Charlotte Country Day School

I am a parent and can attest to the incredible academic environment this school provides our children at any age. The teachers are outstanding, course selection extensive (Upper School offers Honors, AP, and IP options, CCDS had the first IB program in NC). Country Day offers a rigorous academic environment combined with perks you just don't find elsewhere. Teachers want your children to succeed and encourage them along the way. Parents are extremely involved and there is a great feeling of family and community among everyone at the school. Country Day emphasizes character, honesty, integrity, athletics, and arts along with the academic standards. Kids are encouraged to do their best in all areas, and all skill-sets are appreciated. The college guidance department is outstanding and make the application process much less overwhelming. Each division does a wonderful job addressing the needs of the ages they serve. The faculty is hands-on and your son/daughter will find so many adult role models throughout their educational experience. I simply cannot say enough great things about Charlotte Country Day School!
—Submitted by a parent

I am the parent of 2 children at CCDS in both the Middle School and the Lower School. I wish everyone looking at the school could get a deeper understanding and appreciation of the culture and community at CCDS. My children have thrived in this environment where character, community service, academics, athletics and the arts are woven seamlessly into the fabric of our school. Faculty and staff have done a tremendous job of meeting the needs of both of my children whose strengths and weaknesses could not be more different. The middle school campus is an absolute gem where the students are away from the pressures of being like Upper School students and can separate themselves from the structure of the Lower School and find more independence as they navigate adolescence. CCDS also does a phenomenal job with parent education and awareness offering workshops, coffees, etc on relevant topics to parents in each division. I could not be more pleased with our choice to send our children to CCDS and know that what they are learning here at Country Day, both academically and socially, will benefit them throughout the rest of their lives.
—Submitted by a parent

During the enrollment process, the feeling of joy that I felt every time we visited Charlotte Country Day School resonated with me. Looking back, I think that sense of joy comes from being in a place where children are realizing their full potential, whether that means being a Rhodes scholar, a painter, singer, author, scientist, historian, or photographer. Whatever your child's passion is, at CCDS, it will be celebrated and developed into a skill they will cherish for their lifetime. It was important to me and my husband to choose a school for our children that had a strong fine and performing arts curriculum. We love the fact that at Charlotte Country Day School beginning in JK, the students have music and art classes, and even learn to perform infront of an audience. Tied into community service learning, the children visit local retirement communities and preform for the residents. The attention at CCDS not only to sports and academics, but also to the creative side of your child, is one of the main reasons we chose to enroll our children at Charlotte Country Day school.
—Submitted by a parent

If your kids are coming in from Christian or Trinity for upper school, plan on spending extra money for tutors. We have loved the education, opportunities, and staff although the academic transition was tough the first year. There is no comparison from where we came from. We are extremely glad we switched schools and should have done it years ago instead of feeling frustrated with lower standards (academic and facilities). We have not experienced any bullying incidents at all. The school has a program for 9th graders to help deal with this type of thing and seems to be very aware of issues. They expel kids that misbehave which we approve of.
—Submitted by a parent

My family has a long history of going to CCDS. My father and his older brother attended CCDS. My older brother graduated from Country Day. So it was natural for me to attend too. I started in JK. I was challenged, I was pushed to succeed, and I was surrounded by people I called friends. By 5th grade things went wrong. I began to be bullied by both boys and girls in my grade. As I entered Middle School I began to become closer to my teachers than to my peers as I was mocked and ostracized whenever I left the classroom. Finally in 7th grade I had too much. I had become depressed, verging on suicidal and I snapped. I yelled at a boy who threw a ball at me. I was taken into the office of our grade advisor, a teacher I respected and trusted. She told me it was a misunderstanding and made me apologize to the boy. I decided to leave CCDS. That summer my parents recieved a letter from my advisor who told me I wouldn't find anything better and would face the same in public school. I didn't. I loved it. CCDS has incredible athletics and academics, but the way the school treated me after my bullying soured the whole experience, and I am still to this day haunted by those last few years.

Charlotte Country Day School has one main mission: encourage students to be the best they can be. To accomplish this mission, each teacher spends time really getting to know each child. I am amazed how well my son's teachers know both his positive and negative traits. Honor and discipline are always part of every class, which helps to develop trustworthy and hard-working future adults. CCDS has a winning formula. We are in our 12th year at Country Day. We are so excited about college being on the horizon, but leaving CCDS will be bitter-sweet.
—Submitted by a parent

Our children have thrived at Country Day School. If you are looking at private schools, look at the libraries and that should give you a good clue what is important at the school. Also, ask your neighbors and friends about the kids that attend, the college acceptances, and the reputation of the school. There are a few private schools that don't have good reputations in south Charlotte. Country Day only accepts one out of 100 students. The better the school, the harder it is to get into. Our experience has been wonderful and it gets better thru each of the schools. The teachers are amazing and there is always room for improvement. Questions and suggestions are welcomed and encouraged by the administration and the parents demand excellence. It is pricey but well worth the cost. The diversity is a priority for not only the students but also the staff. There is not much turnover. The teachers are paid well and greatly respected. We love it and only considered one other option in town. The location is wonderful and the campus is very secure. Can't say enough good things about the teachers - the best in Charlotte! Demanding and yet caring - wonderful!
—Submitted by a parent

I have nothing but positive things to say about my experience at Charlotte Country Day School. I attribute a good share of my childhood development and college admission to the school, which in turn helped pave the way for my professional and personal development as an adult. Some of the best memories of my life were at that school, and I firmly believe that it is one of the best schools in the country. Some of the highlights I would point out: 1) High Quality Teaching Staff 2) Experiences/Opportunities that many children do not have 3) Fantastic facilities (sports and arts) 4) Focus on well-balanced student life and college admission
—Submitted by a student

CCDS is an amazing school. The teaching staff is top rate with incredible amounts of personalized attention given to the needs of each student. Everyone there really seems to love what they do and it shows. Challenging academics, great extracurricular activities and the facilities are all top notch. The separate middle school campus is a huge plus in terms of encouraging healthy development for those students. Can't say enough good things.
—Submitted by a parent

I was a student for 8 years and can say that the lower school is AMAZING the teachers are great and so are the facilities. The middle school is very cliquey and there is a lot of pressure on girls for the kind of clothes they wear etc. As for the academics they are very good and challenging. The foreign exchange program is amazing and allows kids to go to places like Cabo San Lucas in the 6th grade! As far as the whole cliqueness I have heard that it only gets worse in highschool. Unless your kid is extremely popular than they might want to look somewhere else. I have a lot of friends who go to AG middle school and love it. Overall its a great school for some people but not for everyone.

Charlotte Country Day is probably the best private school in Charlotte. Academically, pretty even with Charlotte Latin, a few steps ahead of Providence Day and leaps and bounds ahead of Charlotte Christian. I think what distinguishes CCDS from CLS is that their may be a slightly elitist mentality at CLS that is completely non-existent at CCDS.Athletics with the major sports (football, basketball, lacrosse, swimming) are usually better than the other three, with Christian being the only equivalent in baseball. However, Charlotte Latin may be a notch above in the non-revenue sports like wrestling and cross country. Over all, if i were a new parent looking for a private school, I would go with CD or CLS if affordable. Hope this has been helpful.

Charlotte Country Day is a fabulous school. We have had one child graduate and we have another one in upper school. The new head of school seems to have his pulse on what is going on and he has made a concerted effort to get to know the parents and the kids. The communication has improved greatly since he has been there and the kids like him. The class selection/options (upper school) are by far the best of all the private schools in Charlotte and the facility is amazing and so is Bucsnet! Many of the teachers have been at the school for over twenty five years. There are four full time staff members just for the college department - they are all wonderful! The staff truly cares about kids and wants them to succeed. It is a very rigorous program academically but the teachers do what they can for kids that put forth the extra effort. There are many opportunities for parents to serve and become involved at all levels. We love the school and have made many wonderful friendships because of it. It is not perfect, but pretty close.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a student at CCD. My school has offered me endless opportunities throughout my years at this school. I am in an environment where I can be myself, feel confident about my academics, social life, and athletics. I love CCD because it not only encourages me to reach my personal best, but everyday I strive to perform well due to the grand support my school gives me. I am comfortable playing sports both in and out of school, and I enjoy being involved in activities that make me unique. CCD offers such a wide variety of clubs, sports and opportunities, so there is something enjoyable and interesting for everyone. Each faculty member is wonderful, always willing to meet each pupil's needs. Being a member of the CCD community from jk all the way up to high school, I have always found CCD to be a friendly school always willing to accept new members with open arms. I truly feel I could not be happier any place else!

CCDS is a Great school... the teachers are so nice and willing to help! Although... the middle school seems to have a big bullying problem and theres a lot of pressure on girls such as dressing really nice for school etc. Theres a little too much drama. BUT I Love the lower and upper school!

Top-Notch program, beautiful college-like campus, great staff, great students and wonderful families. Hands down-best of all of the Charlotte private schools.
—Submitted by a parent

Since '08, this has been the best school in Charlotte...Top athletic programs, best art, dance, music and theater programs in the state. The only private school with an International Baccalaureate program. CCD provides top education for the best and brightest. One out of every one hundred applicants are accepted.
—Submitted by a parent

Best academics, best facilities, best sports, best administration and best performing students of all NC Private Schools.
—Submitted by a parent