Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis, year round, if space is available. To be considered in the first round of admissions decisions:

• January 15 is the first-round deadline for applicants to grades 2-12.
• February 1 is the first-round deadline for applicants to pre-kindergarten, kindergarten or first grade. 

Thereafter, applications are considered if space is still available at the appropriate grade level.

All required recommendation forms described below are contained in the admissions packet and are also available online.

1. For pre-kindergarten and kindergarten, if the child has previously attended a nursery school or day care program, a teacher recommendation form completed by the applicant's most recent teacher or day care provider is required.

2. For grades 1 through 5, we require:

• Principal recommendation
• Teacher recommendation
• School records, including any standardized or outside testing, evaluation or assessment.

3. For grades 6 through 12, we require:

• Prinicipal recommendation
• English teacher recommendation
• Math teacher recommendation
• Official school transcript, including any standardized or outside testing, evaluation or assessment

4. For applicants to grades 7 and 8, we also require "Additional Documents," which are included in the applicaiton packet and are also available online.

5. For applicants to grades 9 through 12, we also require "Additional Documents," which are included in the application packet and are also available online.

Yes. You can click here to begin the application process or on Request Information or Application. The application and all the supporting forms and documents you will need to complete the process are available there.

A $50 application fee for admission must accompany the application form. Note: If you apply online, you can pay by credit card. 

For the 2010-2011 school year, the tuition schedule is as follows:

• Pre-k half day: $8,910
• Pre-k full day: $16,220
• Kindergarten through grade 5: $17,250
• Middle school (grades 6 through 8): $19,350
• High school (grades 9 through 12): $21,675

The first round of admissions decisions is made by March 11. Other decisions are announced on a rolling basis.

Families of prospective students who are interested in applying for financial aid should indicate their interest on the back of the admissions application form. If you have not done so, contact the admissions office promptly to receive the appropriate forms and instructions. The forms are also available online to print.

Families already receiving financial assistance are sent renewal packets automatically each fall. Financial aid packets include all the necessary forms. Financial aid must be reapplied for each year.

Complete and return the required Family Financial Aid Questionnaire to the admissions office. Submit online or complete and mail the required Parents' Financial Statement (PFS) directly to the School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS).

Completed financial aid applications for both new and returning students are due on February 1. Financial aid decisions for new students are announced at the time of admissions decisions in March. Returning students' financial aid awards are included in their re-enrollment contracts which are sent out in early February, if all financial aid documents have been submitted on time. Financial aid decisions are made on a rolling basis, beginning February 1, as completed applications are received. We advise you to complete your financial aid application by no later than February 1.

To be eligible for pre-kindergarten, children should be at least 3 years old by September of the school year for which they are applying. Pre-k children also need to be independent in their toileting by the beginning of school in September. Kindergarten applicants should be five years of age by September of the school year for which they are applying. Children whose birthdays fall between September 1 and December 1 will be assessed for readiness for kindergarten admission on an individual basis.

We offer both half-day (8:15 am to 11:45 am) and full-day (8:15 am to 3:15 pm) pre-kindergarten options.

There is no automatic discount for multiple children. However, if a family applies for financial aid, the formula takes into account the number of children at tuition-paying schools, so there will be greater eligibility for aid if there are more children applying from the same family.

The school day begins at 8:15 am and ends at 3:15 pm.

A free before-school program begins at 7:30 am. For an additional fee, students in pre-kindergarten through grade 6 may sign up for an optional after-school program that runs from 3:15 to 6:00 pm on days when school is in session.

We host parent visits year-round. However, it is best to visit during the school year when classes are in session. The recommended time for a parent visit is during the fall preceding the year of your child(ren)'s anticipated enrollment (e.g., fall 2010 for enrollment in September 2011).

Please contact the admissions office by email or by telephone at 845-462-7600, ext. 201, to arrange for a parent visit and tour.

Usually, no. There is a separate visit for the student applicant (see below). The parent meeting is a time for you to learn more about our school, talk candidly with the admissions director about your child's strengths and weaknesses and discuss why Poughkeepsie Day School might be a good fit. Occasionally, parents may choose to bring an older middels school or high school applicant with them for the tour, since by this age the student may play a larger part in the decision to select a school.

When the folder for an applicant to grades 2 through 12 is complete, the admissions office contacts the family to schedule the child's full-day visit. Student visits begin in November.

Pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and 1st-grade applicants whose applications are complete are invited to a screening session in a playgroup setting on a Saturday morning in late February or early March.

We occasionally admit students mid-year, if space is available at the appropriate grade level. for more information, contact the admissions office.

A list of dates and times for upcoming admissions information sessions can be found here.

PDS typically offers a summer program for children from 3 through 15 years of age. It is taught by experienced PDS teachers and held on campus from mid-June through early July, from 9 am through 4 pm. This is an excellent opportunity for newly enrolled students to become familiar with the school environment and meet other PDS students. We also host the Dutchess Arts Camp for students from 4 through 14 years of age, sponsored by the Mill Street Loft, from early July through early August. See more about Summer Programs at PDS.

We welcome applications from students of all backgrounds. In our interview process, we look for the curious and creative spirit that tells us more about your child than all the test scores in the world. Other qualities we value in an applicant include intellectual strength or potential, passion for learning, ability to work well cooperatively, sensitivity to others, potential for making a positive contribution to the classroom and the PDS community and family appreciation of the mission of Poughkeepsie Day School.

Admissions decisions are made by a committee that meets weekly throughout the admissions season. The committee is composed of the head of school, the director of admissions, the division heads and faculty members from each of the three divisions. Decisions are made on the basis of academic records, a child's individual strengths and talents, potential to thrive here and contribute positively to the community, recommendations from former teachers, the parent meeting and the student's visiting day at Poughkeepsie Day School.