About Us

All About Us

Founded in 1916

New Canaan Country School has been a preeminent leader in elementary and middle school education for more than 100 years. Our programs are designed specifically for Pre-K to Grade 9 —  the most crucial years of a child’s academic, creative, moral and physical development.

Country School at a Glance

List of 12 items.

  • 547

    Our total students consist of 283 boys & 264 girls and include 20% students of color

  • 6:1

    Student to faculty ratio. Our faculty members have taught for an average of 18 years

  • 85

    Acre campus includes state-of-the-art buildings, forest and fields

  • 20

    Towns represented from both CT & NY

  • 116

    Early Childhood (age 3–K) students

  • 205

    Lower School (Grades 1–4) students

  • 106

    Middle School (Grades 5–6) students

  • 120

    Upper School (Grades 7–9) students

  • 61%

    of all scrap and leftover food is composted annually; 16% is donated to nonprofit food banks

  • 50

    Before & After School Enrichment Programs

  • 89%

    of 9th Graders were accepted to their top choice secondary school

  • 400

    Under-Resourced students from Norwalk and Stamford served by Horizons Program

Our Campus

  • 85-acre campus designed to support childhood growth and learning
  • Four academic buildings, each tailored to specific age groups
  • Grace House as the central hub of campus life
  • Two libraries
  • Performing arts auditorium, state of the art sound and light boards 
  • Dining Hall
  • 35 acres of forest with trails, a low ropes course, and outdoor classroom
  • Athletic fields, four squash courts, two gymnasiums, locker rooms, pickleball courts, dance studios, 5K cross country course, and state-of-the-art training facility, outdoor ice rink
  • Dedicated spaces for:
    • Woodworking
    • Science, robotics, engineering, and Maker projects
    • Music, performing and visual arts studios
    • Maple sugaring 
    • Community gatherings 

Transportation Program

At Country School, we are committed to providing safe, reliable, and responsible transportation for our students. We own and operate our buses and serve families living in both CT and NY.

Meet Our Bus Drivers

  • Abderrahman El Kababri (“Mr. A”)

    Route nickname: “South Central” 
    Symbol: SC
    Area served: Stamford, Darien
    Fun fact about Mr. A: Loves to watch soccer and basketball

  • Alexander Belin

    Route nickname: “Long Ridge” 
    Symbol: LR
    Area served: Stamford
    Fun fact about Alexander: He is originally from Russia

  • Daniel Prinston

    Route nickname: “Stamford”
    Symbol: S
    Area served: Stamford
    Fun fact about Daniel: Loves to play guitar

  • Driss Bouzikere

    Route nickname: “White Bridge”
    Symbol: WB 
    Area served: Rowayton
    Fun fact about Driss: Studied music for 10 years

  • Henry Gideon

    Route nickname: N/A
    Area served: Back-up driver
    Fun fact about Henry: Loves religious/Gregorian music

  • Irma Maldonado

    Route nickname: “Noroton”
    Symbol: NR
    Area served: Darien
    Fun fact about Irma: Loves to crochet

  • Nick Watsick

    Route nickname: “Valley Road”
    Symbol: VR
    Area served: New Canaan, New York
    Fun fact about Nick: Worked at IBM for 32 years

  • Nina Daryanani

    Route nickname: “Weed West”
    Symbol: WW
    Area served: New Canaan
    Fun fact about Nina: Loves to paint and make art

  • Patrick O'Neil

    Route nickname: “Norwalk”
    Symbol: N
    Area served: Norwalk, Wilton
    Fun fact about Patrick: Loves hiking and going to concerts

  • Rosline Jean Marie

    Route nickname: “East Avenue”
    Symbol: EA
    Area served: New Canaan, Norwalk
    Fun fact about Rosline: Loves to cook and try new recipes

  • Saintil Louis

    Route nickname: “Juniper Junction” 
    Symbol: JJ
    Area served: Rowayton
    Fun fact about Saintil: Loves to play the drums

  • Steven Woods

    Route nickname: “Tokeneke”
    Symbol: T
    Area served: Darien, Rowayton
    Fun fact about Steven: Was featured in a Hyundai car commercial, keeps “just right books” in a bin at the front of the bus for onboard reading.

  • Taylor Jean Joseph

    Route nickname: “Darien” 
    Symbol: D
    Area served: Darien
    Fun fact about Taylor Jean: Loves "Compas" music

  • Yokaury Lopez (“Hollywood”)

    Route nickname: “North Wilton”
    Symbol: NW
    Area served: New Canaan, Wilton
    Fun fact about Yokaury: Loves to ride his bike
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Learn More About Country School

List of 8 items.

  • General Information

    Founded: 1916
    Our Mission: We create an active, joyful learning environment where children are challenged to think deeply, question confidently, and act generously so that they may lead lives of impact and purpose.
    School Motto: Fortune Favors the Bold
    School Colors: Blue and White
    Athletic Mascot: Cougar

  • Accreditations / Affiliations

    • National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
    • Connecticut Association of Independent Schools (CAIS)

  • Philanthropy at Country School

    At NCCS, giving reflects our mission and values—supporting a joyful, rigorous education that prepares students to lead lives of purpose.

    Our community thrives when families are actively engaged. Parents, grandparents, alumni, faculty, and friends all play a role through volunteerism and philanthropy. Charitable giving strengthens programs, enriches student experiences, and models generosity for the next generation.

    Like most independent schools, we rely on more than tuition to meet our full operating needs. Gifts to the Annual Fund and other initiatives help bridge the gap and secure our future.

    Our Guide to Giving outlines how your support makes a difference. We invite you to explore the Giving section of our website or reach out to the Advancement Team to learn more.

    Learn More

  • Before & After School Program

    We offer before and after school programming for students in Pre-K (ages 3 & 4) through Grade 9. The program  provides several options for daily extra care or periodic enrichment in a fun, nurturing and responsive environment. Care is available from 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Additional fees apply. Financial aid is available.
    Learn More

  • Athletics

    100% of students (Pre-K–Grade 9) participate in physical education and athletics
    Number of sports offered: 18
    Fall Sports: Cross-Country, Field Hockey, Flag Football, Soccer, Volleyball  
    Winter Sports: Basketball, Fitness, Ice Hockey, Pickleball, Squash, Volleyball, Yoga
    Spring Sports: Baseball, Cross-Country , Lacrosse, Softball
    Learn More

  • Horizons at NCCS

    Dedicated to closing the opportunity gap, this program serves more than 400 Kindergarten through post-secondary students from Norwalk and Stamford. Its offerings include a 6-week summer program and academic, artistic and athletic options throughout the school year, all at no cost. Our flagship program has been replicated at 71 sites in 20 states serving more than 7,100 nationally each year. 
    Learn More

  • Financial Information

    Students receiving financial aid or tuition remission: 20% 
    Average financial aid grant: $43,246
    Total Financial Aid and Remission Budgeted for 2024-2025 School Year:  $5.4 million
    2024-2025 Operating Budget: $33.4 million
    Endowment (as of June 30, 2024):  $56.1 million
    Annual Fund (as of June 30, 2024):  $1.5 million
    *unaudited

  • Safety and Security

    The well-being of our students, faculty, staff, and visitors is a top priority at Country School. We have comprehensive systems in place to assess risk, address concerns, and maintain a secure environment.

    Our School Safe Climate Team — which includes the School Psychologist/Counselor, Director of Safety and Security, School Nurse, and Athletic Trainer — meets regularly to review situations, develop action plans when needed, and ensure follow-through.

    We maintain detailed protocols for a range of emergency situations, and our faculty and staff participate in ongoing training and drills to ensure readiness. Regular practice exercises, such as fire and safety lockdown drills, prepare our community to respond effectively while maintaining a calm, supportive atmosphere.

    Electronic surveillance is in place throughout campus in accordance with state regulations, and our security procedures are regularly reviewed and updated to reflect best practices.

Read Country School Highlights in Our Bulletin

Life Beyond
Country School

Thanks to strong academic preparation combined with intentional social-emotional learning, Country School graduates are sought after by some of the best day and boarding schools in the country and have excellent public school options as well. Our alumni are confident and courageous, leading with impact and purpose at their next school and beyond into adulthood.

James Moody '24

“NCCS has empowered all of us to grow both as individuals and as a collective group. NCCS has offered us an academic environment in which we can encourage each other to excel and work hard to achieve our goals.”

Over the past five years, three or more Country School students have matriculated to the following:

Secondary School • Classes 2021–2025

Boarding Schools
Berkshire School • 15
Westminster School • 14
The Hotchkiss School • 10
Kent School • 8
The Taft School • 8
Millbrook School • 6
St. George’s School • 6
Miss Porter’s School • 5
The Loomis Chaffee School • 5
Choate Rosemary Hall • 4
Deerfield Academy • 4
Pomfret School • 4
Canterbury School • 3
Phillips Academy Andover • 3
The Hill School • 3

Independent Day Schools
St. Luke’s School • 31
Greens Farms Academy • 25
Greenwich Academy • 22
Greenwich Country Day School • 16
Rye Country Day School • 12
Brunswick School • 7
King School • 7
Hopkins School • 6
Fairfield College Preparatory School • 4
Sacred Heart Greenwich • 4

Public Schools
New Canaan High School • 21
Brien McMahon High School • 6
Darien High School • 6
Stamford High School • 5

College • Classes 2018–2022

Georgetown University • 16
University of Richmond • 12
Bucknell University • 11
Howard University • 11
University of Virginia • 10
Tulane University • 9
Cornell University • 8
Middlebury College • 8
Southern Methodist University • 8
University of Miami • 8
Boston College • 7
Colby College • 7
Colgate University • 7
College of Charleston • 7
Duke University • 6
New York University • 6
Villanova University • 6
Wake Forest University • 6
Dartmouth College • 5
Providence College • 5
Santa Clara University • 5
University of Colorado • 5
University of Michigan • 5
University of St. Andrews • 5
College of the Holy Cross • 4
Denison University • 4
Elon University • 4
Emory University • 4
Loyola Marymont University • 4
Texas Christian University • 4
Trinity College • 4
University of Connecticut • 4
University of North Carolina • 4
University of Pennsylvania • 4
University of Wisconsin • 4
Yale University • 4
Amherst College • 3
 
Boston University • 3
Brown University • 3
Clemson University • 3
Columbia University • 3
Drexel University • 3
Gettysburg College • 3
Indiana University • 3
Pennsylvania State University • 3
Tufts University • 3
University of California, Los Angeles • 3
University of California, Santa Barbara • 3
University of Tampa • 3
Vassar College • 3
American University • 2
Babson College • 2
Case Western Reserve University • 2
Davidson College • 2
Dickinson College • 2
Franklin & Marshall College • 2
George Washington University • 2
Lehigh University • 2
Marist College • 2
Northeastern University • 2
Northwestern University • 2
Occidental College • 2
Princeton University • 2
Purdue University • 2
Stanford University • 2
Swarthmore College • 2
Syracuse University • 2
University of Chicago • 2
University of Denver • 2
University of Rhode Island • 2
University of South Carolina • 2
University of Vermont • 2
Vanderbilt University • 2
Williams College • 2

Young Alumni in the News

Brendan Buda ’22

“New Canaan Country School taught me that a home doesn’t need to have four walls and a roof. A home is somewhere where people love, care, and never turn their back on you.”

Begin Your Country School Journey Today!

New Canaan Country School

635 Frogtown Road, New Canaan, CT 06840
Phone: (203) 972-0771

Links & Resources

Accreditations

New Canaan Country School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin and are afforded all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid policies or any other school-administered programs.