Madison Country Day School

My family has had three children enrolled in MCDS for three years now. The level of support and attention each one receives is astonishing. All three are so different ... they each have different talents and struggles. I am amazed how this school can meet each one of my children where they are and help them grow. The teachers and staff truly want your child to succeed. I also appreciate the behavioral policies at this school compared to the public school system we came from. Issues are addressed immediately and appropriate consequences are given. All of my concerns are heard and responded to in a timely manner by all levels of admin whether it be academic or social/emotional. The rigor of the IB curriculum is strong and the breadth of knowledge it teaches truly will prepare your child for the real world. When my kids graduate I firmly believe they will excel in whatever interest area the seek out. They are being taught to be critical thinkers and to truly understand issues..not just memorize and regurgitate. The arts are celebrated here and the science program has opportunities not found elsewhere. While the school is not cheap, you truly get what you pay for. I highly recommend this school.

Our family has been with the school for about six years (two different kids) and I have to say that I have seen a decline in the quality of instruction as well as overall communication to families. The fact that there is constant staff turnover does not help either. I have been surprised at how many families, who are more than financially capable of paying the tuition, have left for other private schools in the area. MCDS doesn’t do a very good job of retention. The school is a good fit and caters to upper middle class Caucasian families. As a family that identifies as a middle-class non-Caucasian family, I have had the unique vantage point of observing how the needs of my children come second next to the needs of Caucasian children from more affluential families. For example, my student didn’t perform well on a standardized test and the teacher brushed off the test as having little significance, yet in that same conversation the teacher told me that they had allowed another student (Caucasian from affluent family) to retake the test because that student must have not done well because the student took it too fast; why wasn’t my kid given that same opportunity? They also have something where each grade has classroom parents; and in my six years at the school I have yet to see parents of color to be invited to be a class parent. MCDS has double standards that can definitely be interpreted as racist.

We are a humble family of Color who never expected to be able to give our daughter, who is a gifted but neurodivergent child, the opportunity to attend such a prestigious school. We had the same fears most families in our position experienced: Will they accept her or treat her differently on a social level? Will we be able to afford the extra costs and fees for extracurriculars and programs, or will she be forced to sit out because we can't afford it? Will she be given support and respect to accommodate her learning disability? Will our family be welcomed into the community? I am so happy to share that if you are like us, you will be super happy if you give this amazing school a chance. Yes, the financial obligations are challenging, but this is a community of kind and sharing folk who actively fundraise so no child is deprived of the opportunities available. We have been welcomed into the community with open arms, and treated with dignity and respect towards our race, culture and family situation. My daughter's teachers are true experts in nurturing uniquely gifted children with great kindness, as well as teaching how to embrace learning challenges as opportunities to develop strengths. My daughter comes home everyday bursting with excitement and passion for what she is learning, and will be very sad if she even thinks she will miss any time at school. She has blossomed from an unhappy child who dreaded school because it was a boring and uninspiring experience in her previous school, to a sociable and friendly child who can't wait for Monday morning so she can go see her teachers and friends again.If you really want to see if my review is honest, just come in and meet my new community, meet the kids! Honestly, it will make you wish you could go there yourself! See you there! :)

Yes, this is a private school. Yes, it is expensive (however, financial aide is offered to families that qualify). Yes, it is worth it. My two daughters, ages 7 and 9, attend MCDS after spending some time at Sunset Ridge Elementary. They are both excited in the morning to go to school to see their friends, teachers, and learn. The school functions like a community, the relationship between faculty, staff, and students is significantly better than at public school, in my opinion. I was so impressed with MCDS that I am currently employed as a long-term math instructor and now seeking a FT high school math position. With respect to their IB program - it is more challenging than public school. In general the IB math curriculum is one year ahead of public school. For example, my sixth grade students are doing 7th grade public school math. The student body in each grade is much smaller than public school thus creates an atmosphere where "clicks" are LESS likely to develop; which is wonderful as kids already have a lot to grapple with these days. Bullying at MCDS is NOT tolerated at all and is promptly addressed. Furthermore, I love the "it's cool to do well in school" attitude that embraced by students. I am glad that my wife and I are able to provide the opportunity to send our girls to such a wonderful school that is academically challenging and "socially" gentle.

My experience with Madison Country Day School was traumatic to say the least. We paid the same amount as other families to send my oldest there. Mind you she is a first grader at this time. I have ten years of experience in public schools and work directly with children and their behavior. My mother has 40 years of experience working with children and is a mental health expert and well known in the community. This school does not accept or know how to manage children who have behavior problems, traumatic experiences and more. My daughter is a beautiful child and I was so happy for her to have the opportunities and education that this school provided. She made the most academic progress here and was on the soccer team and learning to play the piano beautifully. This was all ripped away from her. Not only was I supportive and involved in her school but they called me while I was at work and said my daughter will not be able to continue attending the school. The message they sent to my daughter and the other students and families especially families of color is very clear. Children like my daughter are not allowed here and are different and don’t deserve what is offered even if you’re paying. It very clearly was about race and stature as the other student was not disciplined in this situation. It was also told to me personally from the director that it was a large donor family that was complaining and they were asking my child to leave. My daughter has been traumatized by this situation for years and still very dearly misses this school and it’s opportunities. You should be ashamed of yourselves. I can tell you as a behavior specialist I have seen students who are dealing with more than my daughter is and have way more serious behavior problems as well and my daughters behavior is non existent in comparison. This “Prestigious school” should have a better way of accepting families of color and supporting them and their children. This is very hard for me. I would never work here, send families here, recommend MCDS and am disgusted by the principles they teach and how my beautiful child was so cruelly torn from this community. I know of other families of color that feel the same way about this school. Intolerable.