About Us

More Than a Century of Helping Children Grow

WHO WE ARE

A school built around childhood. Designed for what's next.

Lake Forest Country Day School has spent more than a century proving that the strongest education begins with knowing each child as an individual.

Our students are challenged academically, encouraged personally, and supported every step of the way. The result is a community where confidence is built through meaningful relationships, intellectual curiosity, and experiences that prepare students for life well beyond the classroom.

 Founded in 1888

 Lake Forest, IL

 3500 graduates and counting

By the Numbers

7:1

Student to teacher ratio

35

Zip codes represented

165,000

Sq foot building on a 33 acre campus

18.5

Years average tenure of an LFCDS faculty/staff member

Our History

More Than a Century in the Making

Lake Forest Country Day School traces its roots to 1888 and The Bell School, one of the earliest private day schools in the country. Over the next seventy years, it grew alongside the Lake Forest Day School, founded in 1928 on the same belief in character, knowledge, and close partnership with families.

In 1958, the two schools came together as Lake Forest Country Day School. What they shared then is what still defines us now: personalized teaching and a community built on knowing every family who walks through our doors.

That same spirit, inspired teaching, individual attention, and strong character, has carried through for more than a century. It's the foundation everything else here is built on.

A classroom with students sitting at desks, listening to a female teacher standing on a small stage. The classroom has large windows with plants and decorations. The wall behind the teacher features educational posters and a clock.

A woman with short hair and a checkered dress stands smiling at a young boy with a plaid shirt, who is holding a book, in a room with a brick wall. Two girls stand behind them, one with curly hair and the other with short hair, looking at the boy. A

Seven young men wearing white shirts and light pants, standing in a line inside a room with a wooden wall and a window, posing with hats in the air and smiling.

Black and white photograph of a vintage youth baseball team posing outdoors in front of a building with large windows. The team consists of nine boys in baseball uniforms and caps, some holding baseball gloves. They are arranged with four sitting on

Our Mission

Through inspired teaching and partnership with families, Lake Forest Country Day School nurtures a love of learning and builds a foundation of strong character, preparing students to navigate their path with purpose.

Our Core Beliefs

Childhood is championed.

We center all we do on what is best for our students, protecting and building upon the magic of these precious years.
Community is our core.

Honest and respectful relationships, formed through conversation and collaboration, build trust and a sense of belonging – honoring the dignity of every person.
Curiosity is a gift.

Wonder is an animating force that resides in every person and should be modeled and nurtured to stimulate self-discovery, spark innovation, and drive creativity.
We aim high.

Raising expectations activates the great potential we see in every person and elicits efforts that result in individual growth and the collective success of our community.