teacher was uninspiring, uncreative and she did not engage the parents (this is by no means a representation of all the teachers-we had an unfortunate situation-but the teacher still works at MCDS). When I withdrew my daughter and put her into public school, she had to be pulled from class everyday to read with the grade lower because she was very behind academically. There was no mention in our teacher meetings at MCDS that our daughter was behind and our report was that she was doing great and academically right in the middle of the class. It seems to be a good choice for high school, but for elementary-academics are not up to other school standards. If your child is staying at MCDS through HS, then it may be fine, but if they transfer to another elementary, by choice or if your family moves-chances are they will be very behind. They do not teach children to read until 1st grade. The only ones reading in kindergarten are the ones who were taught at home.
—Submitted by a parent

The best school!!! LOVE IT:) My son goes to school with a smile everyday! His teacher is WONDERFUL. Everything is about the kids being happy. The campus is beautiful.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a parent of two at MCDS. Very disappointing overall, PreK very unprofessional and first grade underwhelming academically. Admin and teachers are not genuine. Poor quality education for a top price!
—Submitted by a parent

Miami Country Day School is a true "COMMUNITY SCHOOL". My children are not numbers there and the campus is definitely our home away from home. I can honestly say that my children love going to school, they are true SPARTANS! MCDS's focus is on the whole child however, academically MCDS leaves a lot to be desired. A lot of the teachers are disinterested and unhappy people and it shows in the class room. It also seems that in the recent years the quality of the education has gone down hill. An organization can only be as good as it's leader and maybe that is MCDS's biggest problem (it's leaders are quite uninspiring definitely not dynamic). I think that most parents would agree with me that MCDS is a "comfortable and safe school" and most of parents send their children there out of convenience (location) and because their students are "content".
—Submitted by a parent

i abosolutley do not like this school the kids are very snotty and all the school does is ask for money money money

The school has a devoted faculty who work hard to bring out the best in each student; a true family community; longevity of the institution and teachers; education can take a child from 3 years old to college; top rate college counseling program with the goal to find the best match possible for a student.
—Submitted by a parent

I have been a parent here for 5 years. My two daughters both started in Kindergaten and they love thier school. They both have scored highly on the ERB test which indicates that they are learning nationally the way they should be. I love that their report cards are personalized and full of information rather than just a simple grade. The families are very nice and welcoming. The resources and the facility the school has makes me wish I was in school again.
—Submitted by a parent

My son went to country day, as far as the environment, it was very safe and the school itself is technologically advanced. As far as the academics went, I felt that they were behind in reading and mathematics. The Everyday Mathematics based program they used is not really challenging. Third graders are not given letter grades. Some of the students I felt were way behind on their writing skills. My child went there being able to write in cursive by the second grade while the children at Country Day were just beginning cursive. Also, the school caters to the parents and sometimes appropriated disciplinary actions are not taken. They concentrate more on the money issues rather then pushing those kids to do more. I took my son out of there and tested extremely low in math for an entrance exam to another highly well known private school.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is amazing. Kids look forward to do their work.
—Submitted by a parent

I have been a parent at this school for 3 years and I can attest to the difference this school has made in my daughter. My daughter who is in 2nd grade, is reading better than her cousin who is in 4th grade. I love that my daughter is caring, and talks about her school day and is in a school where she doesn't have to worry about fights and bullies, and gets excited to go to school every day, even when she is sick. I decided to go to Miami Country Day because it is so safe and you see the administration and security everywhere. I like that the kids walk around smiling everyday. Thank you Miami Country Day.
—Submitted by a parent

Wehave been part of the MCDS family for 10 years and have found MCDS to be absolutely wonderful! I am a long time educator (public school) and have a real pulse on what it takes to operate a school, including improved academics, student behaviors, teacher turnover and parent participation. I have only witnessed fairness, equality, excellence and hard work on the part of the total staff. The entire facilities have improved and continue to grow, and the technology that is necessary to educate, has been placed into the hands of the teachers to use daily. My two children are happy, safe and progressing amazingly. No doubt my freshman daughter will enter the college of her choice! You should check out the Professional Growth and Compensation System developed by the teachers and staff. It is one of the kind in the nation and not found at any other independent school! Go Spartans!
—Submitted by a parent

It's definitely better than some of the public schools in the area, but the students behavior/attitudes have been getting worse with every year. Also, massive teacher turnover. Athletics program has increased greatly during the last 5 years, but overall administration panders too much to the parents. Also, the school is going in a direction of 'total education of the 6 potentials of the whole child' (i.e. don't push the kids too hard and give them lots of groupwork/cooperative learning). There are much better schools out there for a comparative price.
—Submitted by a parent

Miami Country Day is one of the nation's finest schools. Country Day excels in every quality that a school should have; top notch acedemics, wonderful and nuturing school grounds & atmosphere, truely caring teachers, and the best in sports and extra curricular activities.
—Submitted by Jenny Davis-Lenchner, a former student

My son attended this school from Pre-K till 3rd Grade and had a fantastic experience. Still I wish the school would have been much stronger in math.
—Submitted by a parent

The academics are good but the level of parent involvement is none. A little bit racist. No diversity.
—Submitted by a parent

Great school, great spirit and great education.
—Submitted by a former student

The problem with this school is there is too much parental involement. There is too much focus on fund raising. The education has been OK but not excellent for the last 7 years.
—Submitted by a parent