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Applying to CDS

Kindergarten

Thank you for your interest in the Children's Day School kindergarten program.
We anticipate enrolling approximately 14-16 kindergarten students new to CDS for the 2023-2024 school year. For enrollment in the Fall of 2023, kindergarten applicants must be 5 years old by September 1, 2023. To apply for admission to kindergarten for the 2023-2024 school year, please complete the steps outlined below.

Kindergarten Admission Policies and Procedures

CDS is committed to providing full and equal enjoyment of its services, facilities, privileges, and advantages to individuals with disabilities. Applicants and their family members who require reasonable accommodations to participate in the admission process should contact the Enrollment Management Team.

List of 8 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 by January 11, 2023 through Ravenna. 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

    If your child is participating or has participated in a school setting, please ask your child's current teacher to complete the teacher evaluation form and submit it through Ravenna by January 11, 2023. We strongly encourage online submission of teacher evaluations through Ravenna.
  • 5. Meet With Us

    After you have submitted an application, please sign up for a kindergarten family visit on Ravenna. Prospective students and their parent / guardian will visit a classroom together, participating in an interactive activity and learning more about our school. We expect all local students to visit in person.  Please reach out to Kristina Berman, Director of Enrollment Management, or Erin McHale, Assistant Director of Enrollment Management, if you have any questions.
  • 6. Assessments

    Children's Day School is using the shared video assessment for transitional kindergarten and kindergarten developed by the Bay Area Directors of Admission. This is a requirement for all kindergarten applicants. Once you have applied, we will notify you when the video assessments are available and will provide instructions on how to complete the video assessments and upload them to Ravenna.
  • 7. Our Decision

    Admission decisions will be emailed on Thursday, March 16, 2023. 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 complete the enrollment agreement with a non-refundable deposit of 10% of the annual tuition by 10:00 am on Thursday, March 23, 2023. 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 on the overall profile of the class and the match with the child and the family.
  • 8. Late Applicants

    If you are interested in applying for kindergarten after the January 11, 2023 application deadline has passed, please contact Kristina Berman, Director of Enrollment Management, at (415) 861-5432 x337. Families submitting applications after the January 11, 2023 deadline will be considered with wait pool candidates as openings arise after the first round of admission decisions on March 16, 2023.
For more information, please contact
Kristina Berman 
Director of Enrollment Management
(415) 861-5432 x322

Erin McHale 
Assistant Director of Enrollment Management
(415) 861-5432 x337
Children's Day School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.  Learn More