• Founded in 1842 in Western New York as Miss Bryan’s Seminary, a highly regarded finishing and boarding school for girls.
• At the request of several prominent Toledo families, the school was moved to Toledo in 1884 and became the Smead School for Girls. Operated by Marian and Mary Smead, the school opened on September 17 with 35 day students and 8 boarders.
• In 1909 the Smead School became the first in Toledo to become accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, ensuring that Smead School graduates would be allowed entrance to many universities and colleges.
• In 1934, the school moved to its present location on Reynolds Road and changed its name to Maumee Valley Country Day School. Enrollment opened to include boys.
• Gained national attention in 1943-44 when seniors Luette Goodbody and Betty Jay conceived the B.O.N.D. plan to reduce inflation. The “Buy Only Necessities for the Duration” movement was featured in several publications, including Harpers' Bazaar and New York's PM-Picture News. Eleanor Roosevelt even mentioned it in her syndicated column "My Day."
• In 1954, Maumee Valley Country Day School became the first educational institution in the Toledo area to be granted a charter by the Cum Laude Society, a nationwide academic honor association, an affiliation held at that time by only 163 high schools in the nation (11 in Ohio).
• Adopted the “open school” plan in 1970, in which classrooms line the perimeter of the building with the resource center and library in the middle.
• In 1980, the original building on campus was renovated and rededicated as the Smead Building.
• During the school’s centennial celebration in 1984, the science wing was added to the Upper School, consisting of lecture halls, a computer room and state-of-the-art laboratory facilities.
• In 1988, a completely new track and field facility was built and the tennis courts were significantly upgraded.
• 1991 saw the completion of the multi-purpose Wolfe Gallery, campus center plaza, a new drama workshop area and an outstanding Upper School art studio/classroom.
• The school’s growth continued in 1998 with the addition of a Middle School wing, a small health clinic, a 350-seat, thrust-stage Millennium Theater and the Johnson-Bayer Physical Education Complex.
• Launched its Global Education Program in 2006. The program prepares students to be global leaders and is the first and only of its kind in Northwest Ohio.
• Signed a sister school agreement with Yanshan University Attachment School (YUAS) in 2007. YUAS, located in Toledo’s sister city, Qinhuangdao, China, is considered one of the premier secondary schools in Hebei Province.
