About

The BCD Difference

Community

We believe in a welcoming and inclusive community where students, family members, faculty, staff, and alumni work together to support and nurture students to be engaged, kind, resourceful, confident, empowered, well-rounded good citizens.

Engaging Curriculum

We believe children thrive when engaged, challenged, and surrounded by peers and teachers who love school. Our research-based curriculum is infused with innovative strategies to support differentiation, skill mastery, hands-on projects, and a love of learning.

Social/Emotional

We believe that academics are only one piece of school and that students need tools, support, and strategies to learn to problem solve, communicate, create resolutions, think critically, take risks, and fail forward.

Small Class Sizes

We believe small class sizes allow our teachers to truly see, know, and love each student. It is essential in differentiating instruction. Our Board of Trustees mandates that sizes not exceed 18 in the Elementary School or 22 in the Middle School. Preschool classes range from 12-16 students with two full-time teachers.

Intentionality

Boulder Country Day has intentionally chosen to focus on preschool through eighth grade and we believe it is among our greatest assets. We firmly believe that a PS-8 school environment offers distinct advantages during the most critical years of a child’s intellectual, social, and emotional development. 

Learn more about the benefits of a PS-8 school environment.

Dedicated faculty and Staff

We believe that a caring and dedicated faculty and staff are the "heart and soul" of our school. Ours share a deep optimism for children and a love of their profession.

International, National, and State Accreditations & Affiliations

We believe in continuous school improvement, and, as such, seek accreditation from organizations that focus on that process. BCD is accredited by the Association of Colorado Independent Schools (ACIS), recognized by the Colorado Department of Education, a member in good standing of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), and an authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) World School. We were the first school in the world to meet the standards of all of these organizations.

Committed and Engaged Parent Body

We believe education works best when schools and families partner for the benefit of the students. Committed and engaged parents are the keys to the success of those partnerships, and our Portrait of a Parent outlines the embodiment of that role at BCD.

Inviting Campus

We believe that a safe, clean, and age-appropriate campus improves learning and enhances student engagement. BCD is situated on 5.5 acres campus located in the Gunbarrel neighborhood of Boulder. The campus nestles up to the Twin Lakes open space. 

Outstanding Outcomes

We believe our graduates should be socially and academically confident, technologically savvy leaders who are prepared for today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. They should strive to do their best and should act as honest, effective communicators who care about their communities. Our alumni matriculate at a variety of local public and private high schools along with out-of-state boarding schools. They typically enter into honors, AP and pre-IB courses and state that BCD prepared them exceptionally well for the social and academic rigors of high school.
 
We also believe that 3rd party assessment is crucial to the success of our students and our school. Annually, we assess our students to determine the progress they have made, to identify areas of strength and weakness, and to evaluate pieces of our program. We use the Educational Records Bureau’s (ERB) Children’s Progress Academic Assessment (CPAAA) for Kindergarten – 2nd grade and the Comprehensive Testing Program version 4 (CTP 4) for 3rd – 8th grades as our assessment tools. We receive robust score reports on the student, class and school levels, which allow us to evaluate our progress and compare ourselves to leading independent schools throughout the United States.

Fast facts

  • BCD is a private school of approximately 380 students ranging from our 2 1/2 year old preschoolers through 8th grade.
  • Tuition for 2024-25 year ranges from $23,725 to $32,700. Tuition is set by the Board of Trustees in December of each year.
  • BCD has a robust Financial Assistance program and we highly encourage families to apply.
  • BCD was founded in 1988 but built and moved to its current location in 1998.
  • School hours are:
       Middle School 8:00 am - 3:20 pm
       Elementary School 8:00 am - 3:00 pm
       Preschool 8:00 am – 1:00 or 3:00 pm, with 3 or 5 day a week programs
  • Average teacher to student ratios, 2:12-16 in Preschool, 1:16 in Elementary, 1:16 in Middle School.
  • Our Learning Center was established in 2013 to coordinate resources and support the diverse learning styles of our students.
  • Our Middle School is an authorized International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (MYP).
  • Our extended day program runs every day after school until 5:30 pm. We also offer after school classes in art, music, languages and other enrichment subjects.
  • Every Friday we have an All School Assembly where different grade levels offer performances or presentations. Performance is a cornerstone of our educational program.
  • 85% of all 5th through 8th grade students participate in team sports. We have a no-cut policy so all who want to play can and will.
  • Our school mascot is the bulldog whose name is Kersey. Bulldogs are kind, tenacious, loyal, and determined.
  • BCD has a dress code for Kindergarten through 8th grade students. We believe that student dress should embody our motto of respect for self and others.
  • Each BCD 8th grader conducts a year-long Capstone Community Project, a year-long research project aimed at helping students explore an area of interest, contemplate the relationship of the project to the community, and presents their findings and experience before their peers, parents, and other guests.

Call Now to Schedule a Tour: (303) 516-4148

Boulder Country Day School    4820 Nautilus Court North • Boulder, Colorado 80301 • Phone - 303.527.4931 • info@bouldercountryday.org
Boulder Country Day School, where academic distinction meets education with character. BCD is a top rated, accredited private school in Boulder, Colorado where every child has the opportunity to discover their own unique excellence. Distinguished by small class sizes, outstanding faculty, engaging academics and a focus on community, our preschool, elementary and IB middle school teachers strive to create a well-rounded educational environment that balances traditional subjects with the arts, world languages, athletics and knowledge based units.

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