Jacksonville Country Day School

JCDS has proven to be a great decision for our family. I struggled with the financial commitment and stigma of a private school as we were making the decision. However, 7 years later with both children enrolled, I can confidently say it has been a great investment and the JCDS family is an extension of our family. The feeling of community character education, great and caring teachers, high-quality curriculum and focus on the whole child have helped our children excel academically and beyond the classroom.

JCDS is an incredible school-I went there from the time I was 4 years old until I graduated as a 6th grader. Early on, I learned that it is ok to make mistakes and how to problem solve to get it right the next time. This lesson served me well in middle school, high school, and college! My teachers at JCDS were all so patient with my peers and me-we all had unique learning styles, and the teachers found a way to cater to all of us. The teachers were true role models, and they embodied the idea of character education. Going to a school designed to shape the whole person was an amazing opportunity-I learned what it means to give back, what social responsibility looks like, and most of all, how to use what you've learned in school to go into the world and serve others for the greater good. Now, as a young professional, these life lessons continue to serve their purpose as I work with colleagues and clients on a daily basis. JCDS is definitely a one-of-a-kind institution, and your children will truly enjoy and grow through the experience of attending.

Jacksonville Country Day is an extraordinary school because it teaches students how to be socially connected, inquisitive, and academically independent. The campus not only has state-of-the-art facilities for learning, but the teachers and administration are what makes this school so special. They make every child and family member feel nurtured, safe, and connected to this community. Our family spent 17 years at JCDS because we loved how our children loved going to school there. Their emphasis on character education, academics, art, music, health and wellness, and the development of each child's social skills made all the difference in each of our children. We truly believe our children had such a smooth transition in to middle school and beyond because they were taught not only the basics in education, but valuable lessons in how to be an independent thinker with valuable skills outside of the classroom. We are so thankful to have had such a wonderful experience at this school.

Jacksonville Country Day School has given our children the opportunity to thrive academically while cultivating a foundation of character education that goes beyond the classroom. The teachers are dedicated to giving each student the attention and support they need to succeed and feel confident. Our children have felt safe, loved and challenged at JCDS.

Jacksonville Country Day school has an exceptional community that feels like family. The culture of the school is nurturing, inclusive, and focused on character education. Beyond that, the academic rigor of the curriculum is excellent, and the students are taught to love learning. I have been a JCDS parent for 10 years and counting, and can't think of any other place where I would want to see my children grow into independent, confident young people.

JCDS is a true community. From the day my child started in the Pre-K 3 program, this school has warmed my heart. Each and every faculty member makes it a point to get to know each child, address them by name when they see them in the hall, and make the children and their family feel known and valued. Every teacher we have had has gone above and beyond and exceeded all expectations. This is a wonderful place for a child to grow and learn. In addition to top-notch academics, the character education program, the gorgeous facilities and the wide range of after-school and summer activities are a few of the reasons that we love JCDS.

Our child has been attending JCDS for 5 years, beginning in PreK-3 and our family highly recommends the school. Aside from the outstanding educational experience, the character development is an instrumental element of the curriculum. We are so glad to be a part of this school community!

This is our fifth year at JCDS. I can truly say JCDS has exceeded our expectations. The teachers are AMAZING. The academics are challenging and engaging, with cross-curriculum learning opportunities so that children can learn in a variety of ways. We also love the focus on character education and connections within the community. The administration is excellent, and parent feedback and communication is taken very seriously. During COVID, there has been complete transparency. We feel that our children are very safe at JCDS. There are many enrichment opportunities, from sports to arts, and the lunch food is even great!

We fell in love with JCDS the minute we walked on campus. The space is beautiful and the teachers and administrators have a true passion for kids. My daughter loves her teacher, her friends, and the extra-curricular activities the school offers. The commitment to character education really sets this school apart from the others in the area. Highly recommend!

Jacksonville Country Day School was our girls' second home. I have been a part of the school for over 15 years. My oldest is in college and youngest is in 8th grade and both were at JCDS from the beginning. There are so many amazing things..... swimming and an incredible gym for PE, a 5-star chef that makes everything from scratch, the unbelievable dining facility and state of the art library, science lab, technology lab and news room! The kids are exposed to more in elementary school than most do throughout their years in high school. The character education is the cornerstone of JCDS. The teachers and faculty are amazing! It is a happy place and the entire campus and community make you (and your kids) feel like they are engulfed in a BIG HUG!!

We knew we wanted to send our son to JCDS after visiting campus for the first time and meeting with Krista from admissions. She welcomed us with open arms and we immediately understood that JCDS would become a second family to us. We love JCDS because it focuses solely on elementary education. It has perfected its curriculum and knows exactly how to cater to young students. It is a wonderful environment where students are challenged, engaged, and nurtured. We love how JCDS pushes our son to be a better person with Character Development programs. Every staff member and teacher are truly exceptional and go above and beyond to make all students and parents feel comfortable. It makes us so happy to see how excited our son is to go to school each and every day. We feel so fortunate to have JCDS in our community!

Deciding where to send our eldest child was one our family did not take lightly. Many schools in Jacksonville provide quality academics. We wanted more. We wanted our daughter to grow up in a community that is loving, nurturing, diverse, and safe. Jacksonville Country Day School has perfected all of the aforementioned. Despite what is going on in our community and world at this time, there has never been a hesitation surrounding whether or not we are making the right choice to send our daughter back into the classroom at JCDS, with the rest of her school family.

When our family relocated to Ponte Vedra when our child was entering 3rd grade, we immediately found a "home" at Jacksonville Country Day School. This school has perfected the blend of a nurturing, whole-child program with a rigorous and integrated academic and character education curriculum. The facilities and materials available to students from Pre-school through Upper Elementary are outstanding, from the Makerspace and Science & Technology Lab to the full-size gymnasium, Library, swimming pool, Fine Arts Center, Art Studio, dining hall, and outdoor garden and play areas. JCDS students make use all of these spaces, both for academics and for play, and are offered an array of tools and manipulatives for hands-on learning. Students have many opportunities to try new skills and pursue their varied interests in the course of classroom collaboration, leadership development opportunities, and electives as they grow with the school. Our family has also appreciated the wide range of on-site afterschool enrichment activities available. The JCDS administration is committed to the professional and strategic operation of the school, and the faculty are happy to be teaching here. The school invests in its faculty's professional development, and the teachers return to their students energized and equally invested in the art of teaching. With small class sizes, a regularly refined research-based curriculum, and thoughtfully-designed classrooms, students are able to receive differentiated instruction and personal attention. JCDS families are integral to the school and the school offers opportunities to connect to suit a variety of availability/work schedules and interests. Parents -- and grandparents! -- are welcome here, and the community has become a warm and diverse network for our entire family at school, personally, and professionally. Students graduate JCDS as inspired learners who are prepared to thrive in any ongoing educational setting as engaged leaders in their community. They are articulate, kind, intellectually-curious, creative, motivated, resilient, health-conscious, organized, and empathetic students. These are all qualities we seek to develop and nurture in our child, and we feel so fortunate to have had the faculty and staff at Jacksonville Country Day School as our trusted partners in our child's elementary education these past four years.

JCDS offers the finest elementary education in the entire North Florida area. The students learn concepts through active participation and project-oriented classes. Class sizes are smaller, allowing teachers to give attention to individuals and differentiate in their teaching strategies. The students have PE every day and enjoy additional resource classes in art, music, Spanish and science. There is a family feeling in a wonderful, safe environment. The campus is absolutely gorgeous.

This is our 6th year at JCDS and we couldn't be more happy with our school. Our children are getting a great education, while having programs not typical in most elementary schools, such as daily PE and recess, swimming, Spanish, art, and music to name a few. There is a focus on character education as well as many wonderful enrichment opportunities. In addition, the teachers and staff are wonderful, caring people who provide an ideal environment for learning and success.