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Applying to CDS

Preschool

Thank you for your interest in the Children's Day School preschool program. 
We are a full-day, five-days-per-week preschool that follows the guidelines for early childhood teaching developed by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

We anticipate enrolling approximately 40 preschool students new to CDS for the 2025-2026 school year. For enrollment in Fall of 2025, preschool applicants must be three years old by September 1, 2025 and able to go to the bathroom on their own. To apply for admission to our preschool for the 2025-2026 school year, please complete the steps outlined below.
 
We have a limited limited number of openings for the 2024-2025 school year.  For more information, please reach out to Kristina Berman or Erin McHale in the Enrollment Office.

Preschool 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 7 items.

  • 1. Inquire

    Children's Day School uses an online platform, Ravenna, for each step of our admission process. You can complete a Ravenna inquiry form here.

  • 2. Schedule a Visit

    Every applicant is 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 Early Childhood Program Director, Antonette Greene,  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 15, 2025 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 x322 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 found in Ravenna by January 15, 2025. 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 preschool family visit through Ravenna. Prospective students and their parent/guardian will visit a classroom together, participating in an interactive preschool activity and learning more about our school. We expect 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. Notification of Decision

    Admission decisions will be emailed on Tuesday, March 11, 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 Tuesday, March 18, 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.

  • 7. Late Applicants

    If you are interested in applying to preschool after the January 15, 2025 application deadline has passed, please contact Kristina Berman, Director of Enrollment Management, at (415) 861-5432 x337. Families submitting applications after the January 15, 2025 deadline will be considered with wait pool candidates as openings arise after the first round of admission decisions on March 11, 2025.

Learn More

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

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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