FAQ

What are the school hours?

• The all-day school hours are 8:15 am – 3:15 p.m.
• Toddler and AM preschool hours are 8:00-8:15 a.m.-11:00-11:15 a.m.

What is the application deadline?

Since we have rolling admissions, the application accompanied by a non-refundable $75.00 application fee must be received before the day of the student visit.

What testing do you do for students?

Applicants for grades 1-6 take the WISC and the PPVT. Applicants for Kindergarten take the WRAP and the Peabody Picture tests.

What are natural entry points?

Most students enroll in the toddler (18 months – 3 years) or the preschool (2 years nine months to 5 years) class. Enrollment openings in grades Kindergarten through 6 are based on attrition.

What are the age cutoffs for students at CDS?

Toddler – 18 months to 36 months

Preschool – two years nine months to five years old

Kindergarten - Generally, students entering kindergarten are five years old by August 1. 

What are the enrollment options for younger children?

Parents of Toddlers may select three-morning (Monday-Wednesday), two-morning (Thursday, Friday), or five-morning (Monday-Friday).
Parents of Preschoolers may select mornings-only, all day, or AM+ (Monday and Friday mornings and Tuesday-Thursday all day). Because of the heightened academic expectations in our Kindergarten program, students age 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 have only the all day option beginning in the 2011-2012 school year.

Why do younger students stay in the same classroom for two or three years?

The two – three year age span in the preschool classroom encourages younger and older students to learn from one another and develop confidence through modeling and purposeful reinforcement of their own learning.

Is there a Before and After school program?

The Before and After School Program includes extended day for the students in Preschool through grade 6. The Before Hours School Program is from 7:00 am – 8:00 am.

• The After Hours School Program is from 3:30 pm – 6:00 pm.
• Extracurricular activities are available for the students. Fees are charged for the activities.

How do CDS students perform on standardized tests?

Approximately 60% of our fourth, fifth and sixth grade students are eligible for recognition by Duke University's Talent Identification Program, which recognizes the top 5% of students in a sixteen-state area in the southeastern and midwestern United States based on their performance on standardized testing. Students recognized by Duke are offered the opportunity in the seventh grade to take the SAT or ACT with high school students.

Students in Grades 2 through 6 at Chesterfield Day School take standardized tests to measure aptitude and performance in verbal and quantitative areas. Our students' results are compared with both national and independent school norms. CDS class averages are above independent school norms in every measurement.

Is there a way for parents to volunteer or get involved in the life of the school?

 There are a plethora of ways for parents to get involved with the Chesterfield Day School community: classroom volunteering, special events, and Parents’ Club are just a few. For more details, please click here.  

Is there transportation available?

No. A transportation plan for each child will be kept in the school office.

Do the students wear uniforms?

No. The school has no formal dress code. Students should be appropriately groomed and should wear clean, comfortable clothing suitable for the activities of the day.

What is the payment schedule?

For all families a non-refundable deposit ‘due at enrollment’ in conjunction with the contract. The School has a generous financial aid budget for qualified families, which is offered after completion of the enrollment agreement.

The remaining tuition shall be paid according to the tuition and fee schedule.

What is the difference between a "private school" and an "independent school?"

A private school receives no governmental support and is not required to adhere to most state or national curricular requirements. A private school is tuition-based and may or may not be a not-for-profit. A private school's governance may or may not be self-perpetuating, and could be an umbrella committee of a larger entity.

An independent school, like Chesterfield Day School, is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). This member agency requires that schools adhere to principles of good practice. Independent schools are governed by a self-perpetuating board whose purpose is to 1. assure financial stewardship, 2. set long range plans to deliver the mission of the school, 3. evaluate the Head of school.

NAIS divides member schools into regional groups for accreditation and training. CDS belongs to Independent Schools of Central States (ISACS), and through ISACS, undergoes an intensive septennial accreditation process.

Additionally, CDS is a member of Independent Schools of St. Louis (ISSL), a local membership organization of independent schools whose mission is to collaborate for training, improvement and marketing efforts.

 CDS owns and operates the Missouri Montessori Teacher Education Program (MOMTEP). This is the accrediting agency for Montessori teachers (for ages 3-6). Each year, professionals from around the world come to Chesterfield Day School for training, certification, and internship training.

 CDS is a member of the American Montessori Society.