North Shore Country Day School in Winnetka will begin implementing a new five-year strategic plan when the 2026–27 school year opens in August.

The board of trustees approved the plan in spring 2026 after a yearlong process that included parent and faculty think tanks, a 12-member design team, and a January 2026 Community Design Day attended by more than 75 students, families, faculty, staff, alumni, and trustees. Trustee and parent Jessica Shinn, Director of External Relations Kristen Kaczynski, and Head of School Tom Flemma led the effort.

The plan identifies three broad priorities: deepening experiential learning across all grade levels (JK–12), strengthening lifelong connections among alumni and families, and investing in faculty recruitment and retention. The school employs 76 teachers with a 7-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio and enrolls approximately 505 students from 53 ZIP codes.

"We believe in North Shore. We believe in its people. We believe in its values. And we believe in its students," board chair Susanna Ver Eecke said in the school's announcement on Tuesday, July 22.

No specific measurable targets, dollar amounts, or named new programs have been disclosed. School leaders describe the plan as a "compass direction," with specific programs and structures to be developed over the coming months.

NSCD faculty return to campus Wednesday, August 12. New student and family orientations begin Monday, August 17.