Admissions Process at CDS

TOURING & APPLYING: October through Spring
There are two avenues for touring and applying for admissions at CDS. If families would like to submit an application and then schedule an individual admissions tour, once the admissions department receives the complete application we will contact families to schedule an individual admissions tour. During the tour, parents have the opportunity to see CDS in action and meet with a CDS administrator about the school’s philosophy of education, the child applying for admission, and any questions parents may have. Once families submit a complete application, they have officially entered the admissions process. If families wish to learn more about CDS before applying, families can contact the admissions department to schedule a group information session.

Notification of Enrollment: First enrollment decisions are made in January
Admissions decisions for new families are made in mid-January after current families have gone through the priority re-enrollment process. After January, any remaining openings will be filled on a rolling basis. Once a placement becomes available and an applicant has been accepted, parents will be notified and sent an Enrollment Contract confirming acceptance. Enrollment is finalized once the Enrollment Contract is returned to CDS by the specified date, along with a tuition deposit.

To complete Elementary and Middle School Applications: Admissions Visits
Students applying for kindergarten can spend a half-day or full-day in the class of their current grade. Students applying for first through eighth grades will visit for a whole day in the class of their current grade.

Teacher Recommendation Forms and School Records
During the application process, families will be asked to provide contact information for a teacher who can provide a confidential recommendation, and administrators who can forward current school records to Charlottesville Day School.

Financial Assistance
During the application process, families will have the opportunity to apply for financial aid. Financial aid is based upon need. Applications are due in January. The applications are processed through FACTS. A summary report is sent to CDS and is used in aid decisions made in February. Please note: Financial aid is generally reserved for Kindergarten through Middle School students. All CDS student siblings should be included on the financial aid application, regardless of age.

Timeline

• Beginning of September – Application opens
• Beginning of October – Tours begin
• Early December – Financial Aid app opens
• Early January. – Priority re-enrollment due for current families with deposits and contract
• Early January – Elementary and Middle School visits begin
• Mid January – First round of admissions decisions released
• After mid-January – Rolling admissions decisions
• February 1st – Financial aid apps close

For full consideration, new applicants should have a complete application (which includes a teacher recommendation and current school transcript for elementary and middle school applicants) submitted by early December. For all students, new and returning, a non-refundable $1,000 deposit credited towards tuition is due at the time of the submitted contract.