About
CDS at a Glance
2025–2026 Enrollment
- Total enrollment – 466
- Classroom teacher:student ratio in preschool is 1:8.
- Classroom teacher:student ratio in kindergarten is 1:12.
- School-wide teacher:student ratio is 1:8, including classroom, specialist and after school teachers.
- 34 zip codes are represented, including San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, and Solano counties
2025-2026 Faculty
- 65 school-day faculty members
- 49% of faculty are people of color
- 60% of classroom teachers have advanced degrees
- 11 years average teaching tenure
2026-2027 Sliding Scale Tuition
- 30% of students have adjusted tuition rates through our sliding scale tuition program
- $5 million funded our 2026-27 sliding scale tuition program
- 20% of our tuition revenue is dedicated to our sliding scale tuition program
- Sliding scale tuition ranges from $3,456-$49,830 (6% to 100% of full tuition)
2025-2026 Extended Program
- Extended Program is available Monday through Friday after school until 6:00 pm every day school is in session (except Grandparents & Special Friends Day, the day before Winter Break, and Graduation).
- Vacation camp is also available during some school breaks or conference days.
- Extended program rates are adjusted based on each family's sliding-scale tuition, with a minimum charge of $4 per hour. The standard rate is $16 per hour and $5,200 to opt into the full-year Extended Program at the beginning of the year.
- Summer camp is also available!
2026-2027 School Calendar
- First Day of School - August 26, 2026
- Last Day of School & Graduation - June 11, 2027
- See our school holiday calendar.
2026-2027 School Hours
- School opens: 8:00 am
- Preschool: 8:00 am–6:00 pm
- Transitional Kindergarten & Kindergarten: 8:30 am–2:45 pm
- Grades 1-2: 8:30 am–3:00 pm
- Grades 3-4: 8:30 am–3:15 pm
- Grades 5-8: 8:30 am–3:30 pm
- Extended Program Dismissal: 6:00 pm
Location
Main campus located at 333 Dolores Street in San Francisco (between 16th and 17th Streets, directly across from Mission Dolores, behind Notre Dame Plaza building). Middle School campus located at 601 Dolores Street in San Francisco, at the corner of Dolores and 19th Streets, directly across from Dolores Park.
Main campus located at 333 Dolores Street in San Francisco (between 16th and 17th Streets, directly across from Mission Dolores, behind Notre Dame Plaza building). Middle School campus located at 601 Dolores Street in San Francisco, at the corner of Dolores and 19th Streets, directly across from Dolores Park.
Campuses
Sunny, 1.2 acre main campus (home to the Early Childhood and Lower School Programs) with organic farm and garden (home to chickens and sheep), rooftop playground, basketball court, swings, climbing structure, huge sandbox, tinkering space, and more. Middle School campus of 18,000 square feet and rooftop garden, two science laboratories, and performing arts space.
Facilities
Historic building at 333 Dolores Street partially renovated in 2007, 2008, 2018, and 2021 and new Early Childhood Center completed in 2024; internet connection and computers in all classrooms. Partnership with Boys & Girls Club for library and gym space. One classroom and most administrative offices located in adjacent building added to main CDS campus in February 2008. Middle School campus located at historic 601 Dolores Street (18,000 total square feet) added in 2015.
Athletics
Volleyball, cross-country, basketball, indoor soccer (futsal); compete in the Independent School Athletic League; students may participate starting in fifth grade (for cross-country) and sixth grade (all other sports).
History
Founded as preschool in 1983; incorporated as non-profit preschool to eighth grade independent school in 1996; graduated first eighth graders in 2006.
Memberships
- Association of Independent School Admission Professionals (AISAP)
- Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
- Bay Area Directors of Admission (BADA)
- Bay Area People of Color in Independent Schools (POCIS)
- California School-Age Consortium (CALSAC)
- Children of Lesbians & Gays Everywhere (COLAGE)
- Elementary School Heads Association (ESHA)
- Independent Schools Business Officers Association of Northern California (ISBOA)
- National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
- National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
- National Business Officers Association (NBOA)
- National Middle School Association (NMSA)
- Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT)
Children's Day School
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
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