Wakefield Country Day School is honored to be featured with Head of School John Elmore in the 2026 issue of FACES of Culpeper magazine, which highlights the people and organizations that make up the local community. The article, as published by the Culpeper Times, is provided below.
Over a half-century ago, Wakefield Country Day School opened its doors and has since maintained the remarkable distinction of ensuring that every single graduate earns acceptance to a strong four-year university.
Nestled in Rappahannock County, where the cows outnumber the residents by a wide margin, this Preschool-through-12th-grade institution was founded on the idea that education should nurture both intellect and character. With 200 students from five surrounding counties and a student-teacher ratio of 8 to 1, students receive individualized attention that shows in their outstanding academic record and readiness for college and beyond.
In addition to the rigorous academic curriculum expected of a prep school, students study several languages, including Latin, with English, German, and Spanish beginning in Preschool. Every student is guaranteed to travel abroad during middle and upper school. "Travel is Education" is a principle evident in the many field trips WCDS students take throughout their tenure. Highlights include the annual Journalism Class trip to New York City, the 10-day trip through Great Britain aligned with the middle school British History courses, and the "Walking in the Footsteps of Caesar" journey through Italy, which reinforces lessons from Pre-Renaissance History, Latin, and Art History. The School also offers a variety of extracurricular activities, including Bitcoin Club, Wildlife Conservation Club, Leo Club, and championship- winning middle and varsity sports teams. Favorites among alumni include annual traditions such as Field Day, the Medieval Banquet, Bonfire Night, the Winter Physics/Ski Seminar, and the Christmas Tree Lighting.
Beyond its many offerings, the school's sense of community is what struck John Elmore most when he took over as principal two years ago. A native of Montana who has led college-prep schools across the country, Elmore is impressed by how connected the student body is and by the strength of the alumni network.
"There is something unique about having 3-year-olds and 12th graders on the same campus," Elmore said. "The little ones look up to everybody else and, frankly, the big kids step up. They know there are little eyes watching, and that sense of community is pretty special."
Wakefield offers both financial aid and academic scholarships and
takes juniors and seniors on multiple college visits across Virginia each year. Its dedicated college counselor works closely with students to uphold the school's 50-plus-year streak of 100-percent four-year college acceptance. The senior class earns an average of $1.5 million in college merit scholarships annually.
"We walk them through every step of the college application process: the courses they choose, recommendation letters, everything. It's the kind of attentive support you can only get with small class sizes," Elmore said.
And the relationship doesn't end when students matriculate. Wakefield alumni tend to stay in touch with the school. At a reunion held in Arlington last fall, alumni from the classes of 1994 through 2020 gathered to reminisce.
"Everyone was telling the same stories," Elmore said, "We are small, and we are mighty!"