Admissions
Your Journey Begins
Here's How to Learn More About JCDS
Our Admissions Office hosts one-on-one campus tours between prospective parents and a member of our Admissions team. During these scheduled opportunities, you will meet with an admissions officer while touring our 19-acre campus and learning more about how a Jacksonville Country Day School education may be the best for your child.
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This is JCDS
Our school sprawls over 19 acres, surrounded by beautiful trees that form a nice barrier from our neighbors. We are conveniently located in Jacksonville's Southside, near the intersection of Baymeadows Road and Southside Boulevard. -
The Walker Welcome Center
This is where you will come when you visit JCDS. The Welcome Center is a comfortable place to check in and be directed to your destination. -
Welcome Center and Kelly Fine Arts
The Welcome Center is in the central portion of the Geraldine A. Kelly Fine Arts building. -
Spacious Classrooms
The rooms at JCDS are designed to be engaging, warm, and appropriate for different grade levels. -
Classroom Technology
Each classroom is equipped with a large flat-screen monitor for presenting lessons. Starting in kindergarten, students have 1-to-1 access to iPads for researching and creating. -
Versatile Arrangement
Our classrooms are designed for students to work independently or collaboratively. Students can frequently be observed working on sofas, on the carpet, or right outside the classroom...wherever they are comfortable and engaged. -
Experienced, Knowledgeable Faculty
Our faculty members love the children, and they know how to get them engaged in their learning. About a third of our faculty hold Masters degrees. -
Differentiated Instruction
Our teachers adjust their methods to make sure to reach every student of varying learning styles. -
Special Projects
Special events and holidays call for special projects and crafts, giving the students an opportunity to practice their artistic and creative skills. -
The Library
Our spacious, multi-level library contains over 17,000 books so there is always a big selection of something interesting to read. -
The Wong Family Treehouse
Our "treehouse" is part of the library and overlooks the Dining Room. This is a favorite spot for studying, or listening to a story read aloud. It is one of the "coolest" places to be at JCDS. -
Reading is Relaxing
Our students love to get comfortable and spend time in the library. -
Our Dining Room
Our dining room is spacious and bright, with floor to ceiling windows on two sides. The seating arrangement encourages interaction between students and adults. -
Nutritious Lunch Selections
Chef Jim and his team provide a wide selection of delicious and nutritious offerings for lunch, including a full salad bar. -
Lunch with your kid!
Parents are welcome to visit the campus to have lunch with their children...it makes them feel special! -
Working in the Science Lab
Sometimes experiments or research require special equipment and expertise beyond what may be available in the classroom. Students regularly have science lab work with with our Science Specialist. -
The Makerspace
Our science lab doubles as the Makerspace, where students may use their artistic and engineering abilities to build special projects. -
The Tech Lab
In the Tech Lab, students as young as Pre-K 3 learn basic computing and coding skills, practice typing, and design 3D printed objects. -
The Smith Center Athletic Facilities
JCDS features a full size gymnasium, soccer/football field, a Junior Olympic size swimming pool, and a junior kiddie size swimming pool. ALL students get physical education AND recess time every day. -
Pool Time!
Students swim during their PE classes for five weeks in the Fall and another five weeks in the Spring. It is the highlight of the year for some students. -
The Steitz Gymnasium
The weather in Florida is frequently hot (or wet), but our students never miss PE. The full-size gym provides plenty of space for students to be active. Our creative PE specialists prepare a variety of age-appropriate activities that are both challenging and fun. -
Enrichment
Our comprehensive Enrichment program offers many activities appropriate for all grade levels. Chorus, band, drumline, and musical theater are just a few of the performing arts choices for students. -
Keep those hands busy!
Enrichment activities include Lego League and Art Sharks, where students may use their imaginations to create original works. -
Fast feet!
Other Enrichment activities include a variety of dance classes for various levels, sports academies, and Sharks on the Run. -
Art Studios
Our two art studios in the Fine Arts building offer generous space for students of all ages to create 2D and 3D art. An annual art exhibition includes at least one entry from every student. Look around the campus...examples of student artwork are everywhere! -
Music
Our Music program allows students to sing, play instruments, and learn some basic music theory. The best part is the chance to perform for parents and fellow students. -
Band
The JCDS Band offers students in upper elementary grades the opportunity to learn an instrument and perform in concerts. -
Flag Football
Flag football is popular with boys (and girls!) In 2023, our Sharks won the championship in our league. -
Volleyball and Soccer
Boys and girls in upper elementary grades may play competitive volleyball or soccer. -
Basketball
Students in upper elementary grades may play in boys' and girls' competitive basketball teams. -
Assemblies
Outside assemblies for the entire school are popular when the weather permits. Assemblies are led by our student council officers. -
The Big Playground
Our oldest playground gets regular updates to keep it fresh. -
Fun with Friends
The elementary students love playing with their friends on the big playground. It is a popular destination during recess. -
The Learning Scape
Built for our early learners, this is the place for unstructured play, where a kid can be a kid! -
Making Mud Pies
There are several features in the Learning Scape for our younger students to use their imagination. Getting dirty is always an option! -
We Have Great Trees
Climbing trees helps build motor skills and is just plain fun!
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Tobias L., Parent of Kindergarten and 4th Grade students
We chose JCDS for its strong commitment to diversity and personal care, as well as its smaller class sizes and an engaged community where parents are involved. We appreciate how teachers greet our children by name and foster a sense of belonging, making our transition from Germany feel welcoming.
What We Offer
Jacksonville Country Day School provides the highest quality educational experience through:
- A highly effective faculty and staff who teach children to think and care about their world.
- Character education that reinforces values taught at home. The program emphasizes empathy and kindness. Service-learning is a key part of the program, and all faculty and staff members model the values they teach.
- A nurturing environment where students feel at home, safe, and emotionally secure as they learn.
- A challenging and innovative curriculum so that students become self-directed learners and independent, critical thinkers. Students develop teamwork and problem-solving skills, and enhance their creativity, through project-based learning.
- The development of social and emotional skills.
- A diverse community where children learn to interact and value those from other cultures so they are better prepared for their future schools and workplaces.
- A focus on living healthy, which is reinforced through daily physical education and recess, supports optimal classroom learning as exercise and nutrition are proven to improve brain function.
- Developmentally appropriate practices that lead to a self-directed and engaged child who is taught at the right level for her or his age and ability.
- A school culture of continual learning through professional development leads to an enthusiastic faculty who follow best practices and stay current with the latest research.
- Whole child education lets children develop their full range of talents while building confidence. All students participate in art, Spanish, technology, library, science lab, and music classes about once a week.
- A safe campus and state-of-the-art facilities that are centered around giving children an ideal environment for learning and growing.
- Differentiated learning to ensure that instruction and program are tailored to the learning needs of individual students.
- A full slate of after-school enrichment programs including dance, band, swimming, art, sports, and more!
Connections Magazine - Summer 2024
Contact Us Directly
Krista Pizzi, Director of Admissions, and Lauren Ellis, Manager of Admissions and Enrollment, can answer your questions at (904) 641-6644 ext. 141, or send a email to admissions@jcds.com.
Take A Campus Tour!
Jacksonville Country Day School is the premier private elementary school in Jacksonville, Florida. JCDS serves grades Pre-K 3 through 5th. Photos cannot capture the beauty and atmosphere at JCDS. Take a tour and experience it yourself.
Inquiry Form
Ready to kick-off the official application process? Get started by filling out our Admissions Inquiry Form. We will follow up with more information.
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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