Upper School          

Upon earning a place in the Upper School, you also earn a promise; a promise that from that day forward, you will be a part of something special for the rest of your life. It’s a promise that you will be challenged, that your horizons will widen, that you will encounter memorable faculty and unique opportunities. 

Teachers, coaches, advisors and counselors will work to inspire you, and help you accomplish all that you want - and all that you can. You will build confidence and character. You will forge lifelong friendships. You will achieve.

Graduation from Detroit Country Day comes with another kind of promise. One hundred percent of our graduates are accepted at accredited, four-year colleges and universities.

Philosophy and Goals

The Detroit Country Day School motto, "Mens Sana in Corpore Sano" (A Sound Mind in a Sound Body), reflects the philosophy of the Upper School. We offer challenging and comprehensive instruction in the basic liberal arts disciplines through diversity of teaching styles in homogeneously grouped classrooms.

We stress the extension of the educational process beyond academics with required interscholastic athletics, activities and a variety of assemblies, seminars and symposia. We believe that every student from average to gifted ability has the potential for a successful university experience.

We maintain a nurturing environment created by close faculty-student, coach-athlete and advisor-advisee relationships. We adhere to the premise that creativity can flourish in a structured and dignified environment. We recognize that in addition to superior academic credentials, our faculty must also possess the character traits that will enable them to serve as role models for students in the areas of mutual respect, leadership, personal integrity and responsibility to the work ethic.

Detroit Country Day School strives to develop:

• an enthusiastic student with a high level of intellectual curiosity and a love for learning;
• a well-prepared student with highly developed study skills, one who can adjust to the expectations and rigors of college, community and career;
• a perceptive student with an understanding of technology and its applications to each academic discipline, as well as with a capacity to address future challenges;
• a self-reflective student with a knowledge and appreciation of the larger world of ideas;
• an active student with a variety of interests beyond the academic classroom;
• a tolerant student with an appreciation for cultural differences and a respect for others;
• an ethical student with a strong sense of personal integrity and a willingness to lead;
• a well-mannered student with an appreciation for the value of decorum;
• a responsible student with an awareness of the impact of human activities on the environment;
• a healthy student with a commitment to athletics and physical fitness.

To ensure that students who receive a Detroit Country Day School diploma have a well-balanced, liberal arts education, there are three categories of graduation requirements: academic and arts, activities, and athletics.

Academic and Arts requirements

English  4 years
Fine Arts and/or Music  1 year
Foreign Language (through Level III)  3 years
History (through American Studies)  3 years
Mathematics (through Algebra II)  3 years
Science (1 life science and 1 physical science)  2 years

In addition to the above academic and fine arts requirements, students must also successfully complete the following required courses:

Grade 11  1 semester of Health Education
Grade 10  1 semester of Speech
Grade 9    1 semester of Health Education

Activity requirements

Students must also earn two gold points and two white points per year by participating in skill-oriented (gold) activities and service-oriented (white) activities. Generally, a gold point may be earned for each semester of participation in a club or activity. Two white points are awarded for each ten hours of service to others in approved service projects.

Athletic requirements

Students are required to participate on athletic teams and earn seven blue points over a period of four years. In general, students are awarded one blue point for successfully completing one season of athletic competition. Some off-campus sports and certain major, non-athletic activities such as debate, science projects, the school musical and drama productions may also qualify for blue point credit. It is expected that students will earn a minimum of two blue points each year in Grades 9, 10 and 11, and at least one blue point in Grade 12. All students (Grades 9, 10, 11, 12) must participate in at least one season of an on-campus, interscholastic sport each year.

 

Read about the International Baccalaureate program here.

See images of the Upper School here.