The Country School is an independent, coeducational, Pre-K through 8 school founded in 1934.
News
Affording The Country School
Many prospective parents fear that The Country School is out of their reach, but sometimes, with some reevaluating of expenses, they may come to a different conclusion.
After engaging recently in a listserv conversation with fellow outreach/marketing and admissions directors from other Maryland schools, something one of them wrote to me really struck a nerve: “The one place people are often satisfied to get less than their money’s worth is in education.” That statement is at once insightful and unsettling, but it is worthy of being unpacked.
Many factors go into parents’ decision to choose a public, religious private, or non-religious private/independent school for their child(ren), not the least of which is the price tag. Families often tell us that they plan to “try” public school “until” the need arises for a change. This is an understandable sentiment, given that public school does not carry with it a tuition and therefore poses zero financial risk. But there may be a few flaws in this logic, including the premise that a child’s education should be a roll of the dice, or something for which adopting a passive, “wait and see” attitude will yield the desired result. A more proactive approach might be to carefully weigh the features and benefits of a public versus private/independent school and assess the financial implications of each.
For many parents, the cost of a Country School education requires changes in lifestyle that make some uncomfortable or even resistant. But for many families for whom tuition is a stretch or even impossible without some restructuring of finances, they choose to reevaluate the “extras” that comprise their expenditures: expensive travel; non-essential vehicles, boats, or other high-dollar possessions; memberships at a country club, yacht club, or other fee-required organizations; or extras they could eliminate and thereby direct those funds to tuition. (And, of course, sometimes restructuring can’t make enough of a difference. In those cases, financial aid is available to qualifying families.)
Whatever the financial profile, it is worthwhile to investigate every possible avenue that could, with a little sacrifice, lead to a Country School education—the value of which should be measured not solely in dollars and cents. The value of a TCS education lies in the quality of the faculty who teach our students and the developmentally-appropriate curriculum they implement. It lies in the the nurturing environment and individual attention our faculty are able to provide their students, thanks to small classes. It lies in an exciting learning experience where children learn how to learn. And it lies in the discovery of personal and community values and their impact on society.
A prospective parent recently remarked to me that the enthusiasm with which our students and families talk about our school is astonishing. He joked: “It’s either a cult or a really great school!” My response? Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
Recent News
List of 5 news stories.
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Kindergarten Students Serving Others!
Kindergarteners have been participating in a 3 part HOHO (Helping Others; Helping Ourselves) project lead by Ferris and Laura Butler. Students packed boxes to be shipped to veterans and their families. The boxeswere filled with child friendly, donated items. Also in the boxes were handwritten letters from the students along with a handmade American flag craft. The Butlers carefully orchestrated this project, and we are very grateful for their time and efforts. -
Spring Athletic Award Winners
Congratulations to all our spring athletics award winners and to all our Cougar athletes who participated in sports and clubs! This spring, TCS offered Boys’ and Girls’ Lacrosse, Pickleball Club, Running Club, and Volleyball Club. Providing so many athletic opportunities took a village—thank you to our amazing coaches, volunteers, and parent drivers for making it all possible! And thank you to our students for setting an example of dedication and sportsmanship!Read More -
Summer Trips for Upper School Students in 2025
It is with great excitement that The Country School announces the addition of 2025 summer trips for our Upper School students!Read More -
The Country School Celebrates 90 Years and Installs Jay Parker
Read MoreThe Country School is proud to be celebrating its 90th school year. This milestone year also marks the beginning of a new chapter with the appointment of Jay Parker as the 7th Head of School. -
Conversation & Homecoming - Saturday, February 24, 2024
Read MoreThe Country School, Talbot County Free Library, and the Avalon Foundation, sponsors, join with fourteen other community organizations to present Conversation & Homecoming with Carole Boston Weatherford and her son, Jeffery Boston Weatherford, a program free and open to all.
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The Country School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, or sexual orientation in the administration of its educational, admission, and employment policies, or its financial aid, athletic, and other school administered programs.
