Founded in 1888, Lake Forest Country Day School is situated on 30 acres in Lake Forest, a northern suburb of Chicago. For more than a century, Lake Forest Country Day School has worked closely with parents to cultivate the essential academic and life skills children need. Led by a talented faculty of passionate educators, we bring together an innovative curriculum and a secure community environment where students realize their highest potential. We invite you to visit our School and to experience first-hand the way we shape children's lives and prepare them for successful and rewarding experiences in secondary school, college and beyond.
Early Childhood Center
The James L. Marks III Early Childhood Center provides a cutting-edge learning environment for our three-, four- and five-year-olds. Throughout these early childhood years, our program is designed to promote the social, emotional, cognitive and physical growth of each child and to help children achieve optimal development in preparation for future years at Lake Forest Country Day School.
Commons Area
The new commons area—highlighted by a sunlit atrium space—serves as the heart of the School, the crossroads of activity, a teacher/student meeting place and a forum for small performances and presentations. The fireplace and soft furniture emphasize the family aspect of the community and provide a mutually beneficial place for social interaction between younger and older students.
Library
The School’s cutting-edge Library-Media Center merges technology and library science and provides unmatched educational opportunities. It offers 15 computer work stations, a reading room and a small group research room.
The Library-Media Center is beautifully appointed with skylights, beamed ceilings and a fireplace—conducive to quiet reading, research or small group study.
The 16,000-volume library includes subscriptions to approximately 40 periodicals, a professional library for faculty and a parenting library for LFCDS families. It uses an automated catalog and provides the School community with an online encyclopedia and an online periodicals service.
Arts
The School’s new art classrooms are located at the center of the School emphasizing LFCDS’ commitment to the arts. In addition to large spaces with abundant natural light, there is a ceramics/three dimensional art room and a kiln room. The Onwentsia Gallery offers wonderful opportunity to showcase student artwork.
In addition, the School’s renovated Performing Arts Center provides wonderful space for the many musical concerts, dramatic performances and community gatherings throughout the year. Two music rooms and a band room also serve as the hub of the Fine Arts Department.
The central location of the new and spacious art classrooms emphasizes the School’s commitment to the arts.
Science Labs
State-of-the-art science labs are available for classroom instruction in Grades 1-8. Each science classroom has a prep room and utilizes interactive technology, including wireless connection, computer-controlled overhead projectors, wall-mounted screens and white boards to enhance classroom instruction.
Information Technology
Lake Forest Country Day School continues to fulfill its strong commitment to the appropriate integration of information technology into every aspect of a student’s education.
- A campus-wide 54 megabit wireless network provides ubiquitous, high-speed access to network resources.
- Virtually every instructional space (each Grade 1-8 homeroom classroom and each Science classroom and laboratory) features a high-brightness, ceiling-mounted, network-interfaced video projector and an 8’ wall-mounted screen.
- Every faculty member uses a Tablet PC, an ultra-light wireless laptop computer with a touch-sensitive screen that converts into a writing slate for drawing and handwriting recognition.
The state-of-the-art combination of wireless connectivity, network video projectors, and Tablet PCs enables teachers to seamlessly integrate creative multimedia, Internet resources, electronic documents and emerging technologies into classroom instruction.
Students access technology in the classrooms through mobile wireless laptop carts, which provide classroom sets of laptops for all-class access and projects. In addition to the 76 student-accessible laptops, the School’s Main Computer Lab offers 21 workstations, with an additional 19 available in the Library-Media Center for research and report writing.
Athletic Facilities & Playgrounds
The main athletic facilities consist of a small gymnasium and a larger newly renovated gymnasium equipped with a climbing wall and locker rooms for boys and girls. LFCDS also has four outdoor playing fields accommodating soccer, football, baseball, softball and field hockey, and separate, age-appropriate playgrounds for the Early Childhood Center and Grades 1-4.
Greenhouse
The Robbie Bermingham Greenhouse, located in the courtyard, allows students to learn the importance of caring for plant life.
Lunchroom
The comfortable and attractive lunchroom offers hot, family style meals to students and faculty, prepared by our own kitchen staff. Parents are always welcome to join the students at lunchtime.