Online Learning at MCDS

Your child will participate in real-time online classes with live teachers. Remote and in-person classmates all attend the same classes at the same time, helping your child stay supported and connected. Substantial investments in our faculty and technology ensure that students attending online school receive the same outstanding education as our in-person students.

Relationship-based learning with caring, accessible teachers

Our teachers take the time to truly know each student and their learning style.

  • Teachers are live on screen with students, actively engaging in the coursework and discussions, instead of having students watch pre-recorded content.
  • Additional educational assistants have been hired, helping us continue providing individualized attention to all students.
  • Our teachers are accessible to students through office hours in their Zoom rooms. Parents can always reach a teacher through email or Zoom appointment, and can look forward to personalized parent-teacher conferences each semester.
  • Our Student Services team helps faculty incorporate social-emotional learning into every school day, providing numerous resources and initiatives to support students through the exceptional challenges of the current climate.

State-of-the-art technology brings the classroom into your home.

MCDS has invested in technology that provides new opportunities for your child to learn and connect with peers.

  • Conference cameras with two-way microphones provide remote students with a wide view of the classroom, helping them feel like they're in the room with their classmates.
  • Document cameras give remote students a close-up view of project demonstrations, lecture materials, and other physical items that would otherwise be hard to see on screen.
  • iPads for Pre-K and Kindergarten students, and Chromebooks for lower and middle school students, help our younger students connect and engage in classes more easily.

Global Online Academy connects MCDS students to the world.

MCDS is the only school in Wisconsin partnering with GOA.

  • A unique opportunity for MCDS high school students to learn and connect with an international community of passionate, motivated peers
  • Exciting course opportunities in a variety of fields far beyond what's available in typical high school classes
  • GOA's semester classes are available to high school students at no additional charge.
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Learn more about Global Online Academy at MCDS
Contact us to learn more!
Customize Your Virtual Admissions Experience

Student information

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For which academic year would this student be enrolling if your family chooses MCDS?
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Parent information

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Our faculty and staff are excited to meet you and your students! Would you like to schedule a video chat with one of the following MCDS faculty or staff? (Please select all that apply)
We are looking forward to sharing a variety of information that shows how our school is uniquely different. What information are you most interested in learning about? (Please select all that apply)
At MCDS, each person matters and each person has a story. Would you like us to connect you with a parent ambassador?
If there is something else you'd like to learn about, or someone else you'd like to speak to, please note it here.

Engaging new educational software enhances learning and keeps students safe online.

Faculty are incorporating several new online programs into their classes this school year:

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  • ...and more!

A structured day of learning with the same classes and schedule as in‑person students

Your child's online school day will be a full day of learning with a predictable schedule.

  • A full day of school: Classes begin at 8:20 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m. for both remote and in-person students.
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  • Simplified schedules and login procedures help reduce cognitive load so your child can focus on learning.

Flexibility and choice for your family

Our innovative Flexible by Choice program gives your family the ability to choose remote or in-person learning—and the flexibility to change your decision as needed.

Vibrant student life and after‑school activities

MCDS school traditions, student life, and extracurriculars are available to all students, offering many opportunities for remote and in-person students to connect.

  • Our student community stays connected with virtual assemblies, student-led clubs during lunch time, and all of the traditional lower school homeroom and middle school / high school advisory activities that make the MCDS experience special—all accessible to both remote and in-person students.
  • Many sports, extracurriculars, after-school activities, and other opportunities are offered in remote or dual format for our online students.
  • Our remote students take advantage of study groups, individual teacher appointments, and other opportunities to connect.

  • My child wakes up happy and heads to the computer to school, and after school he tells us about his new friends.

    —Middle School parent

  • The school, and all of you, have done an EXCEPTIONAL job at transitioning to remote learning. Even if school is closed next year, I am pleased with the education you are providing and will continue our enrollment.

    —Middle School parent

  • My daughter really likes her advisor, she is now so independent, and is excited to start school. MCDS is proving actual Zoom lectures, structure, and expectations—this is better than we ever imagined. When she is done for the day, I hear her giggling in her room and she is texting with her new friends.

    —Middle School parent

  • We are honored to be with MCDS! Everything is fantastic, we couldn't be happier, and the virtual school is phenomenal. Even the car line isn't bad.

    —Lower and Middle School parent

What is the typical day of an online student at MCDS during the 2020-2021 school year?

See how it all fits together in this infographic. (Click to view full size).
A Day in the Life of . . . MCDS In-Person Students 2020-21 Start-of-School-Year Plan Before School Daily Symptom Screening at Home Parent completes a temperature and symptom screening via text message before leaving home. Arrival at School Drop-off Student arrives and enters through division-specific door. Parents stay in their vehicles (except Pre-K and K may have one parent escort into the building). Screening All persons entering the building who did not complete screening via text message will be screened at the door. School Day Classes All-Modes Schedule Remote and in-person students will follow the same schedule. See example schedules from Pre-K, Kindergarten, Grades 1-2, Grades 3-4, Middle School Grades 5-8, and High School Grades 9-12 at www.madisoncountryday.org/all-modes-schedule. Concurrent Classrooms In-person and online students will be in the same classes at the same times. Students attending in person will be using laptops when the teacher is remote. Additional Faculty Support MCDS is hiring additional educational assistants and subs to help cover remote teachers with students who are attending in person. All classes with a remote teacher and in-person students will have an MCDS employee in the classroom with the students. Between Classes Recess and Passing Times Students will limit their travel around our campus. Students will stagger passing and recess times throughout the day, maintaining social distancing at all times. Storing Items Most students will store their items in their classrooms or backpacks. Locker and cubby availability will be limited this year to help prevent groups of students from gathering. Lunch Lunch will be in classrooms, or outside if weather permits. Hot lunch is still available. Study Groups, Individual Teacher Appointments, and other opportunities to connect After School Pick-Up MCDS is currently testing an app that will allow students to remain in their classrooms until the person picking them up has arrived at the building. Sports, Extracurriculars, Extended Day, and Other Activities To the greatest extent possible, students will remain grouped in their divisional cohorts for these activities. MCDS Remote Students Start and End of School Day 7:45–8:15 a.m. Student entrances open. Screening begins for in-person student arrival. 8:20 a.m. Classes begin for both in-person and remote students. 3:30 p.m. Classes end for both in-person and remote students. Remote Attendance Remote students will attend classes via video, using Zoom. Every classroom has been equipped with a webcam providing a wide view of the room, to help remote and in-person students feel more connected. MCDS Traditions & Student Life Stay tuned for more details about MCDS Virtual Assemblies, MS/HS student-led clubs during lunch time, and all of the traditional LS Homeroom and MS/HS Advisory activities that make the MCDS experience special—all will continue, accessible to both remote and in-person students. Sports, Extracurriculars, Extended Day, and Other Activities Many extracurriculars, athletics and other after school activities will be offered in remote or dual format for remote students. Remote options will be clearly indicated on the quarterly signup. Notifying MCDS About Your Choices MCDS students and families have the option to switch modes between in-person and remote when the in-person option is available. MCDS requests 2 business days’ notice to prepare for the mode switch for your student. And, we request that the decision be made for a full week at a time. Of course, if your student is sick or needs to quarantine, switching to remote learning with less than 2 days’ notice is absolutely allowed.
An MCDS teacher using technology to facilitate online school
An MCDS teacher using technology to facilitate online school

Interested in learning more about online school at MCDS?

We'd love to give you a personalized virtual tour of everything MCDS has to offer your child.
Customize my virtual visit!
Customize Your Virtual Admissions Experience

Student information

First and last name
Academic year of interest
For which academic year would this student be enrolling if your family chooses MCDS?
Add another student Remove student

Parent information

First and last name

Customize your admissions experience

Our faculty and staff are excited to meet you and your students! Would you like to schedule a video chat with one of the following MCDS faculty or staff? (Please select all that apply)
We are looking forward to sharing a variety of information that shows how our school is uniquely different. What information are you most interested in learning about? (Please select all that apply)
At MCDS, each person matters and each person has a story. Would you like us to connect you with a parent ambassador?
If there is something else you'd like to learn about, or someone else you'd like to speak to, please note it here.