Student Life
An ACDS student's life is rich and filled with many curricular and extracurricular opportunities, inside and outside of school hours, including interest-based activities, clubs, sports, mentoring, visiting speakers and authors, and field trips.
Students can take advantage of complimentary before-school care where they can read, do homework, or create with mini-makerspace-themed projects. The Orchard: Extended Day Program offers after-school care for all Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 8 students. Every day, The Orchard students will practice social-emotional skills, engage in service learning, have opportunities to build community, strengthen executive function skills, and more. Clubs and activities range from athletics, musical theater, band, choirs, coding, chess, robotics, mathematics, and more! We also offer activities during school breaks and during the summer. ACDS balances curricular and the extracurricular learning opportunities for a well-rounded child.
Clubs & Activities
ACDS understands that children learn and thrive when they are engaged in activities that are relevant, enjoyable, and meaningful to them. Our campus is host to a variety of after-school activities that extend the interests and talents of our students in wholesome, exciting ways.
The Orchard: Extended Day Program
ACDS also offers a fee-based The Orchard: Extended Day Program after-school care for all Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 8 students. Every day, The Orchard students will practice social-emotional skills, engage in service learning, have opportunities to build community, strengthen executive function skills, and more.
Athletics
ACDS offers an after-school team sports program for students in grades 5 - 8 promoting the values of sportsmanship and camaraderie.
Speech & Debate
Competitive Speech and Debate at Almaden Country Day School is a fun and exciting way for students in grades 6-8 to develop their public speaking and debate skills under the guidance of nationally-renowned Coach Chris Wardner.
Service Learning
Across all grade levels, ACDS students engage in service to their classroom, their school, the local and global communities, an essential practice that we believe is integral to their formative development as learners, friends, citizens, and leaders.
Experiential Learning
At ACDS, students of all ages have many opportunities to apply the knowledge and skills that they have learned in class to the real world. These unique learning experiences lead to lifelong memories; the value of these experiences cannot be overstated. They help raise achievement by providing valuable and meaningful experiences, and add to their personal life experiences.
Big Buddy Program
In one of our most popular and cherished ACDS traditions, all fifth through eighth grade students serve as mentors for a “Little Buddy” in pre-kindergarten through second grade.
Blacktop Bash
The Blacktop Bash is a reimagined evolution of our popular ASSETS talent show & student exhibition that celebrates student success and talents, while also bringing our community together.
Community Events
Part of what gives ACDS its warm, inclusive feel is our community events bringing together our families and students, neighbors, and friends.
A Rich and Extensive Curriculum
Almaden Country Day School’s instructional program is founded on balance: rigorous academics, character development, and joyful learning. In addition to our innovative mathematics and literacy programs, social studies, and technology education, the ACDS curriculum features enrichment courses taught by specialist teachers along with an array of exciting co-curricular programs.