Lancaster Country Day School

Founded in 1908, Lancaster Country Day School is an independent, college-preparatory school that combines a rigorous curriculum with a supportive and encouraging faculty to ensure that every preschool-12th grade student receives the best education available. We are distinctive because of our demanding college preparatory education and the close, mentoring relationships our faculty has with students. We value community and encourage parents to participate in their child’s education.

The mission of Lancaster Country Day School is to encourage each student's growth within a challenging and supportive academic environment that inspires enthusiasm for learning, the joy of accomplishment, and commitment to community. LCDS fosters the individual's thinking skills, physical and emotional well-being, and creative expression with an emphasis on personal integrity, mutual respect, and social responsibility.

Deeply committed to the intellectual, creative, physical, and emotional growth of its students, Lancaster Country Day School seeks to provide a rigorous, college preparatory academic program within a supportive environment, resulting in a community of globally-conscious, lifelong learners. Challenging students to look at the world in new ways, LCDS has high academic and behavioral expectations of its students while providing extensive support to achieve those standards. Through close relationships among students and adults, the School encourages personal growth and trust, thereby fostering confident, articulate, and thoughtful individuals who can successfully interpret a complex and rapidly changing world. As a coeducational, independent school "under one roof" for students from preschool through twelfth grade, LCDS encourages close interaction among people of diverse backgrounds, striving to reflect the world as it truly exists. Respect for self, concern for others, commitment to community, and stewardship of the environment are hallmarks of a Lancaster Country Day School education. In addition to setting high expectations for academic excellence, the School urges both students and adults to seek balance in fulfilling their many obligations while maintaining a strong commitment to their own physical and emotional health.

At Lancaster Country Day School, we view the diversity of backgrounds, identities and perspectives within our community as a source of collective strength. In pursuit of our central mission to develop thinking individuals who engage the world meaningfully, diversity allows us to develop among our students both social and global awareness, moral responsibility, and an appreciation of differences. Correspondingly, we value every student, parent, and staff member regardless of race, religion, gender or beliefs as an integral part of our community.

We provide a more secure and more invigorating learning experience for your child. At LCDS, students of all ages learn together under one roof. From the Country Day tradition of open lockers to the tutoring and mentoring that our Upper School students offer their younger schoolmates, LCDS provides close and supportive relationships in and out of the classroom.

Lancaster Country Day School is a challenging place as well as a friendly place. It's a school where young people discover and develop their individuality by building close connections with their schoolmates, peers, and instructors. Our highly qualified, talented, and committed teachers help our students grow intellectually and emotionally, so they leave Country Day prepared to face the challenges they'll encounter in the world around them.

Knowledge is highly valued here, along with creative expression. Students can explore new interests or immerse themselves in existing ones across a wide range of options in the arts, athletics, clubs, and service learning. In addition, our students are strongly encouraged to get involved in their community in a variety of ways.

Our level of expectations is uncommonly high, but so is our level of support. Caring and accessible, our teachers, artists, mentors and coaches treat our students as unique individuals. We believe that, through meaningful interaction with peers and attentive adults, young people develop analytical and creative approaches to practical problem solving — approaches that will serve them well through college and beyond.