Financial Highlights

Philanthropy CELEBRATING 95 YEARS OF GIVING

CELEBRATING 95 YEARS OF GIVING

Since our founding in 1926, philanthropy and tuition have funded the expert blend of traditional and progressive education for which LJCDS is known. 1926

BALMER SCHOOL FOUNDED

In a small, cozy cottage in downtown La Jolla, Louise Balmer opened the Balmer School with just four students and three teachers.

1920  1930 

1942

WISTERIA COTTAGE

Balmer’s unique and engaging teaching style attracted attention from the community. The school began to grow and eventually moved to Wisteria Cottage, which was loaned by Ellen and Roger Revelle, marking the first documented occurrence of parent philanthropy. 1940  1950  1960  1970 

1955–1960

GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY

• Headmaster Don Leavenworth joins the newly rechartered La Jolla

Country Day School. • Louise Balmer retires. • One grade per year is added and enrollment grows to more than 100 students. • A successful capital campaign raises more than $450,000 ($4,000,000 in today’s dollars) to build our new campus on Genesee

Avenue.

1961

NEW BEGINNINGS ON

GENESEE AVENUE

• Designed by architect and parent

Frederick Liebhardt, La Jolla

Country Day School moves to its current location on Genesee

Avenue. • The original school bell is relocated to the Upper School.

Today, the ringing of the bell marks an important milestone for all graduating seniors.

1994–2021

MODERN DAY PHILANTHROPY

Forward-thinking donors made transformational gifts to the school, providing necessary resources to prepare students for a lifetime of learning and exploration. Those gifts have supported projects including, but not limited to, the Jacobs Family Library, the Four Flowers Theater, Smith Gymnasium and Ings Family Field.

1980  1990  2000  2010 

1987

ALMA MATER

Music Educator Keith Heldman and the Class of 1987 write the LJCDS Alma Mater.

2015

GARY KRAHN, Ph.D., JOINS LJCDS AS HEAD OF SCHOOL.

All hail, to Alma Mater praise, To Country Day our voice we raise. Our loyalty we pledge to you, With colors proud, the white and blue. Memories of friendships made, Through time and travel will not fade. As years go by and pass away, We pledge our hearts to Country Day.

2016

Lucy Smith Conroy ’90 and Ambrose Conroy model alumni engagement by creating the senior class gift tradition, in which seniors make their first monetary gifts as alumni upon graduating—a powerful show of appreciation. The Conroys matched the class of 2016’s first six years of giving. 2020  2030 

2026

LA JOLLA COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL CELEBRATES ITS CENTENNIAL!

2020–2021

• Greatest need contributions (Country Day Fund) reach $1.67 million—a recordbreaking year! • La Jolla Country Day School recognizes its 95th academic year. • The Class of 2021 continues the senior class gift tradition by donating a collective gift of $4,156—a new record!