The Detroit Country Day School's roots reach back to the founding of the first Country Day School in 1897. The Country School for Boys of Baltimore City (now known as the Gilman School) spawned schools across the country that combined the special advantages of a top-notch boarding school with an exemplary neighborhood school.
Since its founding in 1914 by F. Alden Shaw, Detroit Country Day School has offered a superior education in a wholesome environment removed from the bustle of city life. The School encourages close family ties by operating primarily as a day school.
Throughout more than 90 years of extensive physical and organizational change, Detroit Country Day School has remained true to the concept of nurturing the wholesome, well-balanced, and informed mind and the hardy, well-disciplined, and healthy body.
Some highlights in the school's history:
1914
F. Alden Shaw founds the Detroit Preparatory School on West Ferry with four boys.
1923
A five-acre site at Wyoming and Seven Mile Road is purchased, and the school incorporates.
1925
The first building on the new campus is completed.
1940
Female students first gain admission to the school, but only through Grade 6.
1942
DCDS
becomes an independent school when Mr. Shaw donates his proprietary
school to a state-incorporated non-profit educational trust.
1957
The school moves to its current main campus.
1961
Dr.
W. Rodman Snelling succeeds Mr. Shaw upon his retirement. During his
term, DCDS will add Shaw Field, the Residence, athletic fields, the
administrative wing, and the Learning Center.
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.
1972
The school becomes fully coeducational.
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.
1979
Mr. Shaw passes away, having remained active as a philosophy teacher and Trustee until his death.
1981
Country
Day purchases a new Headmaster's Residence. The former Residence
becomes the Annex, and a five-day boarding program commences with four
boys.
1985
The "farm" along the main campus on Thirteen Mile Road is acquired.
1986
The school purchases the Maple Road Campus for the Lower School, and converts the Village Campus into a Junior School.
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.
1989
The board of
trustees initiates the school's most ambitious capital development
program to date, primarily to fund construction of a new Middle School.
1991
The state-of-the-art Middle School opens its doors.
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.
2000
Opening of the Barbara Plamondon Earle Early Learning village on the Lower School campus.
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.
2009
A new Middle School gym, the Cooper Gymnasium, officially opens in January. It is named for Mrs. Susan E. Cooper, a tireless Country Day supporter who lead the 1990-1991 capital campaign to build the Middle School.
