What Sets BCD Apart
Our Curriculum
- BCD offers a vigorous academic program in the finest liberal arts tradition
- French curriculum begins in Preschool
- Spanish is offered in Grades 4-9
- Theater is offered in Grades 1-9
- Latin is taught in Grades 6-9
- Integrated service learning projects develop students’ sense of responsibility to themselves, to the school community, and to the Berkshire community at large
- A focus on the Arts – from drawing and painting to digital film, theater, instrumental and vocal music, and advanced forms of graphic design, photography, and electronic music – allows students to expand their forms of self expression and learn about the human experience
- Curriculum-based field trips are available to students in Kindergarten-Grade 9
- Curriculum-based overnight travel programs are available for students in Grades 5-9
- Co-curricular and athletic programs for students in Grades 4-9 encourage teamwork, builds skills, and fosters leadership, on and off the field
Our Faculty
- One-third of BCD teachers have been teaching at the school for 15 or more years
- 75 percent of faculty & administrators have advanced degrees
- Faculty regularly participate in professional development
Our Attention to Students
- Close, personal communication between teachers, students, and parents is a hallmark of a BCD education
- Students in Preschool through Grade 3 are in self-contained classrooms with their homeroom teacher serving as their advisor, as well
- Students are assigned an Advisor in Grade 4 to oversee and guide their academic progress
- Faculty are available before, after school, and in the evenings, by phone or email, to work with students and answer any questions they may have
- Advisors and faculty work with students and families to counsel them through the secondary school placement process and help them make a successful transition to their next school
- Average student-to-teacher ratio: 9:1
Our Campus
- 27-acre campus
- Nine classroom buildings
- 5 athletic fields
- Hiking trails
- Pond for swimming, boating, and ice skating
- Modern playground equipment
Our Students’ Future
- BCD students graduate and go on to top-tier independent day and boarding schools
- 90 percent of BCD graduates qualify to take honors and advanced level courses in secondary school
- BCD students go on to graduate from top-ranked colleges, both in the U.S. and abroad
- BCD students go on to become lifelong learners and to find success in the arts, sciences, and in life pursuing a wide range of personal endeavors
Our Community Culture
- BCD has an active Parents’ Association that provides and coordinates school events, student assemblies, and parent enrichment lectures
- 87 percent of current parents contributed to BCD’s 2009/10 Annual Fund
Our After-School Programs
- An After-School Enrichment Program is provided for students in Kindergarten through Grade 6 that provides our younger learners with an introduction to a wide range of activities, from movie-making to classes in drawing, chess, gymnastics and music
- An Extended Day, After-School Care Program is available for all students, Monday through Friday, from dismissal until 5:30 p.m.
- Students in Grades 4-9 participate in an after-school sports program and have the option of participating in a theater program during different points in the year or as a co-curricular afternoon elective
- Private music instruction for a variety of instruments is offered after-school by highly qualified musical instructors
