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What Is a Country Day School?

By , About.com Guide

Savannah Country Day School

Savannah Country Day School

Photo © Robert Kennedy
Question: What Is a Country Day School?
Private schools have many names. Some are called academy. Others are prep or preparatory school. Others call themselves day schools. And, of course, there are plain old schools. Then there are the country day schools
Answer: A country day school is a nice sounding name for a private day - as opposed to boarding - school located in the suburbs. It's supposed to conjure up appealing visions of a relaxed, happy school in a pristine, pastoral setting. One can imagine magnificent oaks and maples spotted appropriately around acres of verdant meadows and manicured lawns.

Type country day into my site's search window and you will find hundreds of schools with some variation of that name. Put another way, country day is to private schools what ranch wagon used to be to the station wagon manufacturers. A pretty name. A marketing tool.

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