DISCOVER YORK
COUNTRY SCHOOL
York Country Day School inspires students to excel with personalized education and innovative programs in engineering, robotics, and theatre arts.
Fast Facts: YCDS is a co-educational, independent, college preparatory school established in 1953 serving preschool through grade 12. The 17-acre campus is located in suburban York and is affiliated with York College of Pennsylvania.
A Look Into Our
Independent School
56% of students receive financial aid
Student-to-faculty ratio is 5:1
25 zip codes in our student population
39% of YCDS students are students of color
Explore Our Comprehensive
Curriculum for All Grades
We encourage our students to develop a love of learning, which will motivate them to continue to seek knowledge and acquire understanding throughout their lifetimes. We encourage students to take an active role in the learning process. Throughout their years at York Country Day, students develop the skills necessary for independent inquiry, critical thinking, and creative expression. We are committed to maintaining a challenging academic program that is designed for students who possess high academic goals. We recognize the uniqueness of each individual child and strive to help each fulfill his or her potential.
Lower School
Preschool - Grade 5
In the Lower School, each child in preschool through grade 5 is known and valued by professional and caring adults who take time to connect with their students every day. Teachers and students together create a supportive, caring classroom environment where all students are celebrated and encouraged to take risks that are necessary for true learning.
Middle School
Grades 6-8
Our Middle School is dedicated to the education of the whole child in a community that challenges and supports students academically, socially, and emotionally. The curriculum focuses on critical thinking, academic risk-taking, content mastery, and skill development. A vibrant advisory system, engaging classrooms, and inclusive athletics and arts activities allow students to discover their emerging talents and interests.
Upper School
Grades 9-12
The energy of our students is one of the most visible qualities of York Country Day’s Upper School. This extraordinary energy is found in our classrooms, where vigorous learning and a vibrant exchange of ideas takes place. It overflows into our courtyards, labs, and workshops and animates the students in the hallways, the lounges, and the playing fields. Created both within and beyond the school, this energy, harnessed within our close-knit community, makes a difference in our students’ lives. The school encourages and scaffolds this energy by providing both an academic and co-curricular program rich with opportunities and challenges and a faculty that creates a stimulating classroom environment.
Taking Center Stage: Theatre Arts at YCDS
York Country Day School’s theatre arts program empowers students to shine—on stage and behind the scenes. Through acting classes, technical theatre training, and full-scale productions, students develop creativity, confidence, and collaboration skills. This program is perfect for students who love storytelling, expressing themselves, and working as part of a dynamic ensemble to bring performances to life.
Where Innovation Meets Imagination: Engineering and Robotics at YCDS
At York Country Day School, the engineering and robotics curriculum is designed for curious minds who love to create, build, and solve real-world challenges. From block-based coding in the Early Learning Program to advanced Python programming and CAD software in Upper School, students engage in hands-on projects that inspire critical thinking and teamwork. This program appeals to students who are naturally inventive, thrive on collaboration, and dream of shaping the future through technology and design.
Mission
York Country Day School, an independent college preparatory day school, inspires and nurtures the innovative and creative spirit of students as they pursue their intellectual promise. Students and faculty embrace rigor and delight in the pursuit of learning with tenacious curiosity and with diverse perspectives. The community helps students ignite their intellectual, social, and civic passions. Our students are known and valued, which allows them to engage as compassionate, bold, and active citizens as they identify a purpose outside of themselves, for the common good, and generate the call to better the world.
Motto
YCDS’s motto, veritas, means truth. A YCDS student is an integral member of an engaging community who aspires to pursue, define, and advance personal and intellectual truth to enrich and advance the quality of life for oneself and the greater good of others.
Our Campus
York Country Day School is a 16-acre campus located in Spring Garden Township, York County, Pennsylvania. We are located approximately 30 miles from Harrisburg, Lancaster, and Gettysburg, 40 miles from Baltimore, Maryland, and 70 miles from Washington, D.C.
Awards & Accolades
National
Best Private K-12 Schools in America
#497 of 3,142
Best Private High Schools in America
#434 of 4,990
Pennsylvania
Best Private K-12 Schools in Pennsylvania
#24 of 129
Best College Prep Private High Schools in Pennsylvania
#34 of 204
Best Private High Schools in Pennsylvania
#37 of 226
Most Diverse Private High Schools in Pennsylvania
#43 of 236
Best High Schools for STEM in Pennsylvania
#86 of 290
How to Apply
At YCDS, we believe in providing a transformative educational experience that prepares students for success in a rapidly changing world. With a focus on academic excellence, character development, and community engagement, we empower students to reach their full potential.
Inquire
Begin your journey by requesting detailed information about our programs and admissions process.
Schedule a Tour
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Complete the Application
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Take the Necessary Tests
Complete any required assessments to help us understand your child’s academic strengths.
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