Steps to Apply
Detroit Country Day School strives to guide each student on a path to build a solid foundation in preparation for success in college and life. The School continually strives to improve and has gained national recognition for excellence in academics, athletics and the fine and performing arts. Through special programming, extracurricular opportunities, social and environmental awareness, and integrated technology, our goal has remained the same for over a century - to produce moral and ethical students who are prepared to contribute to their local community, as well as a national and global stage.
We believe in investing in a child's future and so we invite you to visit our school and see how the right education can expand a child's opportunities and change life's course.
Step 1
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.
Step 2
Upon receiving and 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.
Forms and Other Requirements
PK3 - Grade 4
- Application - completed online or hard copy. A $50 application fee is required.
- Parent/Guardian overview & assessment
- Release of Records Form from current school's registrar
- Teacher confidential recommendation
Please contact Barb McLaughlin at (248)430-2746 or bmclaughlin@dcds.edu
Grades 5 - 12
- Application - completed online or hard copy. A $50 application fee must be included.
- Parent/Guardian overview and assessment
- Candidate statement & Fact Sheet completed by candidate. Middle School candidate. Upper School candidate.
- 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 5-8: 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 3
Examination Information and Shadow Visits
Preschool - Grade 4
- Testing consists of a developmental observation and/or reading and math assessment, depending upon the child's age
- PK3 students participate in a group play appointment
- PK4 - Grade 2 students participate in a "shadow visit" with their current grade level
- 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.
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. Interviews generally take place Monday through Fridays from 8:00 AM to 3:45 PM and last approximately 50 minutes.
The family is informed as to the decision on admissibility after the interview and completion of the admission process. A birth certificate is required for admittance.
Grades 5 - 12
Middle and Upper Schools candidates: All candidates applying to the Middle or Upper School are required to take the Educational Records Bureau Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE) and the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test. The candidate must pre-register for the Independent School Entrance Examination online at www.iseetest.org and the tests are administered at the Upper School campus concurrently. A request to test individually, as a walk-in, can be made by contacting Michele Reimer at mreimer@dcds.edu or (248)430-3587.
There is no paper registration and neither cash or check can be accepted as payment for testing fees.
*Please make sure to indicate on the registration, that you want your child's scores sent to Detroit Country Day School, our school code is 230-330
October 19, 2019November 16, 2019December 14, 2019- January 11, 2020
- February 8, 2020
- March 21, 2020
- April 25, 2020
- May 16, 2020
- Pre-registration fee (three weeks or more before a Saturday test day): $125
- Less than three weeks prior to a Saturday test date: $155
- Walk-in individual test: $165
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. Interviews generally take place Monday through Fridays from 8:00 AM to 3:45 PM and last approximately 50 minutes.
The family is informed as to the decision on admissibility after the interview and completion of the admission process. A birth certificate is required for admittance.
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?
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?
In This Section
Admissions Contacts
