Country Day History
Sacramento Country Day School—Founded 1964
On September 14, 1964 Sacramento Country Day School had just 12 students that ranged in age from six to fourteen. The founding families were courageous in securing our present site and believed in the school’s mission so strongly they mortgaged their homes to make it a reality. By 1969 there were students in kindergarten through twelfth grade, and today Country Day educates 598 students across 14 grades.
The concept for Country Day School was formulated around a kitchen table when CSUS educator Dr. Baxter Geeting and wife Corinne sought an academically challenging school for their son Greg. Dr. Geeting met Herbert Matthews at a small school in Carmichael where Matthews taught math and convinced him to join the discussion. Soon, the school envisioned by the Geeting and Matthews families became a reality.
The founding families envisioned an academically enriched, independent day school modeled after the very best schools in the country. As stated in one of the early brochures,
“The intent of the teachers is to impart to our students an appreciation of the fine arts, an understanding of the techniques and values of scientific inquiry, and the knowledge of foreign languages and their associated cultures.”
As time passed the campus continued to grow. A gymnasium was built in 1980 and in 1985, the administration building and two libraries were built. Our multi-lab, state-of-the-art Frank Science Center serving Middle and High School students opened in May 2005. The two-story Lower School building, with spacious classrooms and large library, opened in August 2008 for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. In addition, our youngest students – the pre-kindergartners – moved into a freshly remodeled Early Childhood Center, with an adjacent play area. In 2014, the Middle School Center for Science, Mathematics, and Technology opened to students as well.
As the campus and enrollment continue to grow, so does the strength and breadth of the school’s educational programs. Over the decades, Country Day has added over 30 advanced placement and advanced topic courses, as well as exceptional co-curricular programs such as Mock Trial, Solar Regatta, and multi-day field trips to Sutter’s Fort, Monterey, Marin Headlands, Santa Cruz, Catalina Island, Ashland and the greater Sierra region. We also have nearly 40 interscholastic athletic teams for 5th - 12th grade athletes.
The founders’ foresight in anticipating the need for a school like Country Day was astute. Country Day remains the premier independent, college preparatory, pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade school in the region. Children at every grade level are guided toward the skills and knowledge which, when the time is right, will enable them to be accepted at selective colleges and universities across the country. Excellence in Education continues – we are proud of our graduates whose UC acceptances are consistently the highest in the greater Sacramento area.
Read the full history here: “This We Remember: Sacramento Country Day School”
