Miami Country Day School (MCDS) is a private, non-denominational, co-ed preschool-12 college preparatory school in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, near Miami Shores, just north of the city of Miami, Florida, United States. The school has been named a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. Mariandl Hufford is the institution's Head of School.
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History
Miami Country Day School began in 1938 as an elementary boarding school for boys, founded by Luther B. Sommers and C.W. Abele. In the early years, the school was known as The Miami Country Day and Resident School for Boys. Through the 1950s and 1960s, day students were enrolled.
In the 1970s, Miami Country Day became co-educational and the boarding program was phased out. Boarding rooms were converted into classrooms to make space. Originally a K-8 program, the school expanded to include an Upper School and graduated its first twelfth-grade class in 1981.
The "Spartans" began to participate in a wide variety of competitive sports such as golf, soccer and volleyball.
Academics
The school's enrollment is approximately 1,280 students. Class size in the Lower School ranges from 8–24 depending on grade level. Annual tuition varies by grade and ranges from $40,000 to $52,000.
The school has a large international student community. With 47% of its students born abroad (and more than 75% of parents born abroad), MCDS is one of the most international schools in Miami and features an extensive language department.
MCDS's team for the Junior Engineering Technical Society TEAMS competition ranked nationally for two consecutive years. In 2007, MCDS was the first-place winner of the competition, and in 2008 the JETS team placed 20th in their division.
Athletics
The following sports are offered to boys at Miami Country Day School:
The following sports are offered to girls at Miami Country Day School:
Athletics administration and staff
Chuck W. Sennett, athletic director
Bryan Parizo, associate athletic director, golf
Christopher Mark Hayes, middle school athletic director, XC
Anthony Haderer, assistant athletic director
Chris L. Polite, assistant athletic director, FB
Eric Scheingoltz, director of aquatics, USA Swimming & Interscholastic head coach, swim, WP
Aristides Atoa, strength and conditioning coordinator
Michelle A. Cordero, head athletic trainer, MS, ATC
Anthony Reyes, assistant athletic trainer
Joseph Hernandez, office manager
Athletic history
2006 varsity football team had one of the top 10 ranked offense in the state of Florida, regional playoffs appearance.
2014-2019 six consecutive Florida State champions in girls' high school basketball
2013, 2014 girls' basketball coach Ochiel Swaby and player Danielle Minott named coach and player of the year by Miami Herald
2014 girls' basketball team ranked #11 in the nation by USA Today, December 2014
2015 girls' basketball team won Dick's National Championship in New York
2008 boys 'water polo regional champions
2008 water polo team reached state semi-finals
2008 girls' basketball team regional finalists
2008 boys' varsity soccer team had been district champion for three of the previous four years
2007 boys' lacrosse district champions
2009 girls' water polo district champions
1992, 2011 boys' varsity basketball made it to the regional finals.
1992, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 girls' varsity soccer district champions; 2015 regional champions
2006, 2014 girls' softball district champions
2013–2014 girls'/boys' tennis district champions
Facilities
The school is located on 21 acres (85,000 m2), including an aquatic center, athletic fields and gymnasium with synthetic turf. The media and resources center includes a broadcast studio, parking garage, and the Center for the Arts, housing the John Davies Theater.
Extracurricular activities
Beyond academics, the school places great emphasis on arts, athletics, and extracurricular activities. Students are encouraged to participate in visual and performing arts, drama, dance, and a variety of sports that build both teamwork and individual skills. Tuition for the highest grade level is around $52,900, but nearly one in five students receive financial aid, with the average assistance being close to $30,000. With strong ratings in academics, college preparation, and student life, Miami Country Day School continues to uphold its reputation as a well-rounded institution preparing young learners for success in higher education and beyond.
Accreditation and membership
Miami Country Day School is accredited or a member of the following organizations:
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Southern Association of Independent Schools
Florida Council of Independent Schools
Florida Kindergarten Council
National Association of Independent Schools
National Association of College Admission Counseling
Southern Association of College Admission Counseling
National Association of Secondary School Principals
American Library Association
Secondary School Admissions Test Board
Educational Records Bureau
College Board
Council for Advancement and Support of Education
Notable alumni
Robert Floyd, Professional Golfer, Realtor Extraordinaire
Raymond Floyd Jr. , Financial Wizard
Roy Altman, United States district judge for the Southern District of Florida
Briny Baird, professional golfer
Manny Diaz, head coach at Duke University and former head coach at the University of Miami
Emily Estefan, musician
Christian Gaddis, NFL player
DJ Infamous, music producer and disc jockey
Zoe Kravitz, actress/singer
Natasha Lyonne, actress
Lele Pons, comedian and singer
Navi Rawat, actress
Sandon Stolle, professional tennis player