Origins
Independent Day School was founded in 1968 by parents seeking an educational program that combined excellence in academics, experiential learning, highly individual instruction, and the nurturing of a positive self-concept in every student. Since its founding, the school has been non-sectarian in nature and has pursued a non-discriminatory policy in both staff hiring and student admissions.

Campus and Facilities
IDS is located in the heart of north Tampa. Bordering Lake Lipsey and close to Dale Mabry Highway and Fletcher Avenue, the cypress covered campus abounds with peacocks and other wildlife. Portions of the grounds are devoted to gardens, composting and other student projects.

The school buildings, which have received architectural design awards, arc arranged around a small pond at the center of the campus. Facilities include 18 classrooms, 1 foreign language room, science room, computer room, separate art and music buildings, multi-purpose gym, library with a collection of more than 10,000 volumes, 2 playgrounds, recreational fields, and school office.

The west side of Orange Grove houses our new middle school facility opened January, 2001, with state-of-the-art, 21st century classrooms and equipment.

Student Population and Service Areas
The IDS student body consists of over 530 college bound students of average to superior ability enrolled in grades PreK through 8th grade. Our students live throughout the greater Tampa area.

Staff
The IDS staff consists of over 80 full time teachers, administrators and support staff including the facilities team. All classroom teachers are in compliance with state and/or Florida Council of Independent School standards and hold credentials necessary to teach in a Florida school. Many hold advanced degrees.

Small Classes and Personal Attention
IDS is recognized for its small class sizes. The faculty is well known for being highly responsive to individual differences in learning styles and academic needs. Students can be accelerated, receive enrichment opportunities or get extra help as appropriate.

Academic Program
IDS is arranged for instructional purposes into three divisions: Primary (Pre-K3 through Grade 2), Intermediate (Grades 3-5), and Middle (Grades 6-8). Our Specials Division includes a variety of opportunities for all Students from Pre-K through eighth grade. Each division has its own Division Leader and a cadre of teachers who provide a continuity of caring for all students in their division. The Primary and Intermediate Schools have two or three sections depending on grade level, which is conducive to building a cooperative learning environment even among the teachers. Students receive instruction from each classroom teacher at their grade level throughout the year. Our Middle School program is organized on a more departmentalized basis, and students receive instruction in different subjects from different teachers.

Extracurricular Activities and Sports
So much of what young people learn occurs outside the classroom! IDS students participate in student government, community service projects, dramatic and musical productions, a school postal service, a student-run store, yearbook and a variety of social events and numerous, exciting field trips. We also encourage personal and physical growth through team sports. While our teams are strong and quite successful, our emphasis is on effort and teamwork. Current sports offerings include: soccer, volleyball, cross-country, cheer leading, basketball. track, baseball, softball and tennis.

Accreditation and Affiliations
IDS is fully accredited by the Florida Council of Independent Schools and by the Florida Kindergarten Council. It is also a member of the National Association of Independent Schools and the Bay Area Association of Independent Schools.