Our downtown campus is a little over one acre. The main entrance on Archdale is bookended by three historic homes, which we use for administrative offices, learning services, and our kitchen facility.
Our Founder’s Wing, which houses the 1st through 5th grade homerooms, is the hub of campus and leads to our full-size gym.
We have an interior playground that is tucked behind the three-story brick addition. Inside the new building, you can visit our media center, two dedicated science labs, and 6th and 7th grade classrooms.
Pass through the historic Philip Simmons gates and walk down our bricked Alumni Walk to visit kindergarten and 8th grade classrooms.
Charleston Day School acquired the Fielding Home for Funerals property in early October, 2023. The new property significantly increases the footprint of the campus and solidifies the “Forever Home” of CDS in downtown Charleston.
The process to acquire the Fielding property occurred in 2023, but the permanent location for the campus has been an open question for many years. CDS has been an integral part of Charleston for over 85 years and the historic city is an invaluable extension of its campus. The trade-off for the central location, however, has been limited space. With the Fielding campus expansion that issue is now resolved. It provides the space the school needs to sustain CDS in its current location for the next 85 years and beyond.
CDS is currently in the visioning and planning process to develop a master campus plan and set priorities in what will be a phased approach to bringing the campus expansion to fruition.
The school purchased 7 Magazine Street last fall, which provides a critical link between the existing Archdale Street campus and the Fielding property to the north. With these acquisitions, the School now has the footprint to consider increased open and outdoor areas, enhanced athletic facilities, an assembly/performance hall, dedicated arts, music, and creative spaces, special purpose spaces for enhanced and new programming, larger and additional classrooms to support growth, and so much more that could not have been reasonably accomplished without the addition of this property.
The school is working with LS3P design firm as they complete the visioning phase of the Fielding campus expansion project and move into planning and permitting.
Beyond the classroom, with Charleston as our backdrop, our students benefit from an interactive relationship with the city. We are within blocks of City Hall, the Gibbes Museum of Art, and other places that challenge our assumptions and open our minds. Take a walk, and within minutes you will find opportunities to tell the stories about pirates, the Revolutionary War, earthquakes, civil rights leaders, poetry and theater. Our neighborhood programs extend our community, enhance our academic offerings, and build social awareness.
Additionally, our partnerships and service projects instill a strong ethical foundation and leadership ability in each student.
On a daily basis students venture off our campus, and we also set aside special times throughout the year to highlight our historic campus. Learn more about our Off-Campus Learning Experiences.
Charleston Day School was founded in the heart of Charleston by Mary Stuart and Emily Tenney. It opened its doors to 14 students in five grades in 1937.
The new school grew rapidly and moved to a new facility on the corner of Elliott Street and Bedon’s Alley.
The Board of Trustees was established to oversee the school as a non-profit corporation. Benjamin Allston Moore, Jr., one of our earliest graduates, became the first Chair of the Board.
To accommodate growth, the school was moved to a larger location on State Street.
The school was moved again to a new location at 15 Archdale Street, where it stands today.
To meet the needs of the growing student body, the school constructed a 12,500-square-foot, state-of-the-art science, technology, media and classroom space, which opened in 2011.
The outdoor terrace on the third floor provides breathtaking views of the city, including eight church steeples.
The school acquired the adjacent property at 17 Archdale Street and, in 2014, renovated it for school administration offices.
View the AHERA Management Plan notice dated July 14, 2023.
Please note that all of Charleston Day School buildings have been certified asbestos-free.
