Learning
Curriculum Overview
Learning for the Future
Knowing things is not enough. It’s what you do with what you know that makes a difference.
We are committed to preparing our graduates for their futures. In our unpredictable and technology-driven world, students need to learn more than facts. They need to learn how to investigate with curiosity, navigate conflict with compassion, use data strategically, and engage meaningfully in their communities. The future-focused curriculum at CDS prioritizes the development of these skills in the context of learning meaningful, relevant content. Prioritizing skill development sets learners up for a lifetime of learning. Our graduates leave us with a toolbox of durable learning skills that can be applied across new contexts in high school and beyond to continue to explore and unlock new learning.
Nine Schoolwide Competencies
Our unique schoolwide competency framework aligns directly with our profile of a CDS graduate, translating our mission into concrete skills and learning outcomes that can be taught, practiced, and demonstrated in the classroom.
As CDS teachers plan lessons, units, and projects, they intentionally teach the skills embedded in our competency framework. Each skill within our competencies has different levels so that teachers can equitably assess students’ growth in these key learning areas and nurture progress.
Content That Matters
While we prioritize skill development, content choices matter! Our curriculum develops content knowledge in all of the traditional school subjects: social studies, science, math, reading, technology, art, music, and more. We meet and exceed national learning standards because we make intentional, mission-driven choices about how we frame and facilitate the exploration of these topics, ensuring that learning is affirming, relevant, and meaningful to students.
Learning that challenges our students doesn’t simply mean more work or more stress. At CDS, we empower students to make connections, question assumptions, and apply what they have learned to develop creative solutions to unpredictable real-world problems. This often starts with an essential question to ignite students’ curiosity and guide an in-depth, interdisciplinary inquiry that requires students to apply subject-specific learning skills and competencies in a problem-solving context.
Social Justice
Our goal is that students apply the knowledge and skills we teach them to build more inclusive and just communities. We accomplish this intentionally by creating an everyone classroom where conversations are culturally relevant, affirming, and grounded in our core belief that differences lift us. Our classroom routines and culture give students concrete experience with the principles of inclusion and justice.
CDS teachers draw on several curriculum practices and standards, including restorative practices to manage conflict and the Learning for Justice Social Justice Standards framework to guide lesson planning. Students explore all academic topics through a lens of social justice and diverse perspectives by always asking these key questions:
- Identity: Who am I in this? What is my perspective and why?
- Diversity: Who are others in this? What are their perspectives?
- Justice: What is fair? What is just in this context?
- Action: What agency do I have to make a positive impact?
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Children's Day School
Children's Day School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. Learn More
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