• Jacksonville Country Day School is the premier choice in elementary education in Northeast Florida.

  • At JCDS we educate the mind, the body, and the heart.

  • We know that children need to create and express themselves.

  • JCDS students are surrounded by knowledgeable and caring adults.

  • JCDS provides enriching and engaging experiences for the students.

 

Discover JCDS

In your journey to find the best private school in Jacksonville, we are honored that you are considering Jacksonville Country Day School.

Our 65-year history of excellence makes JCDS the premier choice in elementary education in Northeast Florida. Our academic program, spacious facilities, character education, robust after-school enrichment, and a dedicated faculty are all well-known for their exceptional caliber.
Our teachers and staff at JCDS are experts in elementary education, focusing exclusively on young learners from Pre-K 3 through 5th grade. 

At JCDS, we lay the foundation for the future, equipping each student for lifelong learning, good character, and social responsibility.

We are deeply committed to nurturing every aspect of a child. Our faculty are driven to provide an environment where children develop their love of learning—enabling them to thrive academically, physically, and emotionally.

Through a purposeful partnership with our families, we cultivate confident graduates who are strong in character and academics, who can communicate effectively, lead by example, and demonstrate respect and compassion for others.
At JCDS, learning is an epic adventure. Our students experiment, innovate, and grow through every experience—all within a safe, nurturing environment. Childhood is the foundation of a lifetime—every moment matters.

Explore how our programs inspire creativity and confidence.
In JCDS’s early-learning program, children learn through play, exploration, and risk-taking in a multisensory environment. Moving, creating, collaborating, and learning from mistakes foster their social-emotional growth and spark the curiosity they need for a lifetime of learning.

Our teachers are adept at presenting developmentally appropriate lessons in the classroom and outdoors to encourage exploration and experimentation.

Discover how we nurture every child’s potential in early learning.
At JCDS, our caring educators surround students with love and support, fostering growth and success. Our research-driven instruction tailors engaging experiences to every learner’s needs, ensuring that all thrive.

With an average of 15 years in the field, teachers are masters at delivering robust educational opportunities for their students.

In a recent survey conducted by Independent School Management Consultants, our faculty was rated "world-class."

Discover how we inspire academic and personal excellence.
JCDS’s challenging curriculum empowers students to reach their full potential. Our character education, including the 7 Mindsets, virtues of the month, and service learning, fosters positive relationships. Spanish, physical education, and fine arts ensure well-rounded growth.

See our vibrant community in action—schedule a tour today.
At JCDS, learning continues beyond the classroom. With 92% of students joining our after-school enrichment, they explore fine arts, sports, problem-solving, and academics. Led by faculty with specialized knowledge as well as local experts, these programs extend our mission.

The after-school enrichment program at JCDS is the most comprehensive of any elementary school in Northeast Florida. Visit our Enrichment page to learn more.
 

Facts and Figures

List of 8 items.

  • 100%

    STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN SERVICE LEARNING

  • 19

    Acres of beautiful wooded land

  • 55%

    Diversity Rate

  • 92%

    Students in After-School Enrichment

  • 5

    Days a Week of Both PE and Recess

  • 15

    Average Years of Experience for Full-Time Teachers

  • 16k+

    Books in the library

  • 420+

    Happy Students at JCDS

School News

Second-graders Made Us Squirm!
First grade-level show of the year

Just in time for Halloween, the second-graders performed the musical Squirm!, an eerie, comical show about the creepy critters that make us all, well, squirm.
 
The leadership of the creative team, Jessica Barker (music), Lindsey Curry (dramatics and tech), and Cathy Finne (choreography), led the students to deliver a fun, polished performance in just one week.

"We spent time in Music Class working to sing with a blended choral tone," said Music Specialist Jessica Barker. "This requires each singer to focus simultaneously on their own voice and those around them; working as a team to achieve a balanced sound."
 
Dance Manager Cathy Finne is new to JCDS this year, and this was her first show at the school. She enjoyed the experience with the students.
 
"I do feel quite a bit of self-applied pressure to make sure the choreography is special," said Ms. Finne. "I want to make sure the students enjoy the movement and, of course, have fun while doing it."  
 
The show opened with the familiar nursery rhyme characters of Miss Muffett (played by Eesha M.) and the Itsy-Bitsy Spider (Alexandros F.), and an Addams Family-inspired opener, We're Going to Make You Squirm.
They sang and danced to a Bossa Nova beat of It's So Cool to Be a Worm.
 
A moody black-light spider dance, enhanced by glowing spider webs, was a crowd favorite.
 
Fine Arts Coordinator Lindsay Curry worked with the students on their lines, as well as handled the spider's share of the staging and lighting effects.
 
"I am always trying to enhance the set designs and lighting," explained Ms. Curry. "The black lights for this show are always a big hit! This year, we added the glowing spider webs as a prop for our dancers."
 
Ms. Finne added, "The spider dancers were very excited to use spider webs. Many of them have never used a prop before, so they were very inquisitive!"

Eight boys dressed in green became the Snake in the GraSSSSS, and the vaudeville-suggested Bats are So Beautiful offered some clever dancing as well as a string of lighthearted jests.
 
By the end of the show, the Itsy-Bitsy Spider was finally successful at climbing up the water spout, which led into the closing number, a reprise of We're Going to Make You Squirm.
"This year we used a spider puppet to help the Itsy-Bitsy Spider climb up the water spout," Ms. Barker noted. "Alexandros was a great puppeteer!"
 
The show was enjoyed by the families, students, and faculty who were in attendance. The young performers received a thunderous round of applause!
 
"The second-graders did a great job," Ms. Finne said. "The only challenge we faced was containing their excitement to perform!"
 
Sharky rates this show "two fins up!"
 

Our Graduates

One hundred percent of 5th grade graduates from JCDS get their choice of local private middle schools.

Our Portrait of a Graduate captures the school’s core beliefs and how those are reflected in each of our students and graduates. We focus on the qualities that make our students uniquely prepared for middle school and beyond. It is this portrait that brings our mission to life and affirms the choice families make to send their children to Jacksonville Country Day School.

Visit Us

Jacksonville Country Day School is an independent and multicultural school dedicated to motivating and guiding students towards fully achieving their unique potential.
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Jacksonville Country Day School

10063 Baymeadows Road
Jacksonville, FL 32256
P. 904-641-6644
F. 904-641-1494
office@jcds.com
Located in Jacksonville, FL, Jacksonville Country Day School is a private school for Pre-K 3 through 5th grade. JCDS prepares students for a healthy and productive lifetime of intellectual exploration, character development, and social responsibility.
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