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Detroit Country Day School

United States, Beverly Hills

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English, French, Mandarin, Spanish
Fees $29,430 - 42,310
Ages 3 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 656
Type Co-educational
Opened 1914
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (DP), Advanced Placement (AP)
Taught languages Spanish, French, Latin, German, Mandarin, Japanese
Typical class size 8
Strengths Performing Arts, Visual and Creative Arts, Languages
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Social and Hobbies
Stages Preschool, Primary School, Middle School, Secondary School, High School
Introduction

Detroit Country Day School is a private, independent, non-denominational, co-educational pre-K–12 school with campuses in Detroit. Lower School (PK3–4) is at Maple Road Campus in Bloomfield Hills; Middle School (5–8) on Hillview Campus; Upper School (9–12) on Thirteen Mile Road Campus. The school offers a college-preparatory liberal arts curriculum with both the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (DP) for qualified students and AP courses. Language study is integrated throughout, with Spanish taught by language specialists in the Lower School and World Language offerings in Middle and Upper Schools; graduation requires study of at least one language through Level III. The Conservatory Arts program mentors gifted artists for portfolio preparation for top arts schools; facilities include the 700-seat Seligman Performing Arts Center and an 88,000-square-foot Field House, plus art studios and rehearsal spaces. Athletics include more than 30 sports and clubs, with Robotics, Destination Imagination, and Friends of the Arts among clubs.

The Essentials

Detroit Country Day School has 656 pupils, typical class sizes of 8, instruction in English, French, Mandarin, Spanish.

Location
Detroit Country Day School operates three campuses in Oakland County, Michigan. The Lower School (PK3) is at 3003 West Maple Road, Bloomfield Hills. The Middle School (Grades 4) is at 22400 Hillview Lane, Beverly Hills. The Upper School (Grades 9) is at 22305 West 13 Mile Road, Beverly Hills.

Stages
Lower School PK3; Middle School Grades 4; Upper School Grades 9; Preschool to Grade 12 on three campuses.

Type
Private, independent, non-denominational, co-educational

Additional learning support
Learning Support and Tutorials; Lower School teachers provide individualized assistance during the day and before and after school.

Religious affiliation
Non-denominational

Bus service
Bus transportation is offered. The Bus Stop program costs $2,250 per year per student. Route times may change during the year. For coordination, contact Myrna Fletcher (mfletcher@dcds.edu) at (248) 595-8067. Transportation coordination also handled by Trudy Jones, Supervisor (tjones@dcds.edu) at (248) 595-8067.
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
The school does not offer boarding or a residency program; students must reside with a legal guardian in the United States.

Uniform Requirement
The school has a dress code with regular uniform days; DCDS tops may be worn with jeans, khakis, or skirts of appropriate length and casual shoes; spirit wear is permitted on designated days; seniors wear color-day attire with a blazer for certain events such as honors, with no letter sweaters.

Food Options
The school provides a nutritious lunch daily with a variety of menu options including vegetarian selections; meals are prepared under the direction of trained food services staff and accommodate dietary needs; bag lunches are provided for off-campus trips, and families may elect to send lunches from home (healthy choices required).

House System
The Lower School has a House Program for Grades 2-3 with five Houses that emphasize Loyalty, Integrity, Responsibility, Empathy, and Respect; students remain in the same House year to year and participate in House Meetings, House Lunches, and Field Day; fourth-grade leaders mentor younger students. The Middle School operates with Our House and related programs that support advisory, leadership, and character development.

Governance and Ownership
The school is privately independent and is governed by a Board of Trustees that provides strategic oversight of operations and the school's direction.
Fees

Annual tuition at Detroit Country Day School ranges from USD 29,430 to USD 42,310 for 2026/27.

Application fees

- Application fee (all grades): USD 50.00 (non-refundable).

Tuition fees (Academic year 2026–27)

- Preschool (3 & 4 years) and Junior Kindergarten: USD 29,430 per year.
- Kindergarten – Grade 3: USD 34,110 per year.
- Grades 4–5: USD 34,790 per year.
- Grades 6–8: USD 37,780 per year.
- Grades 9–12: USD 42,310 per year.

Calculated installment examples by payment plan (simple division of the annual tuition by the number of payments):

- Preschool / JK (USD 29,430): two-payment = USD 14,715.00 per installment; ten-payment = USD 2,943.00 per installment.
- K–Grade 3 (USD 34,110): two-payment = USD 17,055.00; ten-payment = USD 3,411.00.
- Grades 4–5 (USD 34,790): two-payment = USD 17,395.00; ten-payment = USD 3,479.00.
- Grades 6–8 (USD 37,780): two-payment = USD 18,890.00; ten-payment = USD 3,778.00.
- Grades 9–12 (USD 42,310): two-payment = USD 21,155.00; ten-payment = USD 4,231.00.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- One full payment: due June 30, 2026.
- Two-payment plan: installments due June 30, 2026 and November 30, 2026. A small administrative fee applies to the two-payment option.
- Ten-payment plan: begins June 30, 2026 with the final installment due March 31, 2027. A small administrative fee applies to the ten-payment option.
- All families are enrolled in the Tuition Refund Plan (TRP) to provide tuition-refund protection in defined unexpected circumstances.

Boarding fees

- Boarding is not applicable; no boarding program or boarding fees are charged.

Transportation (bus) fees and deposits

- Door-to-door bus service (annual per-student pricing, 2026–27):
- Zone 1: Two-way USD 4,700.00; One-way USD 3,950.00.
- Zone 2: Two-way USD 5,000.00; One-way USD 4,100.00.
- Zone 3: Two-way USD 5,400.00; One-way USD 4,300.00.
- Zone 4: Two-way USD 5,600.00; One-way USD 4,500.00.
- Zone 5 (outside service area): Two-way USD 6,900.00; One-way USD 5,200.00.
- Bus Stop Program (central stop locations): USD 2,250.00 per year, per student (2026–27).
- Transportation registration deposit: USD 100.00 per student (non-refundable). If transportation is discontinued after the first day of school families remain responsible for the full transportation charge.
- Family discounts: additional students receive a 50% discount when departure times match; different departure times incur a 25% discount for additional students.

Other costs and recurring fees

- Tuition does not include uniforms, books, field trips, and parent association fees; these are charged separately.
- Technology fee: student accounts in certain grade levels are charged an annual technology fee (example: USD 50.00 per year for select Lower School device support and program costs). Device requirements and program details vary by grade.
- Guided Tuition (financial aid) application fee: USD 65 (Clarity Tuition application fee).

Refund information

- All families are enrolled in the Tuition Refund Plan (TRP) to provide protection in specified unexpected circumstances; TRP enrollment applies regardless of chosen payment plan. Specific TRP coverage rules and claim procedures apply under the TRP policy.
- Transportation payments and transportation deposits are non-refundable once equipment and routes are secured; withdrawal from transportation after the first day of school does not relieve the family of the full transportation charge.

Fee payment options and billing contacts

- Tuition may be paid under the listed payment plans (one, two, or ten installments); a small administrative fee applies to the two- and ten-payment plans. Billing and account management are handled by the school Business Office. Purchases and activity charges may be posted to student accounts or paid by credit card where supported. For billing questions, contact the Business Office.

Summary of key account charges at enrolment

- Application fee (non-refundable): USD 50.00.
- Transportation deposit (if enrolling for school transportation): USD 100.00 per student (non-refundable).
- Annual tuition by grade group (listed above).
- Guided Tuition (financial aid) application fee (Clarity): USD 65.00.
- Annual technology fee where applicable (example: USD 50.00 for specified Lower School accounts).
Academics

Detroit Country Day School teaches IB (DP), Advanced Placement (AP) for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum
Detroit Country Day School delivers a K–12 liberal arts, college-preparatory curriculum across Lower, Middle, and Upper School. In the Lower School, My World Cultural Explorations (PK3–Junior Kindergarten) and Spanish (Kindergarten–Grade 3) are taught by language specialists through a project-based approach. In Middle School, World Languages include Spanish 6, Beginning Spanish 7 and 8, and Beginning French 6–8, with STEAM integrated into the program. In the Upper School, Honors and Advanced Placement courses are offered across disciplines, and a World Language graduation requirement requires study of at least one language through Level III; language options include Latin, French, Spanish, German, and Mandarin Chinese, with AP opportunities in multiple languages. The Conservatory Arts program supports gifted artists with focused mentoring and portfolio/admissions preparation for top arts schools, and the International Baccalaureate program is available for qualified students; the school also maintains extensive AP and Honors offerings across disciplines.

Student Teacher Ratio
The school has a one-to-nine student–teacher ratio.

Exam Results
AP data: In 2024, 227 Detroit Country Day students (92 seniors) took 479 AP exams in 27 areas; 85% of exams were scored 3 or higher; 28 AP Scholars; 18 AP Scholars with Honors; 42 AP Scholars with Distinction. College admissions and outcomes: the Class of 2025 had 151 graduates; the average ACT was 27 and the SAT total average was 1306; 100% of seniors were admitted to at least one four-year college or university.

Higher Education Progression
College matriculation data show Detroit Country Day School alumni attend 120 different colleges and universities; 100% of seniors were admitted to at least one four-year college or university.

Gifted and Talented
The Conservatory Arts program supports gifted artists with mentoring and admissions portfolio preparation for top arts programs. The International Baccalaureate (IB) program is available for qualified students. The Upper School also offers Honors and Advanced Placement courses across disciplines for advanced learners.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The Detroit Country Day School Mental Health Counselors promote social-emotional wellness by supporting the mind-body connection and addressing student well-being. They develop, train, and implement SEL curriculum for students and faculty. They provide short-term counseling services for students and families. They offer crisis support and psychoeducational resources for students, families, and faculty. They collaborate with Administration, Department Heads, Learning Support, Nurses and Athletic Trainers, and College Counseling to support student well-being.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The Learning Support Team provides individualized academic support to PK-12 aligned with the curriculum to increase academic engagement through informal and formal accommodations. They collaborate with parents and faculty to provide support for learning differences and accommodations in PK-12. They oversee Upper and Middle School Tutorial Assistance Program and Academic Enrichment Program. They manage accommodations with ACT and College Board. They manage Learning Support eligibility, including a World Language Waiver.

Mental Wellbeing
Mental Health Counselors promote mental well-being through proactive programming, training, and curriculum for students and staff. They provide short-term counseling for students and families, crisis support, and psychoeducational resources. They facilitate classroom instruction of mental health skills and content and support clubs and classes. They collaborate with Administration, Department Heads, Learning Support, Nurses, Athletic Trainers, and College Counseling to support student mental health.

Safeguarding
The school safeguards student well-being through a multidisciplinary support team that partners with parents, teachers, and healthcare providers to address each child's needs. The team offers short-term counseling, crisis intervention, and referrals as needed for students, families, and staff. The Nursing Team provides daily health care, medication management, and coordination with families and health professionals, and contributes to school wellness policies.
Parent Experience

History
Detroit Country Day School is a private independent, co-educational, non-denominational, preschool through grade 12 college preparatory school focused on a well-rounded liberal arts education. It was founded in 1914 by F. Alden Shaw, who emphasized academic rigor, higher-education preparation, athletics and the arts, and character development. The school moved locations several times and settled at Lahser and 13 Mile Road in 1957, later expanding to include additional campuses and facilities such as the Village Campus and the Seligman Performing Arts Center. Richard Dempsey became Head of School in 2020, continuing the school's tradition of developing the whole child within a liberal arts framework.

Community
Detroit Country Day School fosters a vibrant, diverse community where learning extends beyond the classroom. The DCDS Life program emphasizes advisory relationships, character development, health and wellness, and leadership opportunities across all three divisions. Students participate in more than 50 clubs, service activities, and leadership roles, with programs such as the House system guiding ethical conduct and teamwork. The Portrait of a Detroit Country Day School Student guides expectations for leadership, empathy, and responsible citizenship throughout school life.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The school has a Parents' Association with separate Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School groups; the association sponsors events such as Ice Cream Socials and Fall Fest, and encourages parent involvement across campuses.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
Detroit Country Day School operates on multiple campuses. The Maple Road Campus in Bloomfield Hills houses the Lower School (Preschool–Grade 4) in a modern facility designed for young learners with specialized spaces for science, music, arts, and physical education. The Middle School and Upper School share adjoining campuses in Beverly Hills, with the Upper School located on Thirteen Mile Road and the Middle School on Hillview Campus. The Hamlet Early Learning Village serves the Lower School, and the Village Campus hosts the Junior School. Notable facilities include a 700-seat Seligman Family Performing Arts Center, an 88,000-square-foot Field House, two gymnasiums, Shaw Stadium, and athletic fields, plus dedicated art studios, a black box theater, and spaces for drawing/painting, ceramics, woodworking, and metal works.

Sports Facilities
Athletic facilities for rental are Shaw or Cooper Gymnasium, a Field House, and Athletic Fields. Shaw Stadium is the football field stadium at the Upper School. Hillview Field is a sports field located off Lahser Road as you enter the Middle School campus. The 88,000-square-foot Field House and two gymnasiums support the broad athletic program. Tennis Courts were reconstructed in Summer 2020.

Academic Facilities
Maple Road Campus houses the Lower School (Preschool–Grade 4) in a modern facility with specialized spaces for science, music, arts, and physical education. Upper School features a 700-seat Seligman Performing Arts Center, a black box theater, and studios for drawing/painting, ceramics, woodworking, and metal works. A two-story wing for art, science, music, and library complements an 88,000-square-foot Field House and two gymnasiums. Upper School renovations added state-of-the-art science lab resources and classrooms. Media Centers exist on each campus, and the Hamlet Early Learning Village serves the Lower School, with the Village Campus hosting the Junior School.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Detroit Country Day School offers more than 30 interscholastic sport options. The Seligman Family Performing Arts Center seats 700 and supports a wide range of arts programs, including a black box theater and dedicated studios for visual and performing arts. The Studios (2025) and the Nicole Eisenberg Studio Theatre (2015) provide dedicated spaces for arts production. Arts programs across music, drama, theatre, and dance are central to the student experience. Extracurriculars are integrated with academics through strong athletic and arts offerings.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Teams, whether athletic, activity (Robotics, Destination Imagination, Quiz Bowl), or performance (theatre production, musical ensemble, forensics), encourage students to support one another and take responsibility for their part in team endeavors. Upper School students engage in two sports or major activities alongside clubs, performing arts, and academic competitions. The athletic program is co-curricular, complementing the regular curriculum and integrating with academics and the arts to support a well-rounded education. Teams foster teamwork, sportsmanship, and leadership through coaching and student commitment.

Arts & Creative
Friends of the Arts fully underwrites and sponsors the Fine and Performing Arts curriculum, activities, and programs. Celebrate the Arts is the largest all-school event, showcasing more than 1,000 pieces of artwork and the instrumental, vocal, and performing talents of PK3 through 12th-grade students. Art From the Heart donates student artwork to the Healing Art Program at Children's Hospital of Michigan, and Art After Hours presents an evening of art in collaboration with the local arts community. Visual, performing, and communications arts are led by faculty across the Upper, Middle, and Lower Schools, including concert orchestras, theatre, vocal music, film, and related disciplines.

Cultural & Language
World Languages are an important part of the academic curriculum at Detroit Country Day School. In the Lower School, language specialists teach Spanish through project-based learning and partner with homeroom teachers on projects to develop vocabulary and topic knowledge. My World Cultural Explorations (PK3 – Junior Kindergarten) develops cultural awareness and introduces topics related to world languages. Spanish is taught from Kindergarten through Grade 3, with an emphasis on authentic language development in a non-immersion setting and naturalistic language acquisition.

Social & Hobbies
Middle School and Upper School offer more than 50 clubs each year, spanning competitive, academic, athletic, artistic, hobby, performance, and service options. Upper School students must participate in at least one club per semester to graduate, and some clubs compete locally, regionally, or nationally. Lower School provides after-school enrichment through the PM Enrichment Program, Eisenhower Dance classes, and other activities that extend the school day, supporting a variety of interests.

Community & Service
The House Program in the Lower School and the student-led activities in the Upper School foster community and service-minded leadership. Advisories support mentoring and a sense of belonging, while leadership opportunities in the Middle School include Class Board, Student Council, Community Leadership Club, Open House Ambassadors, Athletic Team Captain, and leadership roles in band, choir, and orchestra. Each grade participates in service-learning days—at food banks, senior citizen homes, or disadvantaged schools—fostering responsibility and community engagement across the school.

Leadership & Professional
Student leadership is embedded across grade levels through roles such as Class Board, Student Council, Community Leadership Club, and Open House Ambassadors, with additional leadership positions in band, choir, and orchestra. Upper School emphasizes leadership development and meaningful responsibility as part of the school experience, preparing students with skills applicable to college and beyond. Participation in clubs and service activities also cultivates professional skills and teamwork.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
DCDS promotes a culture of health, wellness, and support, guided by the motto mens sana in corpore sano and supported by health and wellness resources at each campus. The school provides health, social, emotional, and learning-support services to address a broad range of student needs. The advisory system and character-development programs reinforce well-being, resilience, and responsible decision-making as central to the student experience.
Languages

Language Provision
Spanish is offered in the Lower School for Kindergarten through Grade 3. The language specialist teaches Spanish through project-based learning that uses song, movement, and playful interactions within an integrated curriculum. Kindergarten through Grade 3 students meet three times per week for Spanish class. World Languages are an important part of the academic curriculum, and teaching in the target language supports naturalistic acquisition and fosters cultural understanding.
Admissions

Admissions
1) Inquire to access the online application portal by filling out an inquiry form. The inquiry unlocks the online portal and provides the admissions checklist to guide the next steps. 2) Meet the admissions deadlines by track. Lower School (PK3–Grade 3) applications are due January 15, 2027, with notification on or before March 12, 2027; rolling admissions apply after January 15. Middle & Upper School (Grades 4–12) have Early Admissions due December 20, 2026 (notification on or before January 16, 2027) and Regular Admissions due January 31, 2027 (notification on or before March 12, 2027); rolling admissions apply after January 31 until spaces are filled. 3) Submit the admissions application through the online portal. The application checklist is viewable there after an inquiry form is submitted; deadlines above apply and decisions follow the posted timelines, including rolling admissions where spaces exist. 4) If applying for financial aid, submit the Financial Aid application by the deadlines: new students due January 31, 2027; returning students due January 10, 2027. Applicant families will be notified of a decision on or before March 13, 2027 if the admissions application was completed by the due date. 5) The Guided Tuition program is the school's need-based financial aid option; it operates separately from the admission process and does not affect admission decisions. Families may apply for reduced tuition through this program. 6) Ready to apply? Submit your application through the online portal when ready and follow the steps above. The school encourages inquiries and applications to be submitted according to the timelines above.

Scholarships
Endowed Scholarship for Civic Engagement: A $5,000 scholarship awarded annually in spring to a current Detroit Country Day School junior in good academic standing who has demonstrated a meaningful commitment to local government, public service, or civic engagement. The scholarship funds are applied toward tuition or other educational expenses at Detroit Country Day School. Eligibility criteria include a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.0, demonstrated integrity and leadership in civics-related activities, and submission of a 500-750 word essay addressing a civic issue and proposed solution. The application deadline is February 12, 2027, and the winner is recognized at the Upper School Spring External Awards Assembly.
School Events
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