History of Charleston Day SchoolTHE BEGINNINGFounded in 1937 by Mary Stuart and Emily Tenney, Charleston Day School has developed and maintained a tradition of academic excellence and strong moral values. The mission of Charleston Day School is to foster scholarship, integrity, respect, and responsibility in our students. A strong sense of community within the school promotes these qualities necessary in the development of responsible citizens as effective future leaders.
Charleston Day School opened its doors on South Battery to fourteen students in five grades in 1937. Dedicated to providing a rigorous educational experience and instilling the qualities of scholarship, integrity, respect and responsibility, the new school grew rapidly and moved to a new facility on the corner of Elliot Street and Bedon’s Alley. A second building was added in 1949. As the demands of the school expanded, the founders recognized the need to restructure the administration, and in 1969, a Board of Trustees was established to oversee the school as a nonprofit corporation. Miss Stuart and Miss Tenney retired in 1971 and were followed by Wallace Frampton. In 1974, he was succeeded by Edgar S. Jaycocks, whose tenure saw the move to a larger site on State Street and the construction of the Founders’ Wing in 1981. MOVING TOWARDS THE FUTUREAs Charleston Day School attracted students from a wider geographic range, the necessity to find a location with the potential for more expansion became evident. When the Mason Preparatory School campus on Archdale Street became available in 1986, the Board of Trustees voted to purchase the property. Ten years later, the administrative building at 9 Archdale Street was converted into a Middle School facility for seventh and eighth graders. Additional renovations to the main classroom building expanded the library and created dedicated math, computer and French classrooms. The purchase of the two houses south of the campus provided additional administrative space as well as a campus residence for a Facilities Director. The completion of the Kenan Music and Arts Center in 2001 and the creation of a new playground in 2004 have further enhanced the campus. In July 2004, the school welcomed Brendan J. O’Shea, under whose leadership Charleston Day School continues to provide an exceptional educational experience. In 2007, a five member visiting team from SAIS-SACS was unanimously impressed by Charleston Day School. Full accreditation quickly followed, and to quote from the final report "Charleston Day is in a position of strength as it begins a new decade of progress."
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