Fairfield Country Day School: An Investment in Boys' Education

Fairfield Country Day School (FCDS) is a private, all-boys day school located in Fairfield, Connecticut, serving students in grades K-9. Founded in 1936 by Laurence W. Gregory, FCDS has a long-standing tradition of providing a unique educational experience tailored specifically for boys. This article delves into the various aspects of FCDS, with a particular focus on the tuition and financial aid opportunities available.

Mission and Values

FCDS is dedicated to developing impactful young leaders of character and purpose, ready to face the everyday challenges and pivotal turning points of their lifetime with confidence, courage, and compassion. The school's balanced and challenging program is designed to help each student expand his desire and ability to acquire knowledge, capture his imagination, stimulate his curiosity and creativity, and enhance his self-esteem and respect for others. The school aims to foster intellectual, emotional, social, physical, and moral growth, using all aspects of the day as learning opportunities. FCDS emphasizes personal growth throughout each day and prepares students for the challenges that they may confront, guided by the school honor code.

Academics and Faculty

Fairfield Country Day School provides an exceptional environment for academics. The Upper School at FCDS balances a traditional curriculum with innovative instruction designed specifically for boys of this age. Throughout the day, boys benefit from strong relationships with their teachers, discussion-based classes, and hands-on learning. Small class sizes allow teachers to gain an in-depth knowledge of each boy's learning style. This knowledge enables teachers to foster the enjoyment of learning and achieve academic success. The curriculum is designed for the mastery of core subjects while providing a range of broader offerings. Fairfield Country Day School prepares students to succeed in the most demanding secondary schools while identifying their personal passions and academic interests. The school boasts a student-teacher ratio of 6:1, ensuring personalized attention for each student. With a total of 38 classroom teachers, FCDS is committed to providing a nurturing and challenging academic environment.

Community and Character Development

FCDS excels in its character and value development of boys. Leadership values - empathy and responsibility - are not just part of the curriculum but modeled by the students. The faculty are conscious of the school's culture and have the talent and the motivation to keep it up. The school creates not only an exceptional environment for academics, but also focuses on the character and value development of boys. FCDS cultivates public speaking skills in a nurturing environment that allows the boys to build their self-confidence. The school also fosters a tight-knit community and excellent ongoing parent/teacher communication.

Diversity and Inclusion

FCDS admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. As an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, FCDS has a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Tuition and Financial Aid

The Cost of Education

Annual tuition at Fairfield Country Day School is $49,500. While a private school education represents a significant investment, FCDS is committed to making it accessible to qualified students. The average private school tuition in Fairfield, CT is $22,227 for elementary schools.

Financial Aid Availability

Fairfield Country Day School recognizes that a private school education is a significant investment, and they strive to make it accessible to as many qualified students as possible. Over 27% of FCDS students receive tuition assistance. The school awards nearly $2 million annually, with the average grant totaling $34,300 to families that qualify.

Need-Aware Admission

While FCDS aims to support families in need, the school acknowledges that its tuition assistance budget is not limitless. Though award decisions and Admissions decisions are made by separate committees, FCDS cannot tout need-blind admission.

Applying for Financial Aid

Families interested in applying for financial aid should complete the Clarity application. The Clarity application shares the same priority deadline as the admissions application. FCDS makes every attempt to consider the unique circumstances of each family when determining financial aid grants. Each family’s situation is considered on an individual basis.

Admissions Process

The admissions process at Fairfield Country Day School is designed to help the school get to know prospective students and their families, and for families to learn more about FCDS.

Read also: Fairfield Career Guide

Steps to Apply

Parent Tour and Interview: Take a guided tour with a member of the Admissions team to see what makes FCDS such a special place. Tour the vibrant campus, meet some of the faculty, and see the classrooms in action. To schedule a tour, fill out the inquiry form.
Preliminary Online Application: Create an online account on Ravenna, the application portal. Ravenna will provide a preliminary application, instructions for each step of the admission process, and a completion checklist to track progress.
Student Shadow Day: Shadow Day Visits provide a wonderful opportunity for a prospective student to experience a day-in-the-life of a FCDS student. Visits for Grades 6-9 are from 8:15 AM - 2:15 PM and include participation in class time with future classmates, lunch in the dining hall, and a brief writing assessment. Registration for this event is available within the Ravenna account.
Standardized Testing: FCDS values admissions assessments as a useful tool in understanding how they can best serve incoming students. They accept scores from standardized tests that students have likely completed in school in the past year, such as the ERB, CMT, or equivalent. Alternatively, they accept Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE) or Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) scores. Information on how to register for the ISEE and SSAT is available within the Ravenna account.
Teacher Recommendations: Grade 6 applicants should submit a teacher recommendation from their current classroom teacher. Grades 7-9 applicants are required to submit a current English teacher recommendation and a current math teacher recommendation.

Important Dates

The application deadline for Fairfield Country Day School is February 14. The acceptance rate of Fairfield Country Day School is 27%, which is lower than the national average of 71%.

Additional Information

Fairfield Country Day School is located at 2970 Bronson Rd in Fairfield, CT. The school has a total enrollment of 197 and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 5:1. Fairfield Country Day School has received feedback and ratings, with a Niche grade of A+. FCDS creates an exceptional environment for academics, and excels in their character and value development of boys.

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