Keith Country Day School

About

Known as Rockford’s premiere college-preparatory school, Keith Country Day was founded by Belle Emerson Keith in 1916. Our mission is to prepare our students for lives of meaning and purpose.

Story

WHO ARE WE
Keith Country Day School is an independent, nonsectarian, school founded by Belle Emerson Keith, a pioneer in the progressive education movement and a nationally recognized Neo Impressionistic painter. The school provides a superior college-preparatory program to an intellectually capable and diverse student body. Located on a 15-acre campus overlooking the Rock River, Keith serves students from age three through grade 12 from the Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin area.

WHAT DO WE DO
Keith Country Day School works with students to achieve their full potential and excel as educated, ethical, and self-confident individuals. Critical thinking, creativity, leadership, philanthropy, technology, and character building are some of the major components of a curriculum designed to prepare young people for the global challenges of the 21st century.

THE FACULTY
The Keith faculty is recruited nationally and internationally with advanced degrees in their respective fields, recognized success in education, and a commitment to being role models for young people. They are dedicated to life-long learning and continued professional growth. They use a broad repertoire of teaching techniques and technologies, enhancing students' skills by integrating these approaches throughout the curriculum. Perhaps most importantly, Keith faculty are available to students and parents before, during and after school. Celebration phone calls and emails, correspondence over weekends and direct access to a students’ daily classroom progress through a NetClassroom application are just a few of the many ways the school maintains a strong teacher-student-parent relationship.

WHAT IS AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL
Independent schools are non-profit entities who create their own mission. They are typically governed by a Board of Trustees whose primary responsibilities are policy making, fundraising initiatives, and fiduciary management. Day to day operations are directed by a Head of School who manages the administration and faculty, influences instructional leadership, and establishes academic standards and goals with the faculty.

Independent school accreditation standards are rigorous and validated by a national commission. The schools focus on educating the whole child and offering experiences that reach beyond core academic areas. They have the freedom to promote creative thinking in hands-on ways and to introduce students to exciting and challenging subjects including art, music, drama, foreign languages, global and environmental studies, and technology. The schools maintain small class sizes so that teachers can know their students well and attend to each student's individual strengths, skills, and needs.

OUR GRADUATES
Keith graduates are well prepared for entry into and success in, college and beyond. Each has been educated to communicate well, to collaborate effectively, to think critically, to problem solve, to exercise good judgment, and to embrace leadership opportunities. In fact, for eight consecutive years, more than 70% of Keith’s graduates have earned college scholarships.

TECHNOLOGY
In an accelerated academic setting, computers are tools used to enhance individual learning. Keith students begin working on a computer at age 3 and work in a computer lab at age 4. By sixth grade, all students use a lap top computer at school throughout the day. Computers are accessible in every classroom and this year the entire Lower School will be outfitted with SMARTBOARDS. Now, more than ever, technology is a critical ingredient to a global education and connectivity is the new essential for students and parents to communicate and collaborate. At Keith, applications like Google Apps for Education and NetClassroom provide students, faculty and parents an array of customizable online tools to work together more effectively.

FINE ARTS
While a strong academic curriculum is at the heart of the Keith Country Day School experience, the performing and fine arts programs are the soul. Keith’s comprehensive program provides students with broad fundamentals in the fine, creative and performing arts. The environment encourages all students to take some personal risks and challenges beyond their “comfort zones.” As a result, Keith students routinely develop self-confidence and a willingness to expand their horizons.

ATHLETICS
When it comes to Keith’s athletic department, participation and enthusiasm are balanced with a high level of competition. A member of the Illinois High School Athletic Association for the last nine years and a founding member of the Northern Athletic Conference, Keith offers a range of sports including volleyball, soccer, basketball, tennis, cross country and golf. In addition to its team and individual sports programs, Keith also has a comprehensive physical education curriculum that emphasizes motor development, coordination, and basic fitness in the context of fair play and sportsmanship.

DIVERSITY
One of the great opportunities at a small school is each student gets to know every individual in his/her class regardless of race, color or religion. Students do not self-segregate. Instead, they truly learn to live and work within a melting pot of cultures. Thirty five percent of Keith’s student body is non-white and its diversity percentage is among the largest in the region.

For more information about Keith Country Day School, go to keithschool.com.

Mission

To prepare children for lives of meaning and purpose.