Grades 1-4

List of 9 items.

• 1. Inquire

  Children's Day School uses an online platform, Ravenna, for all steps of our admission process. You can complete a Ravenna inquiry form here.

• 2. Schedule a Visit

  All applicants are required to attend an in-person tour or virtual info session. At both events you will hear from our Head of School, Shelly Luke Wille, our Lower School Program Director, Marie Keating, and current CDS parents / guardians. You can register for these events on Ravenna.

• 3. Submit Application

  Please submit a completed application with the $100 application fee through Ravenna by January 16, 2024. Click on “Create an account” to get started or “Login” if you have created or already have an existing Ravenna account. Submitting an application through Ravenna is strongly preferred; however, paper applications are also available upon request.  Please reach out to Erin McHale, Assistant Director of Enrollment Management at (415) 861-5432  x 322 if you need assistance.

• 4. Teacher Evaluation Form

  Please ask your child's current teacher to complete the teacher evaluation form. One teacher evaluation form is required for students applying to Grades 1-4. We strongly encourage online submission of teacher evaluations through Ravenna, and evaluations are due by January 16, 2024. 

• 5. Request for School Records

  Submit the Request for School Records form to the Registrar at your child's current school after November 1, 2023. Records may be uploaded directly to Ravenna or may also be mailed to CDS, emailed to Erin McHale, or faxed to (415) 861-5419, and are due by January 16, 2024.

• 6. Student Visit

  After you have submitted an application, please register your student for an in person visit on Ravenna. We expect all local students to visit in person. Please reach out to Kristina Berman, Director of Enrollment Management, at kristinab@cds-sf.org, if you have any questions.

• 7. Parent / Guardian Interview

  A parent/guardian interview is a required part of the admission process for Grades 1-4.  After you have submitted an application for your student, please sign up for a virtual parent interview with an admission representative on Ravenna. Admission representatives can include the Enrollment Management Office staff, other administrators, and faculty. The interview is an opportunity for us to learn more about your student and your hopes and dreams for their education, and for you to ask us any questions you may have about the Children's Day School curriculum and community. 

• 8. Notification of Our Decision

  Admission decisions will be emailed to families on Thursday, March 14, 2024. We craft each class looking for a balance in ages as well as socio-economic, racial, cultural, and family diversity. Families who choose to accept an enrollment offer must return the enrollment agreement with a non-refundable deposit of 10% of tuition by 10am on Thursday, March 21, 2024. When there are more qualified candidates than openings available, the school establishes an unranked waiting pool. When an opening occurs, the school decides to which student to offer a space based upon the overall profile of the class and the match with the child and the family.

• 9. Late Applicants

  If you are interested in applying to the Lower School after the January 16, 2024 application deadline has passed, please contact Kristina Berman, Director of Enrollment Management, at (415) 861-5432 x337. Families submitting applications after the January 16, 2024 deadline will be considered with wait pool candidates as openings arise after the first round of admission decisions on March 14, 2024.