About
CDS at a Glance
2024–2025 Enrollment
- Total enrollment – 450
- 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
2024-2025 Faculty and Administration
- 32 administrators and support staff
- 76 school-day faculty members
- 52% of faculty are people of color
- 67% of classroom teachers have advanced degrees
- 14 years average teaching tenure
2024-2025 Sliding Scale Tuition
- Full tuition for the 2024-25 school year is $44,800 for preschool-Grade 4, $45,600 for grades 5-8
- Sliding scale tuition ranges from $3,165-$45,600 (18% to 93% of full tuition)
- 30% of students receive support through our sliding scale tuition program
- $4.2 million (20%) of our operating budget supports sliding scale
- Over $200,000 is provided in additional wrap-around support for enrichment classes, summer camp, vacation camp, and lunch.
2024-2025 Extended Program Fees
- 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.
- The hourly extended program rate is $14 and is individually adjusted according to each family's sliding scale tuition.
- Families may also opt into full-year care for $5,500 (ask about our early bird discount).
- Summer camp is also available!
2024-2025 School Calendar
- First Day of School - September 3, 2024
- Last Day of School & Graduation - June 13, 2025
- See our school holiday calendar
2024-2025 School Hours
- School opens: 8:00 am
- Preschool: 8:00 am–6:00 pm
- Transitional Kindergarten: 8:30 am–2:45 pm
- Kindergarten: 8:30 am–2:45 pm
- Grade 1: 8:30 a.m.–3:00 pm
- Grade 2: 8:30 a.m.–3:00 pm
- Grades 3-4: 8:30 a.m.–3:15 pm
- Grades 5-8: 8:30 a.m.–3:30 pm
- After-school 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 at 601 Dolores Street (18,000 total square feet) added in 2015.
Athletics
Volleyball, cross-country, basketball, indoor soccer (futsal), ultimate frisbee, track & field; compete in Independent School Athletic League; students may participate starting in fifth grade.
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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