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“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”

E. E. CUMMINGS

From the moment we first lay eyes on our children, we see unlimited potential in them. As parents, our job is to provide them with every opportunity to excel: to inspire them to be the best they can be; to help them recognize and achieve the potential that lies within them.

But that can be difficult in many of today’s schools.

At Westchester Country Day School, we develop in children an enthusiasm for learning that leads to elevated academic performance and the achievement of their full potential. We think that children deserve a classroom environment in which they feel eager to engage and contribute. When students view learning as a joyful, lifelong process, they will grow and blossom as people, as intellectuals, as professionals, and one day, as parents themselves.

THRIVE is an acronym for what we do best: teaching with focus, instilling scholarly habits, developing range, providing intimate classroom settings, sharing values, and creating a unique environment and culture.

This combination creates an exceptional educational experience that enables students to reach their academic and personal potentials. When children THRIVE, they learn more and, ultimately, become more.

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Westchester Country Day School offers each studenta challenging curriculum presented by a supportive and caring faculty who help each child strive to reach his or her potential. Our teachers are more than instructors; they are role models whose love of learning is contagious and evident in all they do. We have filled our broad, liberal arts-based academic program with an outstanding variety of enrichment opportunities to give students the tools for achieving academic, artistic, athletic, and personal success. Beginning in Lower School, we employ an integrated curriculum that teaches children to reason, ask questions, and form conclusions. By the time students reach Middle School, all of their classes are taught at honors level, which pushes students to think critically and analytically, not simply memorizing facts and statistics, but developing skills that will last a lifetime. As part of the college preparatory curriculum, qualified Upper School students are offered 15 Advanced Placement classes.

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“Nothing is more rewarding than when, without warning, I witness a sudden quickening of a student’s mind and watch as he or she discovers what excellence really is.”

ROBIN FRENCH UPPER SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHER

No matter what age they come to us, by the time our students graduate from Westchester, they will be prepared to enter the world, equipped with the knowledge, ability, and determination to tackle any challenge and seize every opportunity.

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At Westchester Country Day School, we employ a teamwork approach to academics beginning in kindergarten. Sharing is something we stress not only as it pertains to objects, but also as it pertains to knowledge, insight, and understanding. Students are taught to take more responsibility for themselves as they move from the self-contained classrooms of Lower School into our rotating Middle School classes, where there is a different teacher for every subject.

In Upper School responsible citizenship is expected and preparation for college is paramount. Honors and Advanced Placement level courses further emphasize analysis, problem solving, and communication skills. Teachers enhance the learning process by providing individualized attention and by instilling efficient and effective study habits.

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not a single act, but a habit.”

ARISTOTLE

A Westchester schedule includes exciting elective courses, engaging classroom discussions, hands-on experiments, and complex problem-solving challenges that guide students down the path to self-discovery and intellectual awareness.

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At Westchester Country Day School, we urge children to deepen their understanding of themselves and the world around them by participating in a variety of artistic, environmental, and cultural endeavors. These endeavors reflect our commitment to develop students who are not only high-achieving intellectuals, but also well-rounded individuals. Research has shown that a fine arts education helps children develop collaborative skills, technological competencies, flexible thinking, and an appreciation for diversity. Beginning in kindergarten and continuing through Upper School, Westchester provides a diverse arts program that helps students learn to convey ideas,feelings, and emotions through the creation of artand the performance of music and drama.

We believe an early introduction to environmental issues helps students become conscientious stewards of our natural resources and responsible global citizens. At Westchester, students develop a healthy respect for nature beginning in Lower School when student s g row g reenhouse vegetables that are served during lunch in the school cafeteria. This respect is further deepened in the Middle and Upper Schools, where our students gain f irst-hand experience of the natural world during trips to Camp Sea Gull, Camp Cheerio, and the Nantahala Outdoor Center.

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We believe that early exposure to other cultures gives our students the awareness neededto become considerate global citizens. Because Westchester values the unique background, interests, strengths, and talents of each student, our children are able to learn tolerance, respect, integrity, cooperation, and fairness in the classroom and beyond.

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An appropriate classroom environment and ample individual attention are fundamental to providing children with an exceptional and transformative education. At Westchester Country Day School, our average class size is 16 students. Every student is assured of receiving the one-on-one attention and instruction he or she needs to meet the expectations of our challenging curriculum. We believe the results of our student-focused academic environment are most evident in our 100 percent college acceptance rate for graduating seniors. Supported by a faculty and staff uniquely in tune with their interests and strengths, and guided individually by an experienced college advisor, Westchester students approach the college admissions process confident of success.

“The art of teaching, is the art of assisting discovery.”

M A R K VA N D O R E N

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While our Honor Code is the most obvious outward sign of our dedication to imparting traditional values such as honesty, kindness, selflessness, and respect for self and others, we believe that every facet of the Westchester Country Day School experience provides teachable moments in which our students can discover the significance of these values.One example of how we live and share our values is through service to others. Our community service programs include everything from tutoring at local public schools to visiting hospitals and senior citizens. This service to others — so critical to personal development — is at the heart of a Westchester senior’s final graduation requirement.

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Westchester athletes learn to respect others and to embrace a strong work ethic while demonstrating loyalty and commitment to their teams. While winning is viewed as a goal, success is measured not by victory but by the spirit and teamwork of our athletes. We encourage all of our Middle and Upper School students to join any of our more than two dozen sports teams. As a celebrated Division 2A member of the North Carolina Independent School Athletic Association, extracurricular sports provide an incredible opportunity for our children to learn values that will benefit them in all areas and stages of life.

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Nestled on a 53-acre wooded campus, Westchester Country Day School provides a nurturing, student-focused environment where children acquire the tools to unlock their innate potentials. Students, teachers, and parents support one another through the challenges and opportunities that an exceptional education presents.

The rigors of our college preparatory curriculum are balanced by the amenities we offer. These include healthful and varied lunches that feature vegetables grown here on campus by our students, flexible before- and after-school care, and academic and athletic summer enrichment programs.

To foster personal growth and leadership in children of all ages, extracurricular activities such as drama, music, clubs, and athletics are offered as opportunities for students to become role models for their fellow students.

336.822.4005admissions@westchestercds.orgwww.westchestercds.org

How to applyApplication requirements Apply now

Tuition & Tuition Assistance

To learn how your child can begin to THRIVE at Westchester Country Day School, contact us at: