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Welcome to Country Day
Cincinnati Country Day School is a coeducational, college preparatory, private school in Indian Hill, Ohio serving students from 18 months through 18 years. Since 1926, we have been focused on providing innovative preparation to our students, so they are ready to achieve success in college and life.
Knowing the Whole Child
“With world-class faculty and small class sizes, Country Day provides personalized attention that creates lifelong learners who are known and nurtured. The hallmark of a Country Day education has always been the journey of academic and personal self-discovery, where students find the best versions of themselves and flourish in ways they did not think possible.” Rob Zimmerman '98
Head of School
Nurturing the Possibilities
We are dedicated to attracting, retaining, and developing exceptional educators, advancing innovation in learning and teaching innovation, and nurturing a diverse and inclusive learning community.
Shakespeare and Beyond: Nick Rose's Dual Legacy in Theater
Find out how Nick Rose, a co-founder of the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, is inspiring today’s generation of actors. Read More
Nancy Bergsten Wins 2024 Staff Recognition Award
Nancy Bergsten, admission coordinator and administrative assistant, is the recipient of the 2024 Staff Recognition Award for her distinguished service to the school community. Read More
Captain of the Rue Crew
Laura Rue has been captain of the “Rue Crew” (as she dubs her classroom of students each year) since 1996. After 27 years at Cincinnati Country Day School, Laura has decided to retire. Read More
Awarding Two Educators for Exemplary Teaching, Loyalty & Commitment
Amy Thonnerieux and Emily DiMatteo – the 2022-23 Pattison Award winners – embody the pillars of the award. Read More
“Unsung Hero” Wins Staff Award
This year, Jeff Spain `71, Country Day’s invaluable network administrator, was selected to receive the Cincinnati Country Day School Staff Award for the 2022-2023 school year. Read More
Teachers Travel Across the Globe for Summer Sabbaticals
Long-time teachers Elena Belfor-Sigalov and Brock Miller spent their summers on sabbatical. Let's hear from them about their travels and what they experienced. Read More
Orienting Ourselves with First-Year CCDS Teacher Sarah Wagoner
We asked Middle School teacher Sarah Wagoner a few questions about her first year teaching at Cincinnati Country Day. Read More
A Round of “Did You Know” Greg Miller
Greg Miller has just wrapped up his first year at Country Day (and first year teaching, period!) as the director of choirs. Read More
Building Relationships One Good Book at a Time
Lower School librarian Amy Thonnerieux has been instructing students, collecting books, and sharing her love of reading with Country Day students for 15 years now. Read More
Taking on New Challenges
Middle School science teacher Nate Johnston has been teaching at Country Day for 18 years, but he has a new role this year. Read More
Filling in the Blanks with Jen Faber
This year, we welcomed 24 new faculty and staff members to campus. We sat down with one of these new faculty members, Upper School history teacher Jen Faber, to get to know her a little better…fill-in-the-blank style. Read More.
A True Teacher from the Very Beginning
"I started teaching in 1995 at the age of six in the playroom of my basement, I've always wanted to be a teacher," said middle school teacher Emily DiMatteo. Read More
Positively the Best
Hired as a long-term substitute teacher over a decade ago, Jennifer Hoffman is in her second year of teaching kindergarten. With experience, she brings incredible perspective and positivity to the classroom. Read More
Beyond the Bucket Hat
Tom Powers wears a lot of hats on the Country Day campus. From calling track meets, to mowing the lawns to coaching middle school football and even becoming the self-proclaimed "Country Day Athletics Historian." Read More.
The Down-Low on Lo-Po
Lois Poe Rust is Country Day’s Jill-of-all-trades. In her 41 years as a member of the Country Day community, she's been a parent, a teacher, an event coordinator, and always the life of any Country Day gathering. Read More
Donating Leftover Food to Those in Need
This past school year, Country Day and SAGE Dining Services began teaming up with Last Mile Food Rescue to donate viable leftover food to help battle against food insecurity in the Cincinnati area. Read More
Faculty Spotlight: Kathi Bagnoli, Director of Pre-Primary
Find out more about our hardworking director of pre-primary at Country Day. Read More
A Musical Legacy: Elena Belfor-Sigalov
Elena Belfor-Sigalov not only shares her musical expertise and worldly knowledge with her students, but she also supports them by giving back to the school and the arts, by donating to the Country Day Fund. Read More
Inspiring Their Future
“I love that Country Day continues to help students discover who they are and how they can become forces for good as future generations of dreamers and doers.”Sarah Herrlinger '90
2021 Distinguished Alumna & Apple's senior director of global accessibility policy and initiatives
Strategic Priorities
Our students will learn real-world skills through hands-on, immersive learning that connects them to their community and their own learning.
We will become the school of choice for talented educators by innovating how teachers are recruited, retained, and rewarded.
We will leverage our campus as a source of connection to the outdoors and to our community.
Latest News
Many schools remain stubbornly ensconced in a defensive crouch, banning AI outright or regarding it solely as a tool for cheating. But while it is true that AI presents challenges to traditional assessments—homework and essays chief among them—its potential reaches far beyond such legitimate but short-sighted concerns.
We are thrilled to announce that Jon Zeljo (pronounced ZELL-JOE) has been selected as the next Head of Upper School, effective July 1, 2025. Jon’s appointment is the culmination of a national and international search that was launched in March.
Ohio State University has awarded Ashley the Stamps Eminence Scholarship, making her only the second Cincinnati Country Day School student to earn the scholarship since its inception in 2006.
Cincinnati Country Day School is proud to celebrate the remarkable achievements of Theresa “Hirsch” Hirschauer, head of the middle school and a coach at Country Day. With an impressive 35-year coaching career, Hirsch has not only shaped the athletic prowess of countless students but also their personal growth and development.
Senior Abby Falkingham (Indian Hill) has been awarded a National Gold Medal, the top national honor given for a single image, in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. This competition, dating back to 1923, is one of the most prestigious student art contests in the country and has recognized notable artists and writers such as Andy Warhol, Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, and Stephen King.
Environmental stewardship has long been a priority at Cincinnati Country Day School, a commitment that continues to thrive through significant strides in sustainability, leadership initiatives, and partnerships with organizations like the Cincinnati Recycling and Reuse Hub, New Life Furniture Bank, Last Mile Food Rescue, and Green Tree Plastics.
Almost 30 years ago, beloved piano instructor Elena Belfor-Sigalov was teaching students at both Summit Country Day School and at Cincinnati Country Day School. When the time came for her to decide between the schools, she chose Country Day.
In this first of a two-part series, I will offer some basic background on the AI revolution. Next month, I’ll offer some insights into AI’s considerable impact on education.
This year, 75 Upper School students were honored with 97 Scholastic Art and Writing awards. The Art Academy of Cincinnati facilitated the judging, with the goal of recognizing the exceptional talent of our region's young visual artists and creative writers, emphasizing the indispensable role of a creative mind.
When Ben Stacy was asked by fellow parent and Board of Trustee member George Vredeveld if he would help him out with the Country Day Investment Club, it was an easy “yes” for Ben.
Kate Byrne `02 reflects on how falling in love with NYC as a teacher brought her to a life of adventure in the NYPD.
For the first time in the school's history, the eighth-grade Power of the Pen team placed 2nd in the regional Power of the Pen tournament, which was held at Cincinnati Country Day School in February.
Lower School students have another outlet for creative expression! Tess Young, Lower School art instructor, now has two clay wheels to work with students to create ceramics and pottery.
“The most important thing the school can do for me as a parent is see my children as the unique individuals that they are,” says Tiffany Dickerhoof. “And at Country Day, they are really seen, known, and loved for who they are; they’re not just numbers or students in seats.”
The Upper School added dedicated time for affinity groups to meet within the new schedule.
School choice programs will continue to be a hot topic in education for years to come. Country Day will track this trend and adapt our approach as necessary. For now, though, we intend to follow our tradition of independence, accountability, and affordability – without the assistance or intrusion of vouchers.
Angelique (Seremetis) Chengelis `82 has been writing about the University of Michigan football team for over 30 years as a beat writer for The Detroit News. She has not only covered the biggest sporting events in Michigan, including two University of Michigan football national championships but also covered events like the Indianapolis 500, Super Bowl, Stanley Cup Finals, NBA Finals, and most major PGA golf events.
When Addison Woodward moved to Cincinnati from Minnesota in 1956, he and his family needed to find a high school midway through his junior year. As he searched for the right one, he happened upon Cincinnati Country Day School.
As you will see in the video, the enriching experience we provide at Country Day extends well beyond the classroom. From academic achievements and triumphs in the arts and athletics to character development and community connections, our students, faculty, and staff have truly come together to make Country Day the place to be.
From the classrooms of Cincinnati Country Day School to the cutting-edge labs of NVIDIA, René Peters `09 is transforming the way we interact with technology.
Fast Facts
167
New students for the school year
21%
Class of 2022 recognized by National Merit or other national recognition programs
20
Countries represented in our student body
248
Parents, grandparents, and special guests attended the lower school Halloween parade
320
Marshmallows roasted during the freshman s'mores party
7,487
Views of the Instagram video regarding the girls soccer team winning state.
163
Middle School students participating in outdoor wellness classes
1,225
Service hours performed by Upper School students on community service day