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The Upper School at Savannah Country Day School endeavors to create an environment where each student can find an area to shine.  While all students will benefit from our rigorous college preparatory curriculum, we don’t limit our pursuit of excellence to the classroom.

Jonathan Day, Head of UPPER School

The cornerstone of our Upper School experience is balance, and we strongly encourage students to find interests beyond the classroom to augment their academic experience. The typical Country Day upper school student is not only engaged in the classroom, but is also eager to make an impact on the playing fields, on the stage, in the art studio, or in the larger community.

While we are preparing students to be successful in college and in life, we are also preparing them to be the sorts of citizens who will carry our region and nation forward.  Country Day students will be the leaders of the next generation, and by encouraging critical thinking, creative problem solving, and independence of thought, the Upper School helps to form these leaders. 

Curriculum, Advanced Classes, and Electives

The Upper School offers its students a wide array of co-curricular activities.  Virtually every teacher sponsors some club, activity, or sport. 

College Counseling

Working with students for all four years of Upper School, our College Counseling Office helps find the best fit for every student. 

Advisory & Class Deans

All Upper School students have faculty advisors assigned in the ninth grade. The groups stay together for four years, which allows students and faculty to create the kinds of bonds that can only be forged over time. 

Leadership, Clubs & Organizations

Students are encouraged to explore their talents and interests beyond their classroom experiences. 

Institute for Atlantic Studies

The Institute for Atlantic Studies seeks to empower students to take ownership of their learning, focusing on a sense of place and collaborative community & civic engagement.

Social & Emotional Wellness

The Upper School Counseling program is tailored to address the unique needs of the Upper School student as he or she develops independence, a stronger sense of self and identity, and personal values and goals in preparation for life both in Upper School and after graduation

Service Learning

At SCDS, students live by the motto "Service through Knowledge and Character," and that’s why community service is an essential component in the education of each Savannah Country Day student. Service learning helps students see the larger world of which they are a part and reinforces what is learned in the classroom.

Global Online Academy

GOA offers SCDS students the opportunity to learn alongside peers from around the world. GOA courses further enrich the Country Day experience by allowing students explore their passions with classes that are outside of the traditional course catalogue.

International Debate Competition

The Upper School Debate team made school history on Friday night by competing in its first international debate tournament at the Novice World Schools championship hosted online by Malaysia WSDC. The students stayed up all night to debate against teams from Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Vietnam in four fast-paced impromptu rounds, with only 30 minutes of preparation per topic. They earned wins against teams from Malaysia and Vietnam, and Isabella Andolina was recognized as SCDS’s top speaker of the tournament.

Four Students Honored by the Scholastic Art Awards

​Congratulations to the following student artists on their honors in the 2026 Scholastic Art Awards. Blue Dennard was awarded a Gold Key for his ceramic teapot, and his piece will now be considered for a national award. Will Paderewski​ won a Silver key for his ceramic oil bottle and an Honorable Mention for his ceramic vase. Harlan Lerch (drawing)​ and Luke Fountain (ceramic orchid pot) both received Honorable Mentions. Well done, Hornets!

Recent Debate Competiton

Our debate team visited Woodville-Tompkins High School for the second edition of the Lowcountry Debate Showdown. Middle and Upper School Hornets competed in Student Congress, debating legislation related to homeland security, fuel taxes, and the CLAWS Act. Team captain Meen Shin presided over the session as presiding officer. Following the students’ strong performances, Country Day will host Woodville-Tompkins for the third installment of the debate series in early April.

Sea Turtle Necropsy

Upper School students serving on the Caretta Research Project’s Teens 4 Turtles board recently hosted fourth graders for a hands-on sea turtle necropsy experience. They guided the younger students through learning about sea turtle anatomy, health, and some of the challenges these animals face in the wild. The activity gave students a unique opportunity to explore marine science while learning how conservation efforts help protect sea turtles.

Science Olympiad

Congratulations to our Science Olympiad team on an incredible showing in just their second year of competition! Competing against 23 teams, they earned 16 top-five finishes, including three first-place, four second-place, and one third-place medal. We are proud of their hard work and can’t wait to see them shine as they advance to the state competition.

Country Day students are prepared for whatever their path leads, learn more about our College Counseling program. 

COLLEGE COUNSELING