Our school year begins in late August or early September, depending on the calendar. CDS preschoolers need to be able to use the bathroom on their own before they begin the school year, and children need to be three years old by September 1 of that year. Kindergartners need to be five years old by September 1.

We do not make exceptions to the age requirement because we have learned through years of experience that children need to be grouped according to all of the following maturities: cognitive, social, physical, and emotional. Our experience has shown us that young students placed ahead of their chronological peer group frequently find themselves at a disadvantage later in their development in one way or another. Our academic program recognizes that students acquire academic skills at different rates and in different ways. We’re committed to challenging each child appropriately at all grade levels; we present children with activities and materials that allow a full range of challenges and experiences.

When making the important decision of when to enroll a child in kindergarten, we ask parents to think beyond their child's readiness for the earliest school years and consider their child's development at all ages, including early adolescence and the teen years leading into college, as well as the quality of the college experience itself.

The CDS program includes challenging academics enriched by art, music, drama, physical education, a unique Farm & Garden curriculum, Spanish, and community-based learning, in addition to other elective and specialist classes. There are many transitions throughout the school day. Children who thrive at CDS are comfortable making transitions, can work and learn collaboratively with other students, and are excited about learning. Our students are happy, confident, curious children who are respectful of others and eager to learn.

• Form a partnership with their child's teachers and actively participate on their child's education team by:
  • Sharing any and all useful information about their child
  • Observing, learning and practicing the CDS values
• Set appropriate limits and boundaries for their child
• Encourage their children to take on new responsibilities
• Continuously and increasingly shift from being their child's manager to their child's coach
• Support the school community in a variety of ways:
  • Participating in school events and traditions
  • Working as a volunteer
  • Providing donations

Yes! Please see our Visit page for more information about upcoming tours, information sessions, and community events.

While CDS is a family school, we are also committed to making sure CDS is the right school for each child. Therefore, CDS has an early decision process for siblings of currently enrolled CDS students and the children of faculty and staff. Sibling applications are due in mid-October; contracts are emailed during the re-enrollment process in February.

CDS does not maintain an ongoing waiting list. Please contact CDS in the fall of the year prior to the year when your child would be eligible to enroll to start the admission process (e.g., if your child is eligible to enter our preschool in September 2026, contact CDS in September 2025; if your child is eligible to enter our preschool in September 2025, contact CDS this fall).

Both our main campus at 333 Dolores Street and our middle school campus at 601 Dolores Street open at 8:00 am. School starts at 8:30 am. The end of the school day is staggered between 2:15 pm and 3:30 pm to facilitate the smooth flow of traffic during pick-up. The preschool day ends at 2:15 pm, transitional kindergarten and kindergarten end at 2:45 pm, grades 1–2 at 3:00 pm, and grades 3–4 at 3:15 pm. Dismissal for preschool-grade 4 is at our main campus at 333 Dolores Street. Dismissal for grades 5–8 is at 3:30 pm at our middle school campus at 601 Dolores Street.

The school-wide teacher-to-student ratio is 1:8, including classroom, specialist, and after school teachers.

At CDS, we know that all children learn differently. We have as many different kinds of learners as we have students, and we teach accordingly. An effective parent-teacher partnership is critical for a child's success, and at CDS teachers and parents meet regularly to monitor each child's education. Our Learning Specialists become involved when an additional point of view or expertise seems necessary to help students fulfill their highest academic and social/emotional potential. Sometimes students require services that are beyond what we can provide in the classroom. When this happens, we refer families to outside services or tutoring. Tutoring and accessing educational specialists is usually arranged at the family's expense. Our Learning Specialists maintain a file of tutors and specialists. We know that we cannot be effective with all children, and when necessary we assist our families in exploring other educational settings that may better serve their child’s learning style.

All CDS students learn Spanish, starting in preschool. Each preschool class has one Spanish-speaking teacher, and Spanish is part of the daily routine. In the elementary and middle school programs, Spanish is taught by specialist teachers. In Lower School, Spanish is one of several specialist subjects which rotate on a two-month cycle, with students learning in concentrated blocks of time. Students in grades 5-8 have Spanish class five times a week.

Students need to provide their own lunch. A morning snack is provided in the preschool classrooms and an afternoon snack is provided for all students participating in the after school program.

Students bring in their lunch, or families have the option of participating in a school lunch program operated by School Foodies. School Foodies is an independent company that prepares and delivers affordable, "kid-approved" bag lunches, packed with fun-to-eat nutritious foods.

Yes. In a typical year, our after school program runs from class dismissal until 6 pm. We also offer a summer program, as well as vacation "camps" during our school vacations.

Students in grade six and up can participate in the CDS sports program, which currently includes co-ed volleyball, cross-country, girls' and boys' basketball, co-ed futsal (indoor soccer), ultimate frisbee, and track & field. CDS students compete in the San Francisco Independent School Athletic League.