EduCativ

You’ll quickly discover that an Episcopal education is as rich as the human experience. Our students are intellectual, physical, creative, and spiritual beings who strive for happiness and a higher purpose our school reflects and encourages these essential, complementary pursuits. Our faculty and staff are a nurturing and innovative team. They are passionate classroom teachers and so much more as they mentor, coach, and direct those in their care. Their students’ academic success is not only measured by impressive college acceptance rates, but moreover by the grit, curiosity, and compassion that creates lifelong learners and much-needed leaders. Weekly chapel services, honor education, and a strong tradition of community service uphold the call to “respect the dignity of every human being” as we contemplate our place in the world. From the newly broken ground at the Knight Campus to the recently renovated Bryan Library, from the soaring voices and stained glass in the Davis Chapel to buildings and conversations in the round at Parks and Lastinger Halls, our beautiful campus provides an inspiring environment in which to grow. Our home on the St. John’s River hums with life as our calendar overflows with academic opportunities, athletic competitions, and artistic endeavors, while our burgeoning International Studies program takes students far and wide to explore other cultures and further discover themselves. After Commencement, a tight-knit alumni community continues to enjoy the Episcopal experience through school-supported programs and networking events around the nation. Career advise, internship opportunities, and connections between alumni of all ages are encouraged. Your student might leave campus, but Episcopal never leaves your student, even after graduation. As our global network of alumni says, “Once an Eagle, Always an Eagle!” The school's traditional liberal arts curriculum prepares the college-bound student by focusing on effective communications, critical thinking, problem-solving and technical skills. The same quest for excellence that drives our academic program shapes our commitment to programs in athletics, the arts, our spiritual life, and our dedication to service to others. These areas of campus life form the Four Pillars to which the school is dedicated. Through the opportunities the Four Pillars provide, students may experience not only the self-discipline and exertion of a competitive sport, but also the development and growth of their creative talents, the deepening of their faith, and a lifelong desire to serve others. The school's faculty displays an outstanding academic background, excellent character, and dedication to the overall well-being of the students. Episcopal employs more than 100 faculty members, all of whom have four-year degrees or higher – 65% have graduate degrees, and 3% have earned a Ph.D. Annually, Episcopal invests heavily in professional development and training for faculty and staff, ensuring best practices and innovative teaching methods are continually incorporated into our classrooms. The faculty affirms the ultimate worth of each student to form healthy self-esteem and respect for others. Episcopal is committed to small class sizes and an environment that is safe, achievement-oriented, supportive, and positive. The student-to-teacher ratio at Episcopal is 10:1 the average class size is 17. The school enrolls approximately 890 total students in grades 6-12. Middle School (grades six through eight) enrolls more than 300 students Upper School (grades nine through twelve) enrolls more than 500 students. The mission of Episcopal School of Jacksonville is to provide a superior college-preparatory education in an environment marked by high expectations, Christian nurture, and social diversity. Through a balanced program of academics, arts, and athletics, Episcopal’s faculty seeks to instill in each student intellectual growth, character development, responsible leadership, and a commitment to community service. Episcopal currently offers students the opportunity to participate in a diverse selection of International Programs. These include exchange programs with schools in Spain and France, academically based programs abroad in China, Italy, Canada, and the United Kingdom, and service trips. Our goal is that the opportunity to participate in study or conduct service abroad will lay a solid foundation for students to become engaged global citizens in today’s increasingly complex world. Our academically focused programs are tied to the ESJ curriculum, and their development is faculty-driven. The goal of these programs is to immerse students in each country’s culture to generate an awareness and understanding of the differences and similarities to our own while connecting their day-to-day experiences with the academic focus of the program. Our commitment to developing students as servant leaders inspires our service trips to other countries. A mission trip to Romania gives students the opportunity for immersion in another culture as well as spiritual development through service to others. View full school

Excelsior School is a college preparatory school in Arcadia, California. We were established in 1986. We currently have grades 9-12. Excelsior offers small group learning and individual attention to students. We offer personalized instruction that is often lacking in large public and private schools. Excelsior provides a comprehensive curriculum designed to help each student find his or her path and follow it to post-high school success—whether that’s in college or the workforce. Excelsior School is a private college prep school that has been in existence since 1986. Excelsior offers blended learning that combines traditional classroom methods with online digital media. Blended learning is more effective than both face-to-face and online education. Excelsior offers small group learning and individual attention to students. This kind of personalized instruction, which has been advocated by many education experts as being preferable for most children, is often lacking in large public and private schools. Excelsior’s mission is to prepare students not only for college but also for life so that our students can develop the skills necessary to succeed in our fast-changing, multi-cultural, technological world. We can provide condensed schedules and independent study for students in the entertainment field and students with special needs. Several very successful actors/entertainers have attended our school. Our alumni have attended many of the prominent colleges in California and other states, including UCLA, USC, Loyola Marymount University, Occidental College, Pepperdine University, Fordham University, and Syracuse University., among others. Over the years we have acquired a diverse, well-qualified, and highly experienced faculty, which is always willing to advance the growth of each student in an interdisciplinary manner. Since 1992, Excelsior School is authorized under Federal laws to enroll non-immigrant alien students. View full school

Foxcroft Academy was established as a private secondary school on January 30, 1823, and it became the first school to be chartered after Maine became a state. 122 Town Academies have come and gone over the past 190 years, and FA is now one of only nine remaining in the state. When you come to FA, you’re not just enrolling in a school–you’re joining a community. Students at FA believe in giving back. Varied experiences in community service teach and model giving to others and demonstrate the concept of community stewardship, ideas that are integral to the fulfillment of FA’s mission. Chartered by the Maine legislature in 1823, Foxcroft Academy was established as an independent high school just a few years after the incorporation of the town of Foxcroft itself. A remarkable history has followed. From modest beginnings in a wood frame building for which the town appropriated $100, the Academy now occupies a 125-acre campus with a full complement of academic, athletic, and residential facilities. Today more than 300-day students are enrolled from the surrounding towns of Dover-Foxcroft, Sebec, Charleston, Bowerbank, Monson, and Harmony, with an additional 100 international students hailing from Brazil, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine, and Vietnam. Foxcroft Academy may have a long and storied history, but we are also very much a school on the move. A lot has changed at the Academy over the past five years. In academics, we have become the first high school in Maine to implement a 1-to-1 iPad initiative, have reinforced our standard-based learning practices by adopting PowerSchool, and have enhanced our curriculum by giving our talented and creative faculty the freedom to develop a great variety of new academic offerings, including 25 Visual and Performing Arts courses and 15 offerings in Technical Education. We also continue to fill all of our allotted slots at Tri-County Technical Center, a regional high school program providing occupational preparation courses such as Commercial Truck Driving, Computer Systems Repair, Criminal Justice, and Health Occupations. Foxcroft Academy is an independent high school founded in 1823 on the principle that knowledge is power. Foxcroft Academy is committed to providing students from central Maine and beyond a rigorous college and career preparatory academic curriculum designed to produce informed and active global citizens. Foxcroft Academy will furnish all students with the underlying skills needed for post-secondary success while embracing its safe community and natural environment. Foxcroft Academy was established as a private secondary school on January 30, 1823, and became the first school to be chartered after Maine became a state. The school was named for Colonel Joseph Ellery Foxcroft, who had purchased one of the five townships granted to Bowdoin College by the Massachusetts General Court in 1794. The name of the township was later changed to Foxcroft. View full school

For more than 135 years, the Ethical Culture Fieldston School has been committed to excellence in education as it seeks to develop the intellectual, artistic, and moral potential of its students. ECFS serves approximately 1,700 students and 325 faculty and staff in four divisions: Ethical Culture Fieldston Lower Fieldston Middle and Fieldston Upper. Ethical Culture is located in midtown Manhattan, on Central Park West, in a six-story, turn-of-the-century school building the other divisions share an 18-acre campus in the Riverdale section of the Bronx. Through an academic program that is demanding, rigorous, and thorough, we encourage our students to challenge themselves in innovative ways so they can reach their highest potential in mind, body, and spirit. We approach education in an interdisciplinary, experiential, and collaborative way, helping our students develop a lifelong passion for learning and an understanding of its relevance beyond the classroom. As ethical learning provides the foundation of all that we do, we emphasize our students’ moral development and guide them towards service and social justice. The admirable successes of our graduates in a wide range of fields—from the arts to the sciences, from business to public service—and their contributions to society attest to the promise of ECFS realized. Felix Adler’s educational vision is as important today as it was when the Ethical Culture Fieldston School was founded in 1878. To continue to realize that vision, we embrace the following ideals: Ethical Learning: The exploration of what it means to be an ethical and responsible member of society forms the core of our curriculum and our school community. We value inclusion as well as economic and racial diversity. We honor all of our students for their unique contributions, cultural background, and beliefs. As we consider service to be critical to the development of character, we incorporate community service into the children’s school experience from the earliest grades. Academic Excellence: Our school achieves academic excellence by challenging students to reach their highest potential in body, mind, and spirit through the humanities, the sciences, the arts, and physical education. The students become active learners and engage in vital discourse in a community of dedicated teachers and an atmosphere of intellectual discipline and creativity. Progressive Education: Through a curriculum rooted in the tenets of progressive education, students become independent thinkers as they learn that asking their own questions and seeking their own answers provides the key to the deepest kind of understanding. Cooperative, student-centered, discussion-based learning and the freedom to make mistakes are part of our students’ everyday lives. With an enduring commitment to excellence in progressive education, we inspire a diverse and joyful community of passionate learners, critical thinkers, and ethical individuals who aim to make the world more humane and just. Aware of the impact of technology on the earth and the people who occupy it, our technology department is striving to make ethical technology purchases for the 2,000+ members of our community. In addition to sustainable IT practices, we support faculty, staff, and students in utilizing technology tools in ways that are driven by purpose, used with intention, and aligned with ECFS's ethical imperative. At ECFS, we recognize and celebrate the importance of critical thinking and inquiry in addition to the acquisition of knowledge learning-by-doing at every stage of development and the engagement and collaboration of teachers and students in the creation and innovation of a rich learning program. We seek to ensure that our school exemplifies the best of progressive education in the 21st century, serving as a national model and demonstrating our preeminence as a leader in this educational field in an increasingly global, interconnected world. View full school

At GEMS World Academy Chicago, we believe that education extends far beyond four walls. Every day, our students experience unique ways of learning that inspire new perspectives. They are infused with excitement and passion that is unparalleled and enhanced by the innovative technology integrated into our state-of-the-art campus located in downtown Chicago. As Illinois' only private school offering an accredited International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program curriculum, our students grow through the strong connections they build with other students around the globe as well as frequent engagement with professionals and institutions in the rich cultural center of Chicago. GEMS World Academy Chicago is the first Preschool-through-12 school in the United States from the international award-winning educator GEMS Education. GEMS World Academy Chicago — Early Years, a culturally diverse preschool that nurtures a child’s love of learning and creativity in Lincoln Park, is also part of the GEMS Education network and serves children as young as 6 weeks old. Our master teachers exemplify excellence in the classroom. Our educators recognize the importance of inspiring students, driving industry-changing innovation as well as enriching the communities in which they live and work. GEMS World Academy program highlights include, but are not limited to: An International Baccalaureate World School curriculum. GEMS offers a rigorous, accredited Primary Years Program and is an official candidate school for the Middle Years Program. Inquiry-based learning: fostering an atmosphere of academic excellence and encourage intellectual inquiry and critical thinking. Physical, expressive, and creative arts as an essential part of holistic education. Highly experienced international educators, committed to providing outstanding learning opportunities. Purposeful use of technology. Authentic curriculum links and projects with schools from the GEMS network around the world, developing international-mindedness. Student-centered assessment. To inspire inquiring, knowledgeable, reflective, and intercultural learners to become morally responsible leaders with the skills and attributes necessary to create a more connected and prosperous world. GEMS World Academy Chicago stands apart from the region's other independent private schools in multiple key areas: World of Innovation — Our personalized instruction and creative use of technology prepares students to solve the challenges of tomorrow. We provide unique open-project learning spaces fully equipped science and design labs an integrated coding and robotics program and thorough exploration of the data-driven world. World Languages — We emphasize multilingualism at GEMS, starting with our youngest learners. Our students receive daily instruction in French, Spanish, or Mandarin, and our classes, fully aligned with the International Baccalaureate curriculum, act as catalysts for enhanced cultural understanding and global connections. World Culture and Exploration — Students at GEMS World Academy Chicago are part of a global network of elite educational institutions. We place a premium, through the GWA Connect travel program, on providing students with opportunities for authentic travel and cultural exchange experiences, using our companion GEMS World Academy schools overseas as partners. World As Our Campus — Our students interact with the world around them in rich and meaningful ways. The Field Studies program leverages the entire city of Chicago, which our students explore in self-directed inquiries. Strategically articulated curricula extend these experiences to global contexts. World Citizens — Global citizenship is a core value for GEMS Education. Our program provides students with an intuitive sense of the world's complexity and diversity. Students grow to understand that a range of thought and experience is essential to making discoveries, driving innovation, and taking leadership roles on the world stage. View full school

The foundation of Franklin Academy is a safe and welcoming environment in which every student feels secure, connected, and understood. This is the bedrock of our school, forged by thoughtful and deliberate educators who share an inspiring vision and a common set of values. Our teenagers find support and individual acceptance, as well as the challenge and reward of higher-level relationships. This allows them to develop their identities to become strong, healthy, productive adults who enjoy life and meaningful relationships with others. We believe that a boarding school community is the desired setting for enhancing social interactions – a crucial component in our students’ comprehensive curriculum. What is taught in the classroom about relationships is practiced across campus – during meals in the dining hall, in the commons room of the dormitory, at a community meeting, and while participating in clubs, activities, or off-campus excursions. With one educator for every two students on campus, there are many opportunities to seize that “teachable moment,” whatever the venue. The lessons learned outside the classroom might be just as important as the lessons learned inside the classroom. In our community students enjoy the solidarity of belonging to a natural peer group that shares similar strengths, common interests, and comparable challenges. Friendships blossom. The positive impact of this transformative experience should not be underestimated. Simply stated, having friends helps to build self-esteem, and feeling good about oneself becomes a key to unlocking the potential of every student. What educational goal could be more important? Franklin Academy creates a community-focused boarding and day school where students with unique learning styles develop and strengthen academic and social competencies vital to the pursuit of college goals, professional aspirations, and fulfilling lives. To fulfill this mission: Students belong to a school community where they feel safe, connected, understood, and supported. Students grow into independent, responsible young adults ready to pursue their interests and passions. Alumni succeed because they understand their strengths and challenges, can self-advocate, and have the skills necessary to move ahead as life-long learners. View full school

For over 40 years, Green Mountain Valley School has been dedicated to supporting one very clear mission: fostering a life-long love of learning, sport, and adventure within competitive skiers. Our goal has always been to create an environment where students are encouraged to become well-rounded scholars and citizens. Founded in 1973, GMVS stands apart as a unique educational institution. GMVS is not just a school or a ski club, it’s a lifestyle. A lifestyle that celebrates the dual pursuit of rigorous academics and athletics all while cultivating a life-long love of learning, an adventurous spirit, grit, and determination – character traits that will prepare graduates to confidently and wisely impact the world. At Green Mountain Valley School, our goals go beyond providing exceptional training in alpine and Nordic ski racing with our strong college preparatory academic program. We put ski racing and studies into the broader perspective of competition and adventure. We know that the patterns of accomplishment carry over into every aspect of a student-athlete's life, especially after graduation. Living and learning at GMVS is about far more than just skiing or school. It’s about being a passionate and lifelong athlete. It’s about becoming intellectually challenged and eternally curious, being simultaneously independent and community-minded, persevering and doing far more than you think you can achieve. It’s a place, despite our focus on skiing, where you do not have to sacrifice your dreams of academic greatness, your passion for other sports, or your commitment to the arts. Here you can truly be “all you can be.” Our results and facilities are the visible embodiment of the GMVS mission and success. Yet, what might be a bit less visible are the relationships embedded in the fabric of our school that support these endeavors. GMVS alumni have gone on to become World Cup athletes and Olympians, to thrive at some of the country’s most selective colleges and universities, and to build careers as actors, CEOs, photographers, health care professionals, and entrepreneurs. Most importantly, our alumni continue to cite the values instilled in them here at GMVS as catalysts for their successes. Our goal as a ski academy is to recognize that one can compete at the highest level athletically and simultaneously pursue academic excellence. While the athletic program trains students for world-class competition, the teaching staff prepares students for a future beyond skiing. Our program encourages students to explore their interests in many areas. In addition to a full college preparatory curriculum in English, history and social sciences, foreign languages, math, and science, GMVS offers extracurricular opportunities in theater, music, and the visual arts. Students individually plan their academic schedules in consultation with the Director of Academics, their coach, and the College Placement Counselor. Courses and course load are selected based on academic preparedness, ability, and the demands of each student’s travel schedule, not necessarily by age or grade levels. GMVS continues to offer the traditional core courses as well as a variety of electives, opportunities for honors, and advanced work. Students are required to pass basic skills courses before moving on to advanced courses. Small classes encourage preparation, involvement, and performance. Course loads are demanding, and teachers maintain high standards so that students stretch the limits of their potential. At the same time, our 5:1 student to teacher ratio enables staff to adjust those standards to individual students, taking into consideration learning style, college goals, and racing schedule. Teachers mentor students to ensure mastery of class material and they teach students how to balance the demands on their time. Teachers work closely with each other as well, developing interdisciplinary projects that reinforce subject material. Our Learning Support Skills accelerate student learning by providing additional customized support beyond what the classroom teachers and advisors offer. The programs recognize students’ talents while helping them acquire skills and strategies to become independent lifelong learners. These individualized programs are designed to enhance a student’s reading, writing, organization, time management, and study skills allowing the student to effectively demonstrate understanding at GMVS and in college. View full school

Harbert Hills Academy was established in 1952 as an independently owned and operated twelve-grade school built and maintained on the doctrines and beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA). It is the goal and objective of Harbert Hills Academy to offer a Seventh-day Adventist Christian education to all of its students, with a balanced emphasis on the spiritual, mental, physical, and moral development of each student. Throughout this handbook, many quotations appear that were written by Ellen G. White, the pioneering proponent of Christian education for the SDA Church. Students, parents, and academy staff would do well to memorize and review these often, because they support the standards of this school, and help to maintain a sharp focus on our objectives. Our Academy emphasizes personal academic success for each student with a belief that education is most successful when based on the eternal principles of education found in the scriptures and writings of Ellen G. White. Based on solid academic preparation and a passion for service, our students will be trained to help others achieve their best. Our Academy’s reputation will be founded on following God’s plan for education, personalized to each student’s needs, facilitated by a committed staff who have dedicated themselves to understanding and implementing God’s plan for education. We will fulfill this through our Mission: We are committed to fully demonstrating God’s plan for education: focusing on character development, academic excellence, and applied skills, to enable self-reliance, and to know the joy of unselfish service. Our School will strive to accomplish the mission by committing to: Fully following God’s plan for education, challenging young people to pursue their quest for excellence – spiritually, physically, and academically, which will enable them to be of service to man and God. Use spiritual leadership, mission service, practical education, and Christ-centered learning to mold the characters of our students. Our Strategic Plan brings together our strengths to provide a Christ-centered preparatory education that applies relevance through integrated vocational programs. HHA’s strategic direction is guided by the basic beliefs and values inherent in the Mission and Vision of the Academy: Nurture – Providing a place to grow closer to Christ Service – Encouraging students to reach beyond themselves Restoration – Demonstrating God’s power to reproduce His image in humanity Discernment – Teaching students to be thinkers not just reflectors Usefulness – Providing opportunities for hands-on experience Teamwork – Working with parents, staff, and students to achieve maximum progress Balance – Strengthening the body, mind, and character in a harmonious way View full school

Hampshire Country School is a place of possibilities for high-ability boys entering later elementary or middle school. The school offers understanding, light-heartedness, and structure to educate boys in a family-style, supportive, and calming learning community. Inspiring excitement for learning, living, and playing, the school promotes growth in academics as well as social, behavioral, and emotional intelligence. The campus, 1700 acres of New Hampshire farmland and woods, provides for the intentional integration of structured academic classes and experiential activities to nurture the bright, active and curious side of each boy. Hampshire Country School has experience and success with boys who have been diagnosed with ASD, NLD, ADHD, and similar diagnoses. Since 1948, Hampshire Country School has been a unique and special place. It has been a haven for parents whose children needed someone to believe in them and to notice their strengths rather than their difficulties. It has been a school where students have come to believe in themselves, have accomplished more than they thought possible, and have made life-long attachments after thinking that friends were just something other people had. Hampshire Country School is a place for boys with high intellectual potential that has not been realized and with idiosyncrasies that may have become major problems in traditional settings. The school provides an unusual environment in which those problems are no longer as significant — not because they have been “fixed,” but because the school’s focus is on the bright, active, engaged, and engaging side of each child rather than on his quirks or limitations. If an intellectual, unusual, or eccentric boy who does not fit in other environments has been longing, perhaps without saying so, for a place where he can belong and grow, Hampshire Country School may be the answer. Hampshire Country School is a non-profit 501(c)3 educational organization governed by a Board of Trustees. It is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Professional memberships include the National Association of Independent Schools, The Association of Boarding Schools, the Independent Schools Association of Northern New England, and the Small Boarding Schools Association. View full school

Jesuit High School is devoted to the formation of young men in the Tampa Bay area in the longstanding tradition of Jesuit education, which dates back to the 16th century. The Jesuits are known throughout the world as educators dedicated to "finding God in all things," and exploring wide-ranging cultures and academic fields. Jesuit education takes the whole person into account and fosters intellectual development along with moral and spiritual growth. There are more than 50 Jesuit high schools in the United States, continuing the remarkable Jesuit educational tradition that values the richness and variety of human experience. Jesuit High School is dedicated to helping all students discover the deeper meaning and purpose in their lives while also finding their places in the larger society. With an unwavering commitment to service and social justice, Jesuit High School is educating "Men for Others" who develop their gifts and achieve at the highest level. Jesuit High School, in its mission as a Catholic, Jesuit, college preparatory school, labors to form men engaged in the world who are dedicated to serving God by being open to growth, intellectually competent, religious, loving, and just. The current era of secondary education is an exciting one, with the infusion of technology and increasing emphasis on student engagement in the learning process. Jesuit has responded in a dynamic way to the changing needs of 21st-century education, with the successful introduction of the 1:1 iPad Program in 2014 as a prime example, as well as the remarkable progress of the Advanced Placement (AP) program. From 2014-18, five years, Jesuit achieved an annual pass rate of between 76% and 84% on all AP tests taken, while increasing its AP opportunities every year. In 2018, Jesuit matched its school-record 84% pass rate with a record-high 13 AP courses (out of 23) exceeding 90%, while administering more AP tests (865) to more students (402) in more AP courses (23) than ever before. Also, in conjunction with Project Lead The Way, a new 3-year Engineering program was incorporated into the curriculum in 2016-17 that will produce its first graduates in 2019. More than 150 students are enrolled in Jesuit's Engineering program in 2018-19. While Jesuit continues its pursuit of Academic Excellence, at the same time it remains true to its heritage of forming men of faith and "Men for Others." View full school

Coupled with our small class sizes and individualized instruction, the MCDS curriculum is the cornerstone of one of the country’s finest college-preparatory educations. An inspiring learning environment is critical for maintaining our academic standards. Beginning with our esteemed faculty who exuberantly share their knowledge and love for learning daily, it continues with parents dedicated to providing the support children need for quality education. And last, but certainly not least, students embody our everyday lessons of respect, acceptance, and understanding. MCDS is an IB World School and accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS) and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). Selecting the best school for your child is one of the most important decisions you will make in your lifetime. Madison Country Day School is a choice available to your family as you consider which school best fits your children. We believe that the “one size fits all” approach is not appropriate for an endeavor as important as your child’s education and preparation for a meaningful life. Our school is best defined by its community. As a fully accredited independent school, Madison Country Day School first and foremost distinguishes itself by the freedom to set its course—as such, we purposefully have established a school community in which every child is valued for her or his individuality. Madison Country Day School is a student-centered school—a school where each child is truly known. This is first and foremost evident in the expert care and instruction our faculty delivers in a highly personalized yet focused school environment may that be the academic classroom, the athletic fields, the many fines and performing arts spaces, the nature-rich campus, or the many field trip destinations. Your child’s individuality is honored at our school by two core beliefs. Firstly, we believe that every child possesses an extraordinary capacity to learn. We are awed by the potential each child offers our community, may that be the local or global stage. Secondly, we believe a child’s effort is generally more important than ability. This implies that our teachers are focused on fostering a child’s motivation, fully well knowing that the greatest reward a child can experience is the moment a child jubilantly proclaims “I got it,” or “I did it,” or “I love this.” A good dose of intrinsic motivation is the foundation to healthy confidence to work toward a great outcome—in our case, the International Baccalaureate Diploma, a globally accepted certification of excellence and achievement. It takes great teachers to provide such a foundation—and we have such teachers at Madison Country Day School. The mission of Madison Country Day School is to provide an intellectually stimulating, personally enriching, and academically challenging program in the liberal arts and sciences to an able and diverse student body. Furthermore, we measure the curriculum and student achievement against the finest programs in the world. We also contribute to the larger community by developing effective educational programs to serve as models for other private and public schools. From this shared mission and set of beliefs, we have established a series of expected outcomes. We expect all students to: Read fluently and critically Write clearly and authentically based upon knowledge and personal experience Speak persuasively, able to challenge others’ beliefs and articulate their own Reason carefully, analyze complex situations, discover connections, and solve a wide range of intriguing problems Listen attentively with an open mind to ensure they are understanding the words as well as the meaning of the speaker Possess the confidence and strength of character required to both love and critique themselves Become confident, capable, humble, and interesting life-long learners. We take pride in developing students that are not only intellectually astute but also engaging and personable. MCDS is committed to measuring our curriculum and student achievement against the finest programs in the world. Academic excellence at MCDS begins with a rigorous, world-class curriculum, immersing students in the arts, sciences, and languages from the moment they step into a classroom. Combined with small class sizes and instruction that challenges and supports each student, the MCDS curriculum is the cornerstone of an exceptional college-preparatory education. Students do not simply memorize facts. To think like a scientist or historian takes much more than knowing information. Students and teachers engage in our curriculum through a combination of in-depth discussions, seminar-style classes, and projects that explore real-life applications. MCDS graduates are well prepared to tackle the challenges that lie ahead as tomorrow’s leaders with strong analytical, idea generation and communication skills. Further, an emphasis is put on interdisciplinary understanding, so that our students are prepared to address the complexities that await them when they graduate. We live in a time when information and facts are available in the palm of your hand. Thus, a world-class education requires teachers dedicated to helping students make sense of those facts and understand what they know in the context of a rapidly changing world. MCDS teachers do this, all while knowing our students as individual people and learners. At MCDS, our experienced and dedicated faculty recognize and encourage the many talents of each student. In small classes of peers eager to learn, students form lasting friendships and working relationships with teachers committed to their success, allowing each student to truly soar. View full school

First founded in 1995 by a small group of French and American families, the Lycee began as an international school of fewer than 150 students. Twenty years later, our community has grown dramatically, attracting families from around the world who share the value of an academically challenging and culturally diverse education. Families find a second home at the Lycee because of our commitment to world-class education and fluency in respect, responsibility, and the joy of learning. Today, the Lycee is Chicago’s premier international education community, consisting of nearly 500 families and more than 770 students. Our program is based on the French National Curriculum combined with key American building blocks. It offers students the best of both worlds. From the extensive French curriculum—taught in French—students become highly proficient critical thinkers by acquiring the rigorous writing skills and broad academic knowledge necessary for the French Baccalaureate. From our strong American program—taught in English—students receive the academic preparation that is sought by American colleges and universities. From multicultural exposure, students gain valuable social and communication skills and become exceptionally open-minded. Taking into account the richness, diversity, and challenges of this dual-language system, students educated at the Lycee are well-prepared to meet—and often exceed—the demands of the best universities in France, Europe, and North America. The Lycee Francais de Chicago provides its students with a rigorous bilingual education in a dynamic and welcoming multicultural community. The Lycee draws on the best of the French, American, and international educational systems preparing students to thrive at top universities throughout the world. French at its core, the Lycée’s education transforms students into global ambassadors, inspiring them to lead lives of purpose, responsibility, and respect. Cultural diversity and foreign language immersion are cornerstones of Lycee education. Children from all walks of life and corners of the world come together to explore learning through language. Cognitive skills are strengthened, capacity for creativity expands, and abilities to adapt and analyze are awakened as children apply their minds through multiple linguistic lenses. Doors instantly open to a world of learning and wonder. Through our community and classrooms, children cross international borders without ever leaving Chicago. Teachers integrate technology across all subject areas in all grades. Technology plays a large part in our pedagogy and is instrumental in the classroom. Teachers use technology to illuminate the curriculum, differentiate lessons for all learners, and instill 21st-century skills. Students use technology for critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration. The Lycee education offers students a global perspective through language. As early as age 3, children are immersed in authentic dual-language learning, expanding to a third in grade 4 and even fourth or fifth language starting in high school. Our program provides students with a passport to a competitive future by putting them on track to becoming multilingual before applying to college or university. Part of our mission is to provide students with personalized services and extracurricular activities that will enable them to become successful learners and well-rounded global citizens. To achieve this mission, we provide academic and counseling services for students in need of extra help. In addition, we provide an extensive schedule of tailored after-school activities, allowing students to pursue their interests outside of class, while parents benefit from the flexible schedule and quality childcare. View full school

The David Posnack Jewish Day School offers a unique, challenging, educational experience, combining an intensive focused secular education with an innovative, exciting Jewish curriculum. At Posnack School, we are concerned not only with our students’ academic accomplishments but also with their social and character development. We believe this can be achieved most successfully when parents and school staff work together in a dynamic learning environment. At Posnack School, every child is nurtured to reach their potential. The Posnack School draws upon the Jewish ethos of hard work and study to produce graduates of the highest caliber, acceptable to the most prestigious institutes of higher education. Our school promotes academic excellence as a central goal. Graduates will master advanced studies in both the arts and sciences. We stress the concepts of team membership and participation in athletics. Sport’s emphasis on cooperation, fitness, and healthy competition, is central to our curriculum. Our philosophy is firmly rooted in Torah and is dedicated to the global community of Jews and the State of Israel. The Posnack School student is exceptionally well rounded, learning in an environment that establishes harmony between Hebrew language, religion, Jewish culture, and a variety of advanced secular studies. The Hebrew language, the vehicle of the Jewish renaissance, will be taught as the portal to our collective past, present, and future. The Posnack School emphasizes the development of ethical and moral values from a Judaic point of view. Our school places great importance on the concept of Tikkun Olam (social action). The focus is on how students, as individuals and as a community, can help improve themselves and their world. The Posnack School stimulates awareness of Jews around the world as well as a strong focus on human rights for all people. Our school acknowledges the inequities in our society and emphasizes tzedakah (philanthropy) in its fullest sense. Civic responsibility and communal participation are standards set for every Posnack School student. For over four decades, the Posnack School has made incredible strides both in serving our children and the broader Jewish community. At our core, the spirit of the Posnack School resides within our students. Every year they actively demonstrate their concern for one another, their care for the school community, and their commitment to making the world a better place. Our school’s founders believed in a clear purpose that is flourishing today and is as vibrant and alive as ever before in our history. The Posnack School tradition of offering our students the finest academics AND Judaics within the confines of a Jewish Day school continues every school year. We are proud of our storied 42-year history and the hundreds of alumni who have passed through our doors. The Posnack School experience is deeply rooted in the traditions of our people and the teachings of our heritage. We strive to instill the values of the Torah in our students and bring its lessons alive in a purposeful and meaningful way. As one of the few kindergartens through 12th-grade community Jewish day schools in the United States, our purpose is critical to the overall future vibrancy of the Jewish community. Our graduates walk the campuses of the colleges throughout the world, and their Posnack School training puts them at the forefront of advocating for Jewish causes. Moving beyond college, being a valuable member of the Posnack School family is a connection and partnership that lasts a lifetime and never truly ends. “Once a Posnack School Ram, always a Posnack School Ram” is our motto. View full school