Providence Country Day School: Accessibility and Value in Education
Providence Country Day School (PCD), a co-educational independent school founded in 1923, is located in East Providence, Rhode Island. Serving approximately 375 students from PreK through 12th grade, PCD has a rich history rooted in providing a college-preparatory education within a supportive community. The school's commitment to accessibility and value is demonstrated through its tuition policies and expanded academic and extracurricular offerings.
A Bold Move: Tuition Freeze and Reset
In a notable move, The Providence Country Day School (PCD) announced a tuition freeze for the upcoming school year. The school confirmed in a letter to families and applicants that tuition rates for the 2022-2023 school year will be the same as the current year. This decision followed a major tuition reset, where PCD reduced tuition by 36% for 2021-2022.
Head of School Kevin Folan highlighted the positive effects of these initiatives: “The impact (of the tuition reset) on our school has been transformative: applications nearly tripled, with many families saying they had never considered private school before. This is a trend that will continue, allowing PCD to sustain and build upon the well-deserved reputation as an elite school with a welcoming community.”
Folan was hired as head of school at PCD in 2019, and under his leadership the 99-year-old school has already announced multiple newsworthy initiatives aimed at reimagining the private school experience. These include the tuition reset, which was first announced in October 2020 as part of “The PCD Quest,” which also included the creation of an online academy called PCD Online Academy to offer the school’s college preparatory curriculum to students who live too far away to benefit from attending PCD in person. The school, which has traditionally been for students in grades 6-12, also announced in March 2021 that they would be adding Henry Barnard School to their community in order to offer a cohesive PreK-12 educational experience.
Addressing Concerns and Expanding Opportunities
According to Melanie Parsons, director of admissions and financial aid at PCD, “The most common concern we hear is whether the tuition decrease means cutting programs. The truth is that we are thrilled to be able to continue to offer a more accessible tuition while also expanding our offerings across all grade levels in academics, athletics, arts, and extracurriculars. PCD is the best value in education in Rhode Island.”
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Sustainability and Values
Household wages have increased by 15% over the past generation while many private schools have seen tuition rates increase by 400% - annual tuition hikes have become the norm. “Many schools have already announced tuition rates for 2022-2023 that are 3-5% higher than current rates. Our Board of Trustees felt strongly that a tuition structure which outpaces inflation and household wages is not sustainable, and is not in line with our values as an institution,” said Folan. “That is why we reset tuition, and that is why we will freeze tuition for all grades at PCD next year.”
The PCD Quest and Expansion
Folan gives credit for these bold moves to his team: “These past few years have been incredibly hard on educators, and yet our faculty remain committed to creating the best possible experience for students. None of this would be possible without our incredible team. A PCD education is one of the best investments a family can make in their child’s future, and the best value for private education in Rhode Island.”
Founded in 1923, PCD is a college preparatory school located in East Providence, RI on 30+ acres of green space, where they currently offer Grades 5-12. Henry Barnard School is currently offering PreK-5 in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood in Providence, RI. Plans are being made for a new building on the PCD campus to accommodate the elementary school within 2-3 years.
Academics and College Enrollment
PCD is known for its strong academics and college preparatory curriculum. Students who attended Providence Country Day School enrolled in the following colleges and universities:Assumption College, Bennington College, Boston University, Brandeis University, Brown University, Bryant University, Case Western Reserve University, Dean College, Drexel University, Elon University, Emerson College, Franklin Pierce University, Johnson & Wales University, Lasell University, Nova Southeastern University, Regis College, Rhode Island College, Roger Williams University, Savannah College of Art and Design, St. Mary's College of Maryland, Syracuse University, Temple University, University of California, San Diego, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, University of Pennsylvania, University of Rhode Island, Washington College.
Athletics Program
PCD participates in athletic contests under the jurisdiction of the Rhode Island Interscholastic League (RIIL). PCD is proud to be a Safe Sports School. There are 17 different sports played at PCD at the Middle School, Junior Varsity, and Varsity levels of competition. Athletic teams compete in either the Rhode Island Interscholastic League or the SENE division of the New England Preparatory School Athletic Conference, and each year at least 30% of the teams compete in league championships. In the fall PCD offers Cross Country, Soccer, Football, Volleyball (girls), Fencing, and Tennis (girls). Winter sports include Basketball, Gymnastics, Indoor Track & Field, Swimming, and Wrestling. In the spring PCD competes in Baseball, Golf, Lacrosse, Track & Field, and Tennis (boys).
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A Historic Partnership: Henry Barnard School
On March 9, 2021, a partnership was announced between PCD and the Henry Barnard School (HBS), a historic elementary school founded in 1898. HBS had been facing closure at the end of the 2020-2021 academic year before a group of dedicated alumni and parents announced plans to re-open as a newly independent school. Beginning in the 2021-2022 academic year, PCD assumed financial responsibility and leadership for the elementary school, offering continuity for the historic school and its teachers and students.
Campus and Location
In 1923, a group of business leaders, educators, and parents established Providence Country Day on the Sweetland Farm in East Providence. Their goal was to create a college-preparatory school in a rural setting, that would provide both the advantages of a boarding school campus and the additional benefits of a day school. In 1997, the school completed an extensive campus consolidation and building project, renovating and moving two historic buildings, Metcalf and Chace Halls, to the east side of campus.
Key Facts
Providence Country Day School is a private school located in East Providence, RI. The student population of Providence Country Day School is 339. The school’s student-teacher ratio is 9:1.
Read also: Providence College Transfer Guide
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