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Sliding Scale Tuition

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Invest in Your Child’s Future

We know that choosing an independent school is a big decision and an important investment in your child’s future. At CDS, families find partners to help bring up their children in a warm, inclusive community where students are known, challenged, and inspired by dedicated educators. Our future-focused curriculum nurtures essential skills through meaningful, hands-on learning that prepares students for success in school and in life. We’re proud to be a leader in socioeconomic diversity among San Francisco independent schools and to make a CDS education accessible through our Sliding Scale Tuition program.

  • What Parents Love About CDS

    “Children’s Day School is a truly special place, where children thrive while learning in an incredibly supportive environment. Their belief that “what you learn, and who you become are equally important” is evident throughout every aspect of their curriculum and environment. They have found the magic of combining an inclusive community, supportive social/emotional learning, and strong, challenging academics. In addition, it is an oasis of beauty, calm, and nature in the center of a vibrant city. Watching our children grow and discover a true love of learning, while being challenged to be their best self, has been an exceptional experience. The faculty and administration are incredibly thoughtful in all aspects, and you can see the school’s values demonstrated through every intentional decision that is made. We are so happy to be a part of such a wonderful school and community!" - CDS Parent

  • What Parents Love About CDS

    "The instant you walk through the doors at CDS, it’s clear you are joining a supportive community where teachers care deeply for their students and are dedicated to helping them become people who will show up for their community when they leave CDS. Felt that day one and still feel that six years later. What is less clear day one but has become much clearer to me over the years is just how well students are academically prepared. Instead of creating a draining and adversarial relationship to homework and grades, CDS helps kids love to learn. The results are very clear when I read the stories my children prepare, see their excellent test results, and watch them choose to read and write for the sheer pleasure of those activities every morning. The magic of CDS is that they directly strive to kindle the spark that leads to a lifetime of learning and a lifetime of engaging proactively with the world.” - CDS Parent 

  • What Parents Love About CDS

    "As a product of public education, private school wasn’t my plan for my daughter due to perceptions of elitism and lack of diversity, but Children’s Day School shattered that stigma. In kindergarten, she not only gained academic skills, but also developed a deep understanding of herself and the world. Each week, she made real-world connections through her learning. Her teachers are creative, skilled, and caring. CDS is a diverse, inclusive community that celebrates differences and fosters belonging. The curriculum connects all subjects to help kids think critically and understand how learning applies to life. As a parent, I’ve felt truly welcomed through kickoff events, coffee hours, expert learning sessions, and Friday family assemblies. From applying to the end of kindergarten, our experience has been exceptional.” - CDS Parent

  • What Parents Love About CDS

    "We are so fortunate to have been a part of the Children's Day School community for the last two years. We had the most amazing experience in preschool with such loving, experienced, and dedicated teachers who guided my introverted daughter through learning to be in a school environment. The preschool teachers are receptive to student-led inquiry, which engages the children on a daily basis. My older daughter loved her Kindergarten year, and the teachers are particularly great at teaching the students to read using phonics-based methods. The community of families is down-to-earth, and our school values are present every day in every initiative we undertake. We are unique among the independent schools in that we have a cutting-edge learner competency framework which guides all aspects our students' learning.” - CDS Parent
Tuition for the 2025-26 school year is:
  • $46,900 Preschool-Grade 4
  • $47,800 Grades 5-8
Our Board of Trustees sets tuition for the upcoming school year every January. Tuition is payable in one annual payment or ten monthly payments. We also offer tuition insurance, which you can learn more about here: Tuition Reimbursement Information 25-26 (English), El Plan de reintegro de la matrícula 25-26 (Español).
What’s included in tuition?
We strive to ensure that as much of the cost of participating in our program as possible is included in tuition. Additional costs for wrap-around services, such as Extended Program fees, are discounted for families with adjusted tuition.

List of 2 frequently asked questions.

  • Included at every tuition level

    • Full-day care for preschoolers (8am-6pm)
    • All learning materials (books, technology, supplies) for students of all ages, including a take-home iPad or laptop for middle schoolers with relevant learning apps/subscriptions
    • All field trips, including overnight camping trips as part of our Outdoor Education program and our eighth graders’ trip to Washington, D.C.
    • All costs for after school athletics (Grades 5-8)
    • Yearbook for every student

  • Additional wrap-around services, adjusted based on sliding scale tuition

    • School lunches, prepared and delivered daily by School Foodies
    • Extended Program for TK-8 students (discounted rates for families with adjusted tuition as well as one free enrichment class per trimester)
    • School break camps and summer camps
    • School-recommended educational services, including tutoring and educational evaluations
 
Sliding Scale Tuition
At Children’s Day School, we are committed to making our school accessible and affordable to families from a broad range of economic circumstances, honoring our foundational belief that Differences Lift Us. Our sliding scale tuition is strictly need-based and recognizes that each family's financial situation is unique. While every family is expected to pay some portion of the tuition, we do not expect tuition to be the same for everyone.

How to Apply for Sliding Scale Tuition
Applying for sliding scale tuition is separate from our admission process but completed simultaneously. Families who apply for sliding scale tuition will be notified of their tuition amount at the same time as their admission decision, allowing them to make informed choices. CDS uses the Clarity Application to determine a family’s tuition based on the information shared in the application, including assets, income, expenses, debts, and other relevant details.

Clarity offers a streamlined, mobile-friendly application process that families can complete in under 30 minutes in either English or Spanish. While there is a $65 fee to submit an application, one fee covers all students, and you can share your application with any schools that accept the Clarity application for no additional charge. Clarity automatically waives application fees for families with an income below a certain threshold. If you would like to apply, go to clarityapp.com and create an account to get started.

Important Dates:
  • October 1, 2025: Clarity applications open
  • December 10, 2025: Clarity applications due for returning families
  • January 20, 2026: Clarify applications due for new families*

*Please note that our Preschool & TK enrollment applications are due earlier on January 13, 2026. Visit our How to Apply page for more information.

Sliding Scale Tuition FAQs:

List of 4 frequently asked questions.

  • How is a family’s sliding scale tuition rate determined?

    There are many factors that determine if a family qualifies for sliding scale tuition, and the formula used to calculate each family’s exact sliding scale tuition level is complex. Sliding scale tuition rates are calculated by Clarity. Then, the CDS Access and Affordability Committee, a small group of CDS administrators, considers each family’s special circumstances and the school’s available funds to determine the final rate. 

    The analysis considers a wide range of variables specific to each family, including income, assets, family size, expenses, discretionary costs, and the number of children enrolled in independent schools. The CDS Access and Affordability Committee makes a cost-of-living adjustment to reflect the high cost of living in the San Francisco Bay Area, and also considers other factors, including whether a family owns real estate or has other significant investments; lifestyle choices (stay-at-home parent, discretionary spending such as vacations, etc.); other possible sources of funding for tuition; the tuition being paid by families in similar financial situations; and many other factors.

  • Does CDS guarantee an adjusted tuition rate for all eligible students?

    Because the number of accepted students whose families qualify for sliding scale tuition usually exceeds our budget, CDS does not guarantee an adjusted tuition rate for all eligible students. Most years, however, adjusted rates are offered to a very high percentage of accepted students whose families demonstrate need.

  • If we are offered a sliding scale tuition rate for this academic year, can we expect the same rate in future years?

    Once a family enters CDS paying sliding scale tuition, and provided family circumstances remain the same, CDS intends to offer a discounted tuition rate for the student for all the years they are enrolled at CDS (absent an unexpected change in sliding scale tuition resources). That being said, your sliding scale tuition rate is based on current financial information. If your financial situation changes, your tuition rate may be adjusted accordingly. We also do our best to meet the needs of current families who are requesting an adjusted tuition rate for the first time due to a change in their financial situation.

  • Do I need to reapply for sliding scale tuition each year?

    Yes, to continue receiving sliding scale tuition, families must reapply every year.
Contact Us
Questions? Contact our enrollment team or see our FAQ page.

Kristina Berman
Director of Enrollment Management
(415) 861-5432 x322
kristinab@cds-sf.org

Erin McHale
Assistant Director of Enrollment Management
(415) 861-5432 x337 
erinm@cds-sf.org

Applicants and their family members who require reasonable accommodations to participate in the admission process should contact the Enrollment Management Team at admissions@cds-sf.org.

Read our nondiscrimination statement. 

Children's Day School

Preschool-Grade 8
333 Dolores Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 861-5432
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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