Kindergarten

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 21, 2025 through Ravenna. Click on “Create an account” to get started or “Login” if you have created or already have an existing Ravenna account. As our regular admission season has ended, you will need a bypass code in order to submit an application on Ravenna. Please reach out to Kristina Berman or Erin McHale to request a bypass code or if you need assistance. Submitting an application through Ravenna is strongly preferred; however, paper applications are also available upon request.

• 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 21, 2025. We strongly encourage online submission of teacher evaluations through Ravenna.

• 5. Kindergarten Visit

  After you have submitted an application, please sign up for a kindergarten student visit on Ravenna. Prospective students will visit a classroom, participating in an interactive activity, while parents/guardians will attend a separate but concurrent event to learn 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. Parent / Guardian Interview

  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. 

  
  
  

• 7. Notification of Our Decision

  Admission decisions will be emailed on Thursday, March 20, 2025. 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 10:00am on Thursday, March 27, 2025. When there are more qualified candidates than openings available, the school establishes an unranked waiting pool. When an opening occurs, the school decides 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 21, 2025 application deadline has passed, please contact Kristina Berman, Director of Enrollment Management, at (415) 861-5432 x337. Families submitting applications after the January 21, 2025 deadline will be considered with wait pool candidates as openings arise after the first round of admission decisions on March 20, 2025.