Forsyth Country Day School was established in 1970 to offer families an independent, nonsectarian, coeducational alternative for children from Jr. Pre-Kindergarten through grade 12. Forsyth is distinctive for its small size, the growing diversity of faculty and students, the high quality of its teachers and facilities, a caring and nurturing environment, and the strength of its curriculum. The school’s goal for each student is always the same: to provide significant experiences that will begin a lifelong process of discovery leading to a richly rewarding and happy life.

Students are drawn from eleven counties, including such communities as Winston-Salem, Clemmons, Lewisville, High Point, Statesville, Lexington, Mt. Airy, and Kernersville. Our campus is sheltered on a beautifully wooded 85 acres surrounding a lake that serves as both an outdoor classroom and a contemplative gathering spot. The campus also includes the Williams Library Discovery Center; the Pike Math and Science Center; the Lowrey Lower School; the John A. Danforth Middle School; the Middle and Upper School Dining Hall; the Brown Lower School Dining Hall; the Johnson Academic Center; the Childress Activities Center; an auditorium; the Tierney Gymnasium and fitness center; the Nancy K. Rea Soccer Stadium and field hockey fields; the Lower School playground; the Smith Athletic Complex, which includes the Furr Field House, the Smith Tennis Center, and Smith Field; Sutton Softball Field; the Dew Coordinate Center; an art loft; and a new state-of-the art track facility.

The Vision of the School
Forsyth Country Day School develops students who are principled, well-rounded thinkers, prepared for life.

The Mission of the School
Forsyth Country Day School is a community of learners dedicated to nurturing and enhancing the development of all its members. In a challenging and engaging academic environment, the school is committed to providing the instruction, experiences, and support necessary to develop fully the intellectual, creative, social, and physical potential of each student. Forsyth Country Day School believes strongly in its motto of Pride, Freedom, and Responsibility, stressing the importance of individual responsibility and its impact on enhancing personal freedom. Our goal is to instill a lifelong commitment to learning, integrity, citizenship, compassion, and community service.

Objectives:

Forsyth Country Day School has a current student body of 990 students. A Board of Trustees, to whom the headmaster is accountable, oversees the school.

The Academic Program
Forsyth Country Day School offers its students opportunities to succeed in a wide range of curricular and co-curricular areas. The framework to ensure achievement includes students who are eager to learn, teachers who are enthusiastic and inspiring, a depth of academic resources, a broad choice of co-curricular activities, and a nurturing environment. The school’s emphasis on character education encourages students to develop habits characterized by honesty, integrity, compassion, generosity, and concern for the well-being of others. The unique Classroom Tutorial from 3:15-3:45 p.m. provides time for students to ask questions, make up work, or receive extra help from classroom teachers.

The school plans and implements its Junior Pre-Kindergarten – Grade 12 curriculum while taking special care to provide for the unique needs of students within its three divisions: Lower, Middle, and Upper School. Both the Johnson Academic Center’s pioneering program for students with a wide range of needs and the Williams Library Discovery Center’s resources and curriculum-based program for students Pre-K – 12 offer additional breadth and support to the school's academic program.

Lower School (Junior Pre-Kindergarten through grade 4)
Lower School students are afforded countless opportunities to develop their talents and begin the journey to become life-long learners. Guided by enthusiastic, child-centered faculty, the students experience a balance among academics, exploration, the arts, and character-building activities.

The Lower School curriculum is designed to provide a strong academic base and to meet the needs of young children with an emphasis on social and emotional growth and development. The classroom teacher has the primary responsibility for the instruction of language arts, mathematics, and social studies, while resource teachers work with students in science, computers, art, music, French, Spanish, and physical education. French and Spanish instruction begins in Pre-Kindergarten because research indicates that children who are exposed to foreign languages at a young age, regardless of the language, are more capable of learning languages throughout life. Instruction blends phonetics and sight-reading with the study of literature, vocabulary, and culture. The science curriculum is built around children’s natural curiosity about the world around them and stresses observation, experimentation, and investigation. By challenging the minds of young children and helping them develop critical thinking skills, the Lower School prepares them to embrace life-long learning.

Middle School (grades 5 through 8)
The Middle School curriculum has a strong focus on character development that stems from our unwavering belief that who you are is as important as what you know. An excellent faculty, an integrated curriculum, the education of the whole child, a commitment to the arts, the athletic programs, the advisory system, and the emphasis on community service reinforce this focus.

The academic course of study is designed by the Middle School faculty to respond to the unique needs of this age group. While reinforcing basic skills, the curriculum becomes increasingly challenging and diverse. Instruction focuses on the development of critical thinkers, wise decision makers, and good citizens. A team approach to teaching encourages communication, cooperation, and interdisciplinary connections.

The core curriculum in Middle School includes the study of English, social studies, math, science, and foreign language. In addition, students have classes in guidance, computer, physical education, music, and art. Research skills are developed within the curriculum and through the use of the Williams Library Discovery Center. Seminars bring teachers, parents, and students together in an informal setting to explore a variety of topics such as photography, chess, technology, international cooking, science, and art. Class trips, as an extension of classroom activities, are designed to enrich learning and to promote students' development as citizens of a community.

Upper School (grades 9 through 12)
The focus in the Upper School is on the personal growth and development of each student in mind, body, and character. Academically, students not only pursue their intellectual interests in depth and with enthusiasm, but also discover their innate talents and expand the scope of their knowledge through interesting and exciting electives. There are more than 70 different courses, including Honors and Advanced Placement levels, from which students may choose. Class sizes are small; therefore, students become easily engaged in discussions with their teachers and fellow students. Small classes also create an environment in which students are held accountable for their learning while their individual needs are being met.

The Upper School curriculum provides sound preparation for college in all five areas of academic discipline: English, math, foreign language, science, and social studies. Students normally take a class in each of these subject areas every year. In addition, the curriculum provides a variety of core and elective courses to cater to individual strengths and weaknesses of students. The Upper School has a strong Advanced Placement program that allows students to receive college credit. Also, the Upper School curriculum offers enjoyable and enriching electives including creative writing, journalism, psychology, anatomy, astronomy, choral ensemble, political issues, and photography. The goal is to meet the individual needs of students through a varied, sequential curriculum, while also providing a solid intellectual foundation and stimulating a love of learning.

Johnson Academic Center Program
Whenever a difficulty arises in a student's progress, the Johnson Academic Center serves as a safety net of support. When the need for advancement or enrichment beyond the rigorous, college-preparatory curriculum arises, the center becomes a springboard to propel the student to higher levels of learning. The center pioneers a comprehensive support system in a single location that provides learning disabilities support, on-campus professional tutoring, study and organizational skills development, learning style assessment, and programs for academically gifted students. Additional resources include parent volunteer teams, community service volunteers, and a student support team.

The Student Support Service of the Johnson Academic Center is available to any student who needs guided assistance with homework, long-range projects, and basic organization. Three times a year, the center teaches the SAT Review, which is open to the whole community. Courses and services continue throughout the summer months.

Multisensory Academy of Practitioners (MAP) Program
The Multisensory Academy of Practitioners (MAP) provides a distinctive opportunity for students in grades seven through 12 who desire a multisensory and individualized educational experience in conjunction with an active and positive social life. The Forsyth Country Day School college preparatory core curriculum is implemented using various multisensory methodologies in classes featuring no more than three students and is supplemented by unique elective course offerings.

Students within the MAP program, with various types of learning differences and average to superior intelligence levels, take advantage of top quality educators and extensive use of assistive technology.Students in the MAP program also enjoy opportunities to participate with their peers at FCDS in morning meetings, breaks, meals, clubs, and all co-curricular activities.

The faculty and staff of the MAP program are dedicated to helping students chart a course for success while finding the key to unlock each learner’s potential.

Williams Library Discovery Center Program
At the heart of the FCDS curriculum is the Williams Library Discovery Center, which offers instruction in information skills, initiates activities and events to encourage reading and familiarity with literature, keeps pace with new technology, and provides resources and instructional support for oral, written, and multimedia research projects. Housing two libraries and four computer labs, the center gives students immediate access to more than 38,000 books and a wide range of electronic resources including high-speed Internet access. Students may access the library catalogs through the Web and may refer to the quick link, “Research and Study,” for instant help through the Web. The library information skills curriculum includes instruction in research skills that enable students to locate, evaluate, and use knowledge from the many sources available in today’s world. Information skills are taught as a part of regular classroom instruction and in collaboration with the classroom teachers.

Technology Program
The computer program begins in Pre-Kindergarten and builds skills sequentially. The campus-wide network delivers resources, e-mail, and Internet access to all classrooms and offices. All grades have instruction on more than 300 networked school computers and supervised access to the Internet and World Wide Web. The Fury Net, Forsyth's Internet gateway, links students to high-powered, full-text databases providing a "campus without walls." This approach is part of the FCDS commitment to preparing our students for the future.

Athletic Program
Through athletics, students test and enhance their skills in leadership, teamwork, and friendship. Both individual and team sports are available to Middle and Upper School students. More than 47 teams play in 14 different sports which include football, baseball, basketball, soccer, field hockey, lacrosse, swimming, volleyball, softball, track and field, cross country, wrestling, tennis, and golf. More than 83 percent of students in grades seven through 12 take part in at least one interscholastic sport.

Non-discriminatory Policy
Forsyth Country Day School admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin to all the rights and privileges, programs and activities generally accorded to or made available to students at the school.  It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, financial aid, athletics and other school administered programs.