Discover JCDS
In your journey to find the best private school in Jacksonville, we are honored that you are considering Jacksonville Country Day School.
Jacksonville Country Day School is the premier choice in elementary education in Northeast Florida. Our academic program, facilities, character education, after-school enrichment, and caring faculty are all well-known for their excellence.
Jacksonville Country Day School is the premier choice in elementary education in Northeast Florida. Our academic program, facilities, character education, after-school enrichment, and caring faculty are all well-known for their excellence.
At JCDS, we understand children and the process of educating them, every part of them — their minds, their bodies, and their hearts. We are passionate about children and what is best for them.
Through a very deliberate partnership with our families, we are committed to having confident graduates who are strong in character and academics, who can communicate effectively, lead by example, and show respect and compassion for others.
Through a very deliberate partnership with our families, we are committed to having confident graduates who are strong in character and academics, who can communicate effectively, lead by example, and show respect and compassion for others.
As educators, we know it is the process of getting there that is most important. It is about the journey — the everyday experiences that make the difference.
Childhood is the shortest, most important part of our lives. We need to make it impactful — we need to make it count. It is the foundation of everything else.
Childhood is the shortest, most important part of our lives. We need to make it impactful — we need to make it count. It is the foundation of everything else.
We allow children to play, to develop social and emotional skills, take risks, learn in a multisensory, integrated environment that supports development at every age. We know that children need to move a lot, learn from mistakes, problem solve, collaborate, and be able to create and express themselves.
In order to find success in the classroom, students at JCDS are surrounded by knowledgeable and caring adults who make sure our children feel loved and are learning and growing.
We provide enriching and engaging experiences for all of our students by using data and research to drive our instruction while varying the complexity for different learners.
We provide enriching and engaging experiences for all of our students by using data and research to drive our instruction while varying the complexity for different learners.
JCDS offers a challenging and engaging curriculum to help our students grow and reach their full potential. Our character education program brings out the best aspects of their personalities. Our programs — including the 7 Mindsets, virtues of the month, and service learning — help develop understanding of positive human relationships. Our Spanish, physical education, and fine arts programs ensure that our students are well-rounded.
Words alone cannot accurately describe the wondrous world our students enjoy at Jacksonville Country Day School. Plan on a campus tour, whether in-person or virtual, to see for yourself. (See Visit Us, at the bottom of this page.)
Words alone cannot accurately describe the wondrous world our students enjoy at Jacksonville Country Day School. Plan on a campus tour, whether in-person or virtual, to see for yourself. (See Visit Us, at the bottom of this page.)
At JCDS, the learning doesn't stop at the end of the school day. Fully 92% of our students participate in at least one after-school enrichment activity. Offerings include programs for students to be artistic, get active and move, as well as tackle problem-solving and academic challenges. Many activities are led by JCDS faculty and staff who are able to share their expertise or passions with the students. Others are led by local experts with whom we partner to offer new and exciting programs. All programs are carefully selected to offer our students a seamless extension of their academic day and that align with our mission as a school.
The after-school enrichment program at JCDS is the most comprehensive of any elementary school in Northeast Florida. For more information, check our Enrichment page.
The after-school enrichment program at JCDS is the most comprehensive of any elementary school in Northeast Florida. For more information, check our Enrichment page.
Facts and Figures
List of 9 items.
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100%
STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN SERVICE LEARNING -
19
Acres of beautiful wooded land -
55%
People of Color -
92%
Students in After-School Enrichment -
1:1
iPads beginning in Kindergarten -
5
Days a Week of Both PE and Recess -
15
Average Years of Experience for Full-Time Teachers -
16k+
Books in the library -
400+
Happy Students at JCDS
School News
And they can spell it right!
While many people embrace technology to help with writing, anyone who has experienced autocorrect's habit of selecting the wrong spelling or wrong word knows that technology isn't always perfect.
JCDS knows that students need a deep understanding of phonics, spelling, and a workable vocabulary. Learning to spell words properly fosters effective communication, promotes confidence in writing, and enhances critical thinking skills. This is a step-wise process, and it begins early.
Our Pre-K 3 students begin using the Fundations curriculum to introduce letter exploration and pre-writing. In Pre-K 4, they focus more on letters and letter sounds. The students begin to write capital letters!
"We have a few vocabulary lessons throughout the week," said Pre-K 4 teacher Karen Connelly. "For many of the lessons, our students use props to help illustrate the new words."
Our Kindergarten Sharks continue to learn all of the letters of the alphabet, both uppercase and lowercase.
"We work a lot on hearing beginning sounds in words, ending sounds in words, and vowel sounds!" said Kindergarten teacher Meghan Warford.
Ms. Warford's class has started to "tap out" CVC words — consonant, vowel, consonant — to learn words like cat, hen, wig, dog, and run.
They are also learning sight words, the most commonly used words in the English language, such as can, the, and, go, etc. Sight words are important because they shouldn't require the young reader to use their phonics skills to sound them out; they should be automatic.
Beginning in Kindergarten, students may use "inventive spelling" to write, which encourages them to write the sounds they hear.
First-graders have a dedicated time of day for students to learn phonics.
"This time is crucial to their learning to both read and spell," said first grade teacher Sarah Brinson. "We go through a specific and calculated curriculum to teach students phonics skills."
As the students acquire new phonics skills, they are expected to apply them in their writing. The same goes for learning new trick words (another name for sight words.)
The first-grade students also have additional resources around the room to help them out, including word walls full of the trick words they have learned, phonics posters, and their Words I Use When I Write textbook.
Students in first grade begin writing their own books! They may be written on paper or by using the iPad app Book Creator.
By fourth grade, phonics lessons begin to be replaced by grammar and vocabulary lessons, as most of the phonics rules should be internalized. Students are encouraged to accurately spell words as "inventive spelling" is phased out.
"I think it is important because having the wrong spelling can really mess things up," said 5th-grade student Leo M. "If you are trying to spell there but you accidentally spell their, it might mess up the reader's idea of the story."
"I do test them on the vocabulary weekly, and they are expected to know how to correctly spell the words given to them," said 5th- and 6th-grade teacher Melissa Lamph.
Often, the vocabulary words that are introduced to students come from a book they are reading or are aligned with a part of their academic curriculum. This month, Ms. Lamph focused on words pulled from the book Bud, Not Buddy for 5th grade. She assigns 10 words a week for both grades.
JCDS students in 5th and 6th grades are also able to participate in the school-wide spelling bee, held once a year. The winner goes on to the county-wide competition.
Our Sharks are well-known for being excellent communicators. They excel in their abilities to speak, write, and spell. Teachers and administrators from area middle schools have often commented on the exceptional quality of writing produced by our graduates.
Often, the vocabulary words that are introduced to students come from a book they are reading or are aligned with a part of their academic curriculum. This month, Ms. Lamph focused on words pulled from the book Bud, Not Buddy for 5th grade. She assigns 10 words a week for both grades.
JCDS students in 5th and 6th grades are also able to participate in the school-wide spelling bee, held once a year. The winner goes on to the county-wide competition.
Our Sharks are well-known for being excellent communicators. They excel in their abilities to speak, write, and spell. Teachers and administrators from area middle schools have often commented on the exceptional quality of writing produced by our graduates.
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A Show About Icky Things!
The second grade show is about creepy crawlies. -
First Graders are Over the Moon!
Students get a hands-on lesson on how the Moon was formed. -
To Bee or Not to Bee
Third graders learn about our favorite pollinators. -
First Graders Create Books!
Students combine tech with creativity and writing skills. -
Students "Deep Dive" into Big Things!
In September, students participated in their first Deep Dive of the year, an opportunity for them to intensely focus on a creative project with our specialists. -
Third Graders Hit the Books
Remember writing book reports when you were in school? This time-tested practice is still an important tool for helping students better comprehend the material in their selected books. -
Painting Fall Landscapes
Pre-K 4 students create lovely art for autumn. -
Heads in the Clouds
Second graders can distinguish stratus from cirrus! -
The First Grade Adventure Begins!
Students hit a major milestone in their educations career.
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Our Graduates
One hundred percent of 6th grade graduates from JCDS get their choice of local private middle schools.
Our Portrait of a Graduate captures the school’s core beliefs and how those are reflected in each of our students and graduates. We focus on the qualities that make our students uniquely prepared for middle school and beyond. It is this portrait that brings our mission to life and affirms the choice families make to send their children to Jacksonville Country Day School.
Visit Us
Jacksonville Country Day School is an independent and multicultural school dedicated to motivating and guiding students towards fully achieving their unique potential.
Jacksonville Country Day School
Located in Jacksonville, FL, Jacksonville Country Day School is a private school for Pre-K 3 through 5th grade. JCDS prepares students for a healthy and productive lifetime of intellectual exploration, character development, and social responsibility.
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