For over 40 years, from the first graduating class of 11 in 2009 to the 121 seniors this year, CDS graduates have gone on to excel in their careers while making a difference in the world.

Carrollwood Day School balances academic excellence and achievement with globally-minded opportunities for leadership, service, and growth. This has never been more evident since becoming a member of the Round Square organization, a vibrant network of 220+ schools in over 50 countries on six continents, dedicated to a world-class approach to global scholarship and collaborative problem-solving for the future.

“It is imperative that we teach our students and faculty to authentically live and thrive in a globally connected world. This is why the IB programme is the foundation of everything we do at CDS and why we are such active participants in the Round Square global network. Whether it’s learning about sustainability at a student conference in Kenya and coming home to spearhead a Florida Green School Certification for our campus or being confident enough right after graduation to spend the first semester of college in Paris, our students are taking the lessons learned at CDS out into the world and succeeding,” said CDS Head of School, Sara Rubinstein.

CDS encourages dreaming big and advocating for change. With seven 2024 National Merit Semifinalists, two Commended Scholars, and an IB pass rate of 92% from the Class of 2024, CDS students are leading the charge academically. But being a Carrollwood Day School Patriot is about more than academic achievement. Equally important is shaping globally -minded leaders, ready to make a difference in this world. Their mission, to cultivate principled entrepreneurial thinkers for a global society, reflects a true understanding of the skill sets and mindsets that will set students apart as they face the opportunities and challenges of the future.

As the only preschool through 12th grade International Baccalaureate (IB) World School on the West Coast of Florida, and one of only six in the nation to also belong to the prestigious Cum Laude Society, CDS students and faculty embark on a daily adventure that fosters critical thinking, compassion, and a lifelong love of learning. Students and faculty learn independently, ask meaningful questions, and communicate effectively in an ever-changing world.

“CDS has the most established IB programme in the Tampa Bay independent community and perhaps in all of Florida. While accessing the IB curriculum, generally recognized as one of the most rigorous available to secondary students in the US, our students also have opportunities to engage in sports, clubs, and the arts as teachers design learning experiences that focus on skills and content knowledge. They are always aware of the importance of teaching the whole child, balancing the workload of school, extracurricular, and family life for students,” said CDS MYP Coordinator, Sabrina McCartney.

The International Baccalaureate framework provides the foundation that empowers the CDS community to cultivate essential skills. The IB Learner Profile emphasizes productive risk-taking, open-mindedness, reflectiveness, caring, inquiry, and balance so that CDS students can live full, healthy, and meaningful lives at school, home, and in the world.

This real-world application of the IB traits was on display recently when a group of CDS students traveled to Washington, D.C. with the See Us Now organization to help pass the “Find and Protect Foster Youth Act.” This was the culmination of four years of tireless advocacy for foster children on Capitol Hill. CDS students exercised the communication, research, and critical thinking skills they learned at school while visiting congressmen and women to present their case, orchestrating a national, multi-city Blue Out as an awareness event, and even helping to draft legislation for a future bill that will lead to further improvements in the lives of foster kids around the country. With the confidence, tenacity, and skills gained through their CDS experience, these students saw that they could make an impact now and in the future.

While hard at work locally and nationally, our students and faculty also connect globally with schools through integrated lessons, student exchanges, and trips to Round Square conferences in Rwanda, the UK, Kenya, Thailand, Japan, and even Morocco, to name a few. Students and faculty do much more than talk about global citizenship. They live it. Read more about our Round Square program here.

CDS's unique combination of an IB education and Round Square values means our students graduate prepared for more than college — they are ready to be global citizens and changemakers. With Round Square’s six ideals — internationalism, democracy, environmentalism, adventure, leadership, and service — woven into the fabric of our school, students develop a profound understanding of the world and their role within it.

“The beauty of following the IB Programme is that students can join CDS as toddlers in our ECC (Early Childhood Center), building a strong foundation of inquiry, confidence, and interconnectedness. From there, they progress through the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP), which are designed to foster curiosity, critical thinking, and a passion for learning. These programs build the skills and mindset needed to thrive in the Upper School and beyond ,” said CDS PYP Coordinator, Lisa Vicencio.

By the time students reach the Diploma Programme (DP) in their junior and senior years of high school, they have been through a transformative educational journey. The DP is recognized worldwide for its academic rigor, with students taking college-level courses while engaging in community service and independent research. This holistic approach prepares students for the real world, equipping them with the tools of self-advocacy, communication, and global understanding. The result? CDS graduates are confident, well-rounded individuals who can excel in college, career, and life.

CDS alumni stand as the true testament to the success of this approach. They are excelling in fields as diverse as music, entrepreneurship, international business, law, sports, and medicine. Whether they are shaping the music industry, launching entrepreneurial start-ups, serving in the judiciary, traveling to remote corners of the world, or inspiring others as community leaders, CDS graduates are proof that our mission— preparing and inspiring a community to better the world — is more than just words.

The common theme we hear from our graduates is their determination and vision in pursuing their dreams. They carry the IB values of critical thinking, empathy, and global mindedness into every corner of the world. Their journeys began with the education they received at CDS, and the legacy they leave behind is one of innovation, leadership, and service. Read more about our alumni here.

“CDS encouraged me to take risks and embrace new opportunities. This ‘just go for it’ mentality gave me the confidence to experience things that have shaped my worldview and opened doors to future adventures,” said CDS Alumnus George Henry Cann-Gudat.

CDS is excited to continue shaping the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and changemakers. It is more than a school — it’s a launchpad for those who dare to dream big, think critically, and act compassionately. The students, grounded in the IB and Round Square ideals, are prepared not just for college, but for life and they will confidently change the world for the better.