Admission

Welcome to Princeton Day School!

Princeton Day School is a college-preparatory, PreK-12 co-educational school that prides itself on academic rigor, lasting relationships, and both curricular and extracurricular opportunities that nurture students' individual needs and interests.

It is the mission of the Admission Office to create dynamic classes of talented, involved, and responsible students. We seek academically strong students with skills, interests, and experiences that will enhance a class and contribute to the life of the school in a variety of areas, including the arts, athletics, leadership, and service. We value bringing diversity and fresh perspectives to the school. We also believe in continuity and connecting with our history through enduring relationships with current and past members of the PDS community.

Acceptance to PDS is offered only to students whose abilities fall within a range that is likely to predict success in our academic environment. We do provide learning support for students with the expectation that they will become self-reliant over time. However, PDS does not provide extensive assistance for students with severe learning differences.

Admissions decisions are based on:

•     Academic record and recommendation(s)
•     Admission testing
•     Interview, school visit, and/or group observation
•     Demonstrated talent, interest, and experience in activities that enhance the class and school
•     School readiness, behavioral maturity, and motivation
•     Comparison with others in the applicant pool

Since classes at PDS are small, in some grades we must regretfully refuse admission to well-qualified applicants, simply because no places exist for these students when they apply. In general the ratio of number of acceptances to applicants is greatest in the Upper School and smallest in the Lower School. Although it is our practice to admit academically and developmentally qualified siblings of current PDS students to a grade where spaces are available, this is not always possible in grades for which the competition is most intense.

Princeton Day School complies with all federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination in its admissions, employment and administrative policies.

Entry Points
 
The natural entry points at PDS are the grades where we increase the size of the school.  Therefore, we know we will have openings at those grades. Typically, those grades and approximate number of spaces are:

 
Openings at other grades occur but only to replace students who are leaving the school. Generally, we will not know of such openings until February at the earliest. For 2013-14, we expect there to be a few openings in grades 2-5. To be considered for an opening, families are advised to follow our regular procedures and deadlines.