Academics
Upper School

Ninth Grade Experience

There are so many leadership opportunities at Fairfield Country Day School, however, the greatest opportunity to steward the School and student body is through the ninth grade experience.

Ninth grade builds on everything that comes before it.

At Fairfield Country Day School, leadership and character are developed at every grade level. Ninth grade is where those skills come into sharper focus. Boys are given more responsibility, more independence, and more opportunity to apply what they’ve been practicing all along.
It’s a year of perspective, confidence, and preparation.
By ninth grade, boys know the School well. They understand our values, routines, and expectations. This year is about stepping into that familiarity with greater intention.
Whether a student has been at FCDS for years or joined more recently, ninth grade offers space to grow into a more visible role while still being supported every step of the way.

List of 4 items.

  • Academics & Curriculum

    The academic program reflects the maturity of the year. Ninth graders take advanced coursework including biology, geometry, world languages, and Western Civilization.

    Classes are designed to challenge thinking and invite discussion. Boys lead all-school debates on global issues such as poverty and the refugee crisis, learning how to engage with complex ideas while respecting different perspectives.

  • Community & Commencement

    Ninth grade strengthens friendships formed over years at FCDS. In a close-knit environment, boys learn together, lead together, and support one another through a meaningful final year.

    At Commencement, the Blair Award recognizes one ninth grader who best exemplifies the values of FCDS: integrity, scholarship, and respect.

  • Leadership & Role Modeling

    Ninth graders continue the strong leadership tradition at FCDS. As the oldest boys on campus, they take on expanded roles as Student Council leaders, ambassadors, and mentors to younger students.

    Leadership here isn’t about status. It’s about responsibility. Boys are encouraged to lead thoughtfully, knowing others are observing and learning from them.

  • Responsibility & Independence

    With increased responsibility comes earned trust. Ninth graders participate in leadership roles across campus, contribute to publications, and take part in long-standing school traditions like the Blue Door.

    Relationships with teachers continue to grow as well. Conversations become more collaborative. Guidance becomes mentorship. Faculty work closely with students to help them navigate expectations and prepare for what comes next.

List of 4 items.

  • Babson College EPIC Program

    Through the Babson Entrepreneurship Program for Innovators and Changemakers (EPIC), ninth graders learn how to turn ideas into action. Working in teams, students identify real challenges in our School or community and develop practical solutions. Along the way, the boys build skills in collaboration, leadership, and creative thinking.

  • Island School

    Every spring, ninth graders take a class trip to The Island School in Eleuthera, Bahamas where classroom curriculum comes to life. For five days, the boys live and learn side by side while studying marine science, sustainability, and leadership through hands-on fieldwork and shared responsibility.

  • Ninth Grade Institute

    The 3-day Institute focuses on team-building, goal-setting, and service work. From guest speakers discussing entrepreneurship to field trips focused on stewardship, students form strong connections and take on leadership roles.

  • Speeches

    From prepared speeches to group discussions, students learn to express ideas clearly, listen actively, and present with confidence. At the end of the year, each graduating student delivers a school-wide final speech that reflects the voice, poise, and communication skills developed throughout his time at FCDS.

Fairfield Country Day School

2970 Bronson Road, Fairfield, CT 06824
Fairfield Country Day School (FCDS) is a private, all-boys day school in Fairfield, Connecticut.

FCDS 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. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

FCDS is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. We prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any other legally protected status.