| Lake Forest Country Day School | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1888 |
| Type | Independent, Non-sectarian |
| Headmaster | Michael Robinson, since 2005 |
| Students | 436 |
| Grades | PS-8, plus a special 1st Step program for 2 year olds |
| Location | Lake Forest, Illinois, USA |
| Mascot | Panther |
| Yearbook | On our way |
| Newspaper | "The Some Times" |
| Website | [1] |
Lake Forest Country Day School (LFCDS), founded in 1888, is a coeducational, independent preK-8 school located on a 29-acre campus in Lake Forest, Illinois, USA, a suburb approximately 30 miles north of Chicago. The School serves families from more than 30 communities. The School is affiliated with the Country Day School movement and is a member of The National Association of Independent Schools, The Independent Schools Association of the Central States, The Lake Michigan Association of Independent Schools and The Secondary School Admission Testing Board.
1888 - The Alcott School founded
The Alcott School welcomed its first students in the fall of 1888 in a three-room cottage on land that is now part of the Lake Forest College campus. Accounts differ on whether the name was chosen in memory of "the children's friend" Louisa May Alcott, who had recently died, or her father, Bronson Alcott, who was said to have founded the first private day school in America. The school's first graduating class consisted of two students.
1904 - Allen Chartis Bell joins the faculty
Allen Chartis Bell joined the Alcott School as a substitute teacher and within a year became the school's principal and owner. This marked a new era that lasted more than half a century and whose influence is felt even today. An early brochure declared "the entire curriculum is arranged to make moral character efficient through mental discipline." In a continuing tradition, teachers specialize by subject rather than teaching all subjects to a particular grade level.
1928 - The Lake Forest Day School is founded
In answer to the needs of a growing Lake Forest community for a progressive school, the Lake Forest Day School opened its doors with a clear purpose: to develop character, impart knowledge and develop resourcefulness. The school was not for profit and emphasized the fundamental importance of parent cooperation. It employed a consulting physician and psychologist, exemplifying the school's commitment to educating the whole child.
1934 - The Alcott School changes its name to the Bell School
Over the years, the Alcott School and Mr. Bell had become so associated that many people began to refer to it as the "Bell School." When Bell's oldest son, Alexander (Lex), joined the faculty in 1934, the name change became official.
1958 - The Bell School and the Lake Forest Day School consolidate to form Lake Forest Country Day School.
After years of discussions, the two schools joined, merging their strong educational backgrounds rooted in family and community. The School continues its tradition of welcoming students of varying abilities and of educating generations of the same families. The practice of strong parent participation touches every aspect of Lake Forest Country Day School and is one of its greatest strengths.