The Benefits of a K-8 Education at ACDS

"A child is well-served in the long run when you do what is right for them at their current stage of development. I am a big believer in junior schools because they have the unique ability to focus on the day to day academic and emotional needs of the young and pre-adolescent child.” ~ Jean Baldwin, CEP, Educational Consultant

ACDS is designed to provide the foundation for academic and personal learning for students in grades K-8 by educating all students under one roof and promoting interaction among the grade levels.

• Younger students get to know teachers before moving into the middle school level.
• Students have greater personal connections to teachers and administrators.
• The K-8 environment allows students to engage in age-appropriate activities. 
• Our 6th graders experience stability and structure during this emotionally charged time rather than a disruptive transition into a new school. 
• At ACDS, the 6-8th grade students are role models for the younger grades which results in greater self-esteem and stronger leadership abilities. 
• The ACDS K-8 model allows for integrated instruction and provides the flexibility to group and regroup students according to their needs and abilities. 
• A smaller community of learning allows teachers to better connect with their students so that more students are known by more adults. 
• ACDS students enjoy the continuity of the K-8 environment, reducing the feeling of anonymity they may feel in larger schools. 
• ACDS enjoys a successful high school placement record. By the 8th grade, the learning styles, interests, strengths and weaknesses are developed and better understood, making it easier to select the most appropriate high school. ACDS faculty and administrators work with families to facilitate the decision and the transition.
• Our 8th graders go on to excel in such prestigious schools as Gonzaga, Episcopal, Bishop Ireton, Bishop O’Connell, Foxcroft, Field School, Potomac School, Madeira, St. Albans, St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes, TC Williams and Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.