Carolina Day School

The Key School is too small, never any room, and pretty run down for the high price tag of $25,000. Get yourself an Orton Gillingham Trained Tutor, and do not bother with this place. They have nerve. They do not pay the teachers anywhere NEAR what they are worth. 3 kids per reading class, 10 or more in Math...not what you think it is going to be. High turnover. Rude, arrogant, rednecks.

Let's get this out of the way, Carolina Day is a "rich kid" school, and at around $20,000 a year, per child, how could it not be? But that being said, it is a wonderful school, with strong academics and teachers who truly care about the "whole" child. No school is perfect, but CDS comes pretty close. I've had children in both the Lower School and the Middle School, and have been very happy with the education both of them have received. The MS is particular is excellent at conflict resolution and very proactive in discouraging bullying. The kids are rather pampered, but for the most part they are really good kids. I plan on keeping mine there through high school.
—Submitted by a parent

Loved the school for awhile until it began to focus on the richest of the rich. Tuition increases. Love the community and the people and for those whom the tuition is pocket change, great school. For those who work hard to make the tuition, can't keep up with the increases.
—Submitted by a parent

I enrolled my son two years ago , he find hard time in making friends , also the environment is rude and administration is well know of making unjustified decisions . This school always favor those whose parents work their , There is a bunch of upper class (rich) people who do not welcome new kids into their circle , they always make a boundary between them and other kids .Pretty rude and non welcoming environment .The principal and her assistant are pretty mean ladies . They can do what ever they want and no one can raise questions against them . Now my sone is in public school and is friend with his whole class . The teachers admire him and he love to go to school every single morning .
—Submitted by a parent

The Key School at Carolina Day was extremely disappointing and financially cumbersome; made all the more frustrating by the arrogance of the Administration at Carolina Day School.
—Submitted by a parent

For all of the bonuses of Carolina Day, including many fine teachers, this school is over-hyped. A few teachers, though, are downright hostile towards students. The education offered, especially in the middle school, is not nearly worth the fortune paid for it. Of course, if your child is a self-motivated student then their situation may be fine. However, many genuinely outstanding students are not challenged appropriately. Discipline is quite lax in the middle and upper schools. Parents are not welcome on middle school field trips where something always "happens" and might not have occurred if more adults were present. Repeated administrative firings, meant to spur the school in new directions, have eroded morale and confidence in recent years. The Key School is the growth component of CDS. The middle school program is hardly "college prep." Individual families may find differences, based on their income and perceived social status. Still, I might have given 4 stars, were it not for the price tag.
—Submitted by a parent

I've been a student at this school since Pre-K (I'm now a senior,) and I'm so thankful that my parents were able to send me here. Every school has its flaws, and I'll admit that CDS is a little too obsessed with keeping a good image and that some people are snooty. However, if a student is willing, CDS also provides a fantastic education. I feel much more prepared for college than many of my peers at other nearby schools. I love all my teachers and actually enjoy going to class. Furthermore, CDS is a great school for strengthening writing skills and also for promoting service in the community. In the upper school, there is a strong feeling of trust. People leave their iPhones and laptops sitting out without fear of them being stolen. Teachers take your word for the truth, and the honor code upholds integrity. I'll admit that some groups of students are better than others, and you always run the risk that your kid will be in a small class with some not-so-nice kids (especially in middle school.) But mean kids are easy to avoid, and there are plenty of nice ones to befriend. Bottom line: CDS is a great place for people who like to learn.

CDS is a fantastic school. Our kids are in the upper school now and we have had wonderful enriching experiences! Teachers and administrators are realistic and solid. Theater program amazing. Spirts and clubs great!
—Submitted by a parent

Never consider this school for your child, I had the worst experience ever, I will never let my child stay there for 1 more second
—Submitted by a parent

This school is nothing more than rude kids, non welcoming teacher. Worst experience ever. I hope we never send our child there.
—Submitted by a parent

Key School at Carolina Day has been one of our most difficult experiences. Buyer be ware.
—Submitted by a parent

My two children have been enrolled at Carolina Day School for the past 11 years. We have had an amazing experience at CDS. My children have had the usual ups and downs of 'growing-up" but we have had great support from every teacher and administrator along the way. As my children have transitioned into the Upper School, I continue to be grateful for the excellent preparation they receive as they progress from one division to another. My children are thriving and becoming people I feel very proud of, in large part thanks to CDS and the caring faculty and staff.
—Submitted by a parent

Our three children graduated from CDS - the youngest in 2009. One question other parents often ask about is our kids'preparation for college. Each of our kids chose academically challenging schools - Williams College, NYU - Tisch School of the Arts and Yale. I had real concerns about their ability to handle these challenges. I didn't need to be worried - the incredible faculty at CDS made sure they were more than ready. Our kids knew how to study and organize their time. They placed out of many freshmen classes and entered on a sophomore level. They were asked to tutor other students in writing skills and they have each excelled in their chosen fields. Even better - all three have had or are having fun and have been incredibly happy with their choice of a college.
—Submitted by a parent

I have two boys who have been at CDS since Pre-K. Their education has been exceptional, not only academically, but by learning to be good citizens, stewards of our planet, and responsible adults. Now my youngest is getting ready to transition to the Middle School. Since we have already done this once with his older brother, I am confident that the turbulent middle school years will be met with understanding and compassion, from an excellent faculty and staff who have so much experience with middle school children, and with challenge of strong academics, provided for both the individual and team effort. I must also say that these teachers KNOW my child. When my son was struggling, emails were exchanged & meetings set up to come up with a plan to keep him on track. He finished the year with straight A's after working with his teacher to make it happen.
—Submitted by a parent

I have been thrilled with the education my daughter has received at Carolina Day School. She started in the public school system, but was working so hard to stay with the class. We requested testing through the public school and with the results they said they would have to wait until she FAILED in 3rd or 4th grade in order to help her. We immediately looked at the Key School at CDS and have never looked back. Now my daughter is a rising Freshman and will transition to the Upper School. We feel she is well prepared to attend the Upper School and are pleased with the special programs they have in place for kids with learning differences. We are confident she will be successful, because the teachers are dedicated to helping her achieve to her highest potential. I am so glad we found Carolina Day!
—Submitted by a parent

My son started at Carolina Day as a pre-schooler and loved it. At the beginnig of first grade he was diagnosed with dsylexia and moved to the Key School. Wow - this has changed his life and ours. The transition was very smooth and my son's reading has improved beyond my hopes. He now says "I am a reader!" I don't see how anyone can consider Carolina Day School not welcoming to all types of kids and families when they developed the Key School specifically to meet the needs of students with learning differences. The teachers are caring and great at what they do, they are there because they love what they do. I hope my sons stays at Carolina Day through high school.
—Submitted by a parent

Sent our youngest daughter here as an alternative to Asheville Middle School. CDS does an excellent job of nurturing middle schoolers. The academic side leaves much to be desired. Both my wife and I attended private schools and both of our older daughters attended private schools for elementary. With the exception of the public middle school this is the worst educational facility we have ever experienced. We transfered our daughter out of CDS after making mediocre grades for 3 years into the public high school. We enrolled her into AP and honors level classes and she is all honor roll as a Sophomore. In addition she has had more homework over the summer break then she did in the entire three years at CDS. Don't get me wrong CDS has a few excellent teachers per grade. Their failure at $16,000.00 a year is that they all aren't Excellent.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter attended Carolina Day last year and we hate this school!! There is too much emphasis placed on monitary values and not enough on education. We switched to a private Christian school and love it there! The parents at CDS are snobby and not welcoming to new families! Horrible school not worth what you pay for it....it is just another status symbol!
—Submitted by a parent

I love CDS. All my sisters have graduated from here and I plan to do the same. We, CDS, are a close knit community who help each other at all cost. Really not 'snobby', but open to newcomers! Hope to see you here!
—Submitted by a student

By far the best private school our child has attended, including California and Hawaii. Many students go all the way from pre-K to 12th grade.Everyone is treated like family, including newcomers! and-the kids are not 'snobby or entitled'!
—Submitted by Marilyn A. Roderick, MD, a parent