Academics

Children in these critical early grades thrive in a nurturing, intellectually stimulating environment that allows them to safely extend their cognitive and emotional boundaries. Because of our small class sizes, our lower school teachers get to know each student on a personal level, tailoring the curriculum to benefit each child.

Lower elementary students widen their concept of the world in both traditional and nontraditional ways. Teachers incorporate unique projects, performances, electives, and field trips into the curriculum. Students practice researching and constructing knowledge on a wide range of topics, often combining subjects in interdisciplinary ways.

Students are exposed to Spanish at the preschool level, and begin reading and writing Spanish as early as first grade. Implementing the recommendations of the American Council of the Teaching of Foreign Languages, (ACTFL), we strive for communication in the Spanish classroom to comprise 90% of instructional time. All KCDS students take Spanish four times per week.

Learn more about Lower Elementary

Upper Elementary is an exciting time in a child's academic life, as students begin to take more ownership of their learning. Because of our small class size, Upper Elementary teachers get to know each student on a personal level, tailoring the curriculum to benefit individual needs. Utilizing research-based curriculum and practices, we work together to ensure that children are given a balanced amount of rigor and support as needed. Throughout the year, students and teachers work together to set individualized goals with plans for attaining those goals.

Upper elementary students widen their concept of the world in both traditional and nontraditional ways. Teachers incorporate unique projects, presentations, performances, and field trips into the curriculum. Students practice researching and constructing knowledge on a wide range of topics, often combining subjects in interdisciplinary ways.

Our Upper Elementary School is further enriched by Spanish, technology, music, visual art, and physical education.

Perhaps no other period in a child's life contains more growth - of mind, of body, of social awareness, and of character - than the middle school years. At Kalamazoo Country Day School, we embrace this period of change by providing each student with what we like to call "voice and choice." By building learning capacity (rather than simply accumulating academic knowledge), students become lifelong learners, able to thrive in an ever-changing world.

Our Middle School includes grades 5th-8th, with subjects split into 5th/6th and 7th/8th for instruction.