How to Apply

Option A: GCDS Veracross Application (Nursery-Grade 11)

Our Veracross application can be used for applicants applying to Nursery through Grade 11. Be sure to check the GCDS age requirements before indicating the grade to which your child will apply. 

1. In the Admission Portal, Update your Household Information, Candidate Information, and submit the $75 application fee as soon as possible but no later than December 15. Fee waivers are available with demonstrated need. Contact the Admission Office. 

2. View the Checklist of Supplemental Application Requirements and schedule your interview. All supplemental requirements must be completed by January 15.

Option B: Apply through the SAO (Grades 9-11)

1. After completing the GCDS Inquiry Form, from the GCDS Admission Portal complete the Household Information and Candidate Information. Do not submit your application fee through this portal.

2. Start your SAO Application by submitting the Student Biographic Profile and $75 application fee as soon as possible, but no later than December 15.

3. View the Checklist of Supplemental Application Requirements in your GCDS Admission Portal and access the required forms through your SAO portal. All supplemental requirements must be completed by January 15.

The Parent/Guardian Interview is required for all applicant families who do not currently have a child enrolled at GCDS. A Student Interview is required of all applicants to Grades 6-11, including applicants who have a sibling enrolled in the school. Families with children applying to the Upper School and another division should schedule an interview on each campus. If any member of your group may benefit from a specific accommodation, such as an interpreter, please notify the Admission Office as soon as possible. 

We kindly ask that you submit the Parent Statement prior to your scheduled interview. 

Once you have completed the “Application” requirements listed in your GCDS Admission Portal (Part 1 and Part 2 above), you will have access to our interview scheduling system.

Nursery - Grade 8 Parent/Guardian Interview at Old Church Road Campus
Interviews are offered Monday through Thursday from September 27 through late January at 8:45 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 1:00 p.m. Students applying to Grades 7 and 8 should plan to attend the interview with their parents. Students will be interviewed during the scheduled appointment. Please allow approximately 90 minutes for your interview, which also includes a campus tour. Since our Nursery program ends at noon, we encourage parents/guardians of nursery applicants to schedule a morning time slot. 

Grades 9-11 Student and Parent/Guardian Interview at Stanwich Road Campus
Interviews are offered Monday through Thursday from September 27 through late January at 8:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 1:00 p.m. Please allow approximately 2 hours for your interview, which also includes a campus tour.

Finally, feel free to explore our campus before your interview by viewing our 360 Virtual Tour. Be sure to click on the media gallery hot spot icons in order to enjoy the sights and sounds of daily life at Country Day!

Getting to know students, and allowing students to get to know us, is an important part of the admission process. Unless otherwise noted, the Admission Office will contact each family to schedule each visit. 

• Nursery through Kindergarten: Applicants will participate in a small group admission assessment in January. 
• Grades 1 and 2: Applicants will spend the morning with us visiting classes and meeting with a learning specialist. 
• Grades 3 through 6: Applicants will spend the morning with us visiting classes. Applicants for Grade 6 will conclude their visit with an admission interview. 
• Grades 7 through 11: Applicants will have an admission interview and take a tour of the campus with their parents/guardians during the family's scheduled Parent/Guardian Interview. 

Testing and/or student screening are a required part of our process. These requirements and dates may be adjusted, if needed, in response to health and safety guidelines. All testing should be completed by January 15.

Grade 3 and Grade 4 Applicants:
Applicants for Grades 3 and 4 are required to take the Educational Records Bureau (ERB) CTP 5 test. Families may register to test at any school serving as a test site and request that scores be sent to any of the participating schools.

• CTP 5 Testing will be offered at GCDS on Saturday, November 12 and Saturday, December 3. Registration details are here. If you plan to schedule your test at GCDS, please email rose.creech@gcds.net to secure a spot on our roster. Early registration is encouraged as space is limited at all test sites. 

Grade 5 through Grade 11 Applicants:
Students applying for Grade 5 - Grade 11 are required to take either the Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE) or the Secondary School Admissions Test (SSAT). Applicants may take the ISEE or SSAT at any test site. 

To register, visit www.iseetest.org or www.ssat.org.  When registering, please list GCDS as one of the schools to which your child is applying so that test results will be sent directly to us. Our ISEE school code is 071009. Our SSAT school code is 3580. Early registration is encouraged as space is limited at all test sites. 

• ISEE testing will be offered at GCDS on Saturday, November 12 and Saturday, December 3.

Current Teacher Recommendations help us better understand each child as a learner and as a community member. 

Through the chosen application platform, parents can email a request for the required recommendation form(s) and school records directly to the appropriate adults and school officials. We strongly suggest that parents do not initiate this request prior to November 15. The deadline to receive Teacher Recommendations and School Records is January 15.  

Note: If the applicant’s current school does not allow teachers to provide recommendations, please ask one individual who has worked with your child in a setting outside the classroom (e.g., a sports coach, a religion teacher, or a music instructor) to complete the Personal/Extracurricular Recommendation.

Students applying to Grades 9-11 should upload a piece of written work submitted during the 2022-23 academic year. The writing sample does not have to be graded by a teacher.

In addition, although not required, we welcome the submission of any creative work that represents the academic or extra-curricular interests of the applicant. Students can upload multimedia submissions through their chosen application platform.

Login to the GCDS Admission Portal to monitor the status of your application and receipt of supplemental forms.