1914 
F. Alden Shaw, AB (Harvard, 1909) having had experience as a teacher and private tutor in Boston and New York, founds the Detroit Preparatory School on West Ferry with four boys in his mother's kitchen table.
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1917 
The house at 80 West Euclid in Detroit served as the school from 1917 until 1919, and then again after the Palmer Estate was sold. Enrollment grew to 25 students.
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1923 
A five-acre site at Wyoming and Seven Mile Road is purchased, and the school incorporates. The first building in completed in 1925.
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1940 
Female students first gain admission to the school, but only through Grade 6.
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1942 
DCDS becomes an independent school when Mr. Shaw donates his proprietary school to a state-incorporated non-profit educational trust.
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1957 
The school moves to its current main campus on 13 Mile Road.
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1961 
Dr. W. Rodman Snelling succeeds Mr. Shaw upon his retirement. During his term, DCDS added the Shaw Field, the headmaster's residence, athletic fields, the administrative wing, and the Learning Center.
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1965 
Dr. Richard A. Schlegel joins the school. He advances to Headmaster and serves in the position from 1967 to 1986. His accomplishments will include the consolidation of school finances, initiation of a fine and performing arts program, and the addition of numerous facilities.
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1972 
The school becomes fully coeducational.
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1975 
The Lower School moves to its own campus at Bradway and Lahser in Birmingham, now known as the Village Campus. The school also establishes the pre-kindergarten program.
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1979 
Mr. Shaw passes away, having remained active as a philosophy teacher and Trustee until his death.
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1982 
Shaw Gym and Shaw Stadium added to 13 Mile Campus.
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1986 
Gerald T. Hansen is appointed headmaster. Having joined Country Day in 1966 as a math instructor, he advanced to department head, director of studies, and assistant headmaster.
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1989 - 1991 
The board of trustees initiates the school's most ambitious capital development program to date, primarily to fund construction of a new Middle School. The state-of-the-art Middle School opens its doors in 1991.
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1999 
A multi-year building program that included complete renovation of the Upper School facilities, a new science wing, and the Performing Arts Center is completed. The projects are funded primarily by a successful $14.5 million capital campaign.
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2000 
Opening of the Barbara Plamondon Earle Early Learning Center on the Maple Road Campus (Lower School).
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2007 
Headmaster Hansen retires after 41 years with the school and is replaced by Glen P. Shilling, the former assistant headmaster. Headmaster Shilling has been at Country Day for close to 30 years and was selected after a nationwide search.
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2008 
The Cooper Gymnasium opens its doors, the third gymnasium on the 13 Mile Road Campus.
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2010 
A new fitness center and dance studio is added adjacent to the Cooper Gymnasium, connecting the Middle and Upper School buildings, and providing additional training and instructional space for all students.
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2011 
A new state-of-the-art field house is added to the 13 Mile Road campus. The indoor facility has 88,000 square feet of indoor training space complete with a regulation turf field, and is used by students in grades Pre-Kindergarten through the Upper School. It is one of a few in the entire state of Michigan.
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