The Country School is an independent, coeducational, Pre-K through 8 school founded in 1934.
News
CSPA Provisions
Some of what our Parents Association provides for our children may be in danger of disappearing next year. The reality is that each year the CSPA raises about $150,000 that it uses to provide many hallmarks of a child’s TCS experience: field trips, outdoor eduction trips, opening day supply packets, the school’s athletic program, assemblies, the Holiday Breakfast, and the list goes on.
This year, the CSPA’s initial fundraising yields are significantly off. Participation in— and profit for — the rummage, gift wrap, and wreath sales are all down. Registrations and sponsorships for November 15’s Sporting Clay Classic event are sluggish. Unless the auction makes up in a huge way for these declines (a simpler event was being planned), we will be faced with three choices or some combination thereof:
- eliminating some of these experiences;
- charging all families a fee for some or all of these experiences as virtually every other school does;
- wrapping some or all of these costs into tuition.
How much would that cost per child? About $550.
As some have suggested, I don’t think this decline is because of the capital campaign. After all, only about 30% of families participated in the campaign from which all families are benefitting. One hundred percent of our faculty, staff, and trustees gave to the campaign and the Annual Fund.
I don’t think it is because of the annual fund, because while about 85% of our families participated in last year’s annual fund, contributing about $181,367, the rest of the approximately $325,000 raised was contributed by others.
The large percentage of the capital campaign and annual fund totals that were donated by what I call “legacy donors,”past parents and friends of the school, speaks well for how past families value their TCS experience. They have been willing to participate generously in part because they felt they wanted to pay forward what others had made possible for their families.
I would welcome your contacting me at nmufson@countryschool.org so I can have the benefit of your ideas on what is driving the current apathy and what you see as solutions for the future.
Independent education is costly, no doubt. Quality programs and personnel are expensive. And, as you should know, our tuition is some 40% below the mean for similar grades with similar levels of quality in our region.
However, the only programs and experiences we can provide for our kids are those which the families receiving the benefit are willing to underwrite. I appreciate and welcome your help in interpreting the current trend.
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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