Admission Process

Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten Applicants

Applicants to the Pre-Kindergarten program must be 3 years old, and applicants to Kindergarten must be 5 years old by September 1 of the year they matriculate.

• Application

• Parent Perspectives Form

• Parent Observation Form

• Early Educator Questionnaire

• Play Visit (includes developmental screening and benchmarking assessment)

Grades 1–5

• 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.

Middle School, grades 6 through 8

• Application

• Parent Perspectives Form

• English & Math Teacher Recommendations

• Optional Recommendation

• Transcripts

• Student Visit

• Admission Testing*

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

Upper School, grades 9 through 12

• Application

• Parent Perspectives Form

• English & Math Teacher Recommendations

• Optional Recommendation

• Transcripts

• Student Questionnaire (to be completed prior to student visit)

• Student Visit*

• Standardized Test Scores**

*Student Visit: Students are encouraged to schedule their visit at any point during the admission process. Please create an account in My CDS to sign-up.

**Standardized Test Scores: Applicants are required to submit standardized test scores. These may include but are not limited to SSAT, ERB, ISEE, PSAT/SAT, 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.

Key School

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.

• 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, WJI IV, and CTOPP II

• Teacher Recommendations

• Tutor or Academic Support Recommendation

• Transcripts

• Key School Admission Testing - Applicants meet one-on-one with Elaine Dephouse, Key School Director of Admission, for an assessment of reading, spelling, written expression, and math skills.

• Student Visit - If placement seems appropriate, the applicant is invited for a student visit, during which Key School teachers assist in evaluating educational needs as well as other factors affecting a possible placement.