Admission Process

Thank you for your interest in Carolina Day School! We are looking forward to working with you and getting to know your family during the admission process.

Let's get started

How does the admission process work?

Choosing a school is an important decision, and our admission process is designed to help both your family and Carolina Day School determine whether we're the right fit for one another. Throughout the process, you'll have opportunities to visit campus, meet teachers and school leaders, observe classrooms, and ask questions, while we get to know your child through conversations, school records, recommendations, assessments, and student visits.

Rather than relying on a single application or test, we take a holistic approach that helps us understand each child's strengths, interests, learning style, and potential to thrive within our community. Our goal is for every family to feel informed and confident in their decision—and for students who join our community to be well-matched to our mission, academic program, and learning environment.

To see an overview of the admission process, please select the entry point that applies to your child: Lower School (Junior Kindergarten–Grade 5), Middle School (Grades 6–8), Upper School (Grades 9–12), or Key School (Grades 2–8).

Lower School

Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten Applicants

Age Requirements

Junior Kindergarten: Children must be 4 years old by September 1.
Kindergarten: Children must be 5 years old by September 1.

Admission Process

Parent Tour or Open House
Application
Parent Perspectives and Observations Form
Early Educator Questionnaire
Attend a Wildcat Storytime
Play Visit (includes developmental screening and benchmarking assessment)

*Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, applicants to CDS must be 4 years old by September 1 to enroll. Learn more here.

Grades 1–5

Parent Tour
Application
Parent Perspectives Form
Teacher Questionnaire
School Records
Student Visit
Admission Testing - Applicants work with a member of the Admission team to complete reading, writing, and math benchmark assessments.

Have questions?

Contact a member of our Admission Team!

Middle School

Middle School, grades 6 through 8

Parent Tour
Application
Parent Perspectives Form
English & Math Teacher Recommendations
Optional Recommendation
Transcripts
Student Visit
Admission Testing*

*Middle School Admission Testing: Applicants meet with a member of the Admission team to complete a writing sample and benchmark assessments in reading comprehension, spelling, and math.

Have questions?

Contact a member of our Admission Team!

Upper School

Upper School, grades 9 through 12

Parent Tour or Open House
Application
Parent Perspectives Form
English & Math Teacher Recommendations
Transcripts (prior 2 years, plus current quarter/semester grades)
Student Questionnaire (to be completed prior to student visit)
Student Visit*
Standardized Test Scores**
Optional Additional Recommendation
Optional Student Work/Portfolio Submission

*Student Visit: Students are encouraged to schedule their visit at any point during the admission process. You can self-schedule on the inquiry form.

**Standardized Test Scores: Applicants are required to submit standardized test scores. These may include, but are not limited to, ERB, Iowa Assessments, MAP, ISEE, PSAT/SAT, SSAT, or EOY/EOG test scores. SSAT Registration: If your student is taking the SSAT, please register online directly at www.ssat.org. To avoid delays, indicate that test scores should be sent to Carolina Day School, code 2100, during registration.

Have questions?

Contact a member of our Admission Team!

Key School

Key School Admission Criteria

Key School accepts bright students in Grades 2-8 with a primary diagnosis of a language-based learning difference such as dyslexia. An applicant’s cognitive ability (Full Scale Intelligence Quotient determined by a psychologist) must fall in the average to superior range. Our program requires that students have the intellectual ability to acquire information and move forward in our curriculum.

Diagnosis
Key School’s program is designed to meet the needs of students who have a primary diagnosis of a specific language-based learning disability, such as dyslexia. A psychological educational evaluation must be conducted by a licensed psychologist working independently of Key School and must be current within a two-year period at the time of application.

Cognitive Ability

Students entering Key School typically demonstrate high intellectual potential and lower than expected academic performance. They have solid abstract reasoning abilities and are able to progress in a college preparatory academic environment.

Openness to New Ways of Learning

A child with diagnosed dyslexia or a language-based learning disability needs to be receptive to new ways of learning and be willing to work hard to acquire strategies as a means of achieving academic independence.

Needs We Do Not Address

Key School’s program is not designed to effectively meet the needs of students who have learning difficulties that are the result of primary social-emotional or behavioral problems.
Key School cannot effectively serve students with below average cognitive ability, primary language communication disorders, Pervasive Developmental Disorder or Autism Disorder, or Traumatic Brain Injury.
Key School students must be have the ability to take full advantage of multi-sensory techniques fundamental to the Orton-Gillingham approach; therefore, Key School cannot effectively serve students with significant physical limitations.

ADMISSION PROCESS

The Key School Admission process begins with a parent conversation. Please reach out to a member of the admission team to get started! The following items will also be required:

Application
Psychological Educational Evaluation - A comprehensive psychological educational evaluation completed by a licensed psychologist within the past two years is required to determine whether our program is suited to your child’s needs. Please call if you need a referral for an evaluation. Preferred testing includes: WISC V or WPPSI IV, WJ IV, and CTOPP II
Teacher Recommendations
Tutor or Academic Support Recommendation
Transcripts
Key School Admission Assessment - Applicants meet one-on-one with Elaine Dephouse, Key School Director of Admission, for an assessment of reading, spelling, written expression, and math skills.

After completing the above admission requirements, and if placement seems appropriate, the applicant is invited for a student visit. During the visit, Key School teachers assist in evaluating educational needs as well as other factors affecting a possible placement.

Have questions?

Contact a member of our Admission Team!

Application Fees

Lower, Middle, and Upper School Application Fee: $80
Key School Application Fee: $125

Admission Deadlines

February 8, 2027 - Admission Deadline For All Applicants

All components of the Admission Process, including Financial Aid Applications, must be completed by this deadline.

March 12, 2027 - Decisions will be delivered for students who meet the February 8th deadline.

Note: Availability at Key School is determined by the number of students transitioning from our program. The number of spaces per grade varies from year to year.

Rolling Decision for Admission Applications completed after February 8

Rolling Decision for Admission Applications completed after February 8

Applicants who complete the admission process after February 8 will have their completed applications reviewed on a rolling basis in grades where space is available.

Financial Aid is sometimes still available. Students whose families are requesting Financial Aid should apply as soon as possible since enrollment decisions and Financial Aid decisions are communicated at the same time.