Transitional Kindergarten

Thank you for your interest in the Children's Day School transitional kindergarten program.

Designed as the first year of a two-year program, transitional kindergarten (TK) bridges preschool and kindergarten, blending the teaching approaches of those two grades so that children move up with greater maturity, confidence, skills, and readiness for increased academic demands. Children who just miss the birthday cut-off for kindergarten will benefit from a year of TK programming, and those who just make the cut-off but aren't quite ready for such a big jump will also benefit from a TK program that moves beyond the preschool classroom in preparation for the next grade.

We anticipate enrolling approximately 7-10 TK students new to CDS for the 2025-2026 school year. Children who will turn five years old between May 1 and December 1 are age-eligible for the CDS TK program.

To apply for admission to transitional kindergarten for the 2025-2026 school year, please complete the steps outlined below.

Transitional Kindergarten 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 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 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 x 322 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 found on Ravenna by January 15, 2025. We strongly encourage online submission of teacher evaluations through Ravenna.
5. TK Visit

After you have submitted an application, please sign up for a TK family visit on Ravenna. Prospective students and their parent/guardian will visit a classroom together, participating in an interactive activity and learning 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 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.
8. Late Applicants

If you are interested in applying for TK 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

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