Steps to Apply - Detroit Country Day School

Not ready to apply?

No problem! Let us know you're interested!

If you would like to find out more about our school, testing dates, tour and shadow opportunities, your first step would be to fill out our inquiry form. Once we receive your inquiry form, the appropriate school admissions assistant will contact you and provide additional information to help you make an informed decision. They will also assist in scheduling a visit to one or more of our school campuses. If you know you are ready to apply, you can skip to Step 1 below!

Inquire Now

Ready to apply?

If you know you are ready to apply, you can skip to Step 1 below!

Important Dates

Applications are still accepted after March 15 but will be admitted on a rolling basis. See below.

January 15

Early Enrollment
Application & Guided Tuition Due
The Admissions Committee gives full consideration to all completed applications that arrive by the early application deadline. Notification will be given by February 1.

February 26

Regular Enrollment
Application & Guided Tuition Due
The Admissions Committee give due consideration to all completed applications that arrive by the regular application deadline and after the early application deadline. Notification will be given by March 15.

After March 15

Rolling Enrollment
Applications are considered on a rolling basis, and decisions are based on a variety of factors, including space in our classes.

Step 1

Upon receiving an inquiry or online application, an admissions representative will contact you to discuss the admission process and answer any questions you may have. The following is a brief overview of the admission process.

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PK3 - Grade 3

PK - Grade 3

Forms to be completed by parent(s):

Application - completed online or hard copy along with a $50 application fee.
Parent/Guardian overview & assessment

Forms to be completed by personnel at the candidate's current school:

Release of Records Form from current school's registrar
Teacher confidential recommendation

Contacts
Please contact Barb McLaughlin at (248)430-2746 or bmclaughlin@dcds.edu

Grades 4 - 12

Forms to be completed by parent(s) and candidate:

Application - completed online or hard copy. A $50 application fee is required.
Parent/Guardian overview and assessment
Candidate statement & Fact Sheet completed by candidate. Middle School candidate . Upper School candidate.

Forms to be completed by personnel at the candidate's current school:

English and math teacher's recommendations
Counselor/advisor/principal confidential recommendation
Other significant individual confidential recommendation
Release of Records Form from current school's registrar

Grades 4-8: Please contact Kathleen Chester at (248)430-3655, msadmissions@dcds.edu

Grade 9-12: Please contact Michele Reimer at (248)430-3587, mreimer@dcds.edu

Step 2

Examination Information and Shadow Visits

During COVID our testing protocols have changes. Please contact one of our admissions contacts for more information.

Preschool - Grade 3
Grades 4 - 12

Preschool - Grade 3

Entrance testing and shadow visits Grades PK - 2:

Testing consists of a development observation and/or reading and math assessment, depending upon the child's age
PK3 students participate in a group play appointment
PK4 - 2nd grade students participate in a "shadow visit" with their current grade level

Entrance testing and shadow visits Grade 3

All prospective students are required to take an entrance test assessing reading comprehension and quantitative reasoning skills. The date and time of the test will be coordinated with the individual family
All prospective students also spend a day "shadowing" a current DCDS student for the day, if possible.

Barb McLaughlin at (248)430-2746 or bmclaughlin@dcds.edu

Grades 4 - 12

Entrance examination information:
Middle and Upper Schools candidates: Typically, testing is required, but due to our current situation with Covid-19, we are not currently testing. This may change in the future, and we will notify you if testing is required. If your child has taken any of the following tests, please forward those results as that information may assist in the admissions decision. The tests we will accept are PSAT, HSPT, SSAT, or the ACT.

Interview
Once the steps outlined above are completed, a personal interview with the candidate and his or her parents will be scheduled. The purpose of the interview is to get to know the applicant and to allow for questions from the family. Once the admission portfolio is complete, an interview will be set for you and your child.

Decision
The family is informed as to the decision on admissibility after the interview and completion of the admission process. Once the student has been accepted, a contract will be issued. A birth certificate is required for admittance.

Grades 4-8: Please contact Kathleen Chester at (248)430-3655, msadmissions@dcds.edu

Grade 9-12: Please contact Michele Reimer at (248)430-3587, mreimer@dcds.edu

FAQs

What are children served for lunch?

Do you offer scholarships?

We do not offer scholarships at this time but have a Guided Tuition program. All families who have submitted an enrollment contract by the designated due date with the deposit and who would like to be considered for reduced tuition are eligible to apply. Students of all grade levels may apply for financial assistance. Aid grants are in descending order with our Upper and Middle School students receiving priority consideration before our Lower School applicants.

The school's budget for financial assistance is limited, and the pool of candidates requesting assistance is competitive. We are unable to offer financial support to every admitted student who qualifies. Consequently, a timely request for Guided Tuition is critical.

What is a student's day like?

What are some "after-school" options for the students?

*After school options may have changed this year due to the safety measures in place to help prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. Please visit our Return to Campus page for more information.

Lower School

For all elementary grades (preschool - grade 3), we offer a program called Beyond the Bell. The students can go to a Beyond the Bell classroom after school is dismissed where there is supervision until 6:00 PM. There is an hourly charge for the days that this service is used and will be placed on the student's account and charged monthly.

Elementary students in grades 1-3 have the option for to sign up for a variety of PM programs to explore their artistic, academic, athletic, and social interests beyond the academic school day. Each program meets one day a week for one hour and is led by a Detroit Country Day Lower School faculty member.

Middle and Upper School

Both the Middle and Upper School offer after school athletic activities. Both schools also offer places to study and receive extra help in subject areas.

The Middle School has a regular Tutorial Support Specialist and academic teachers who will meet with designated students on a regular basis as prescribed by each student’s needs. Tutorials with specific teachers can be set up by appointment either just before or just after school.

The Academic Enrichment Program (AE) for Upper School students meets after school Monday through Thursday from 3:30 to 4:30. The AE program is directed by the Learning Consultants and is staffed by Upper School faculty members. Academic Enrichment serves as an after school drop-in learning support for any Upper School student. As a college preparatory school, we want students to learn to work with teachers while preparing for tests, quizzes, writing papers, or pursuing an intellectual question with faculty.

To learn more about any of these programs, please review our curriculum guide.

Need more information?

Let one of our experienced Admissions Team members assist you with the information you would like to find. Contact them directly or use one of the buttons below to submit your request.

Request Information Virtual Tour Call

Inquire or Apply

Not ready to apply?

No problem! Let us know you're interested!

Ready to apply?

If you know you are ready to apply, you can skip to Step 1 below!

Important Dates

Step 1

Forms and Other Requirements

PK3 - Grade 3

Grades 4 - 12

Step 2

Examination Information and Shadow Visits

Preschool - Grade 3

Grades 4 - 12

FAQs

What are children served for lunch?

Do you offer scholarships?

What is a student's day like?

What are some "after-school" options for the students?

Need more information?

In This Section

Admissions Contacts

Preschool - Grade 3

Grades 4 - 8

Grades 9 - 12

Roxana Han, General and Vocal Music, Elementary Level