Georgetown Day School Admissions Consulting
Expert Guidance for Families Applying to This PreK–12 Independent School in Washington, DC
Cardinal Education is an independent educational consulting company. We are not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with any private or public school, including Georgetown Day School.
As Seen On
About the School
About Georgetown Day School
Georgetown Day School (GDS) is a private, co-educational, PreK–12 day school in Washington, DC, founded in 1945 as the city’s first racially integrated school. GDS is currently led by Head of School Russell Shaw and serves 1,075 students under the motto “Learn Joyfully. Live Purposefully.” With 165 faculty members, a 6:1 student-teacher ratio, and an average class size of 16, GDS pairs an academically rigorous, progressive curriculum with a genuinely diverse community: 40% of students identify as students of color. GDS holds accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and reports that 100% of its high school graduates go on to attend colleges and universities around the world.
Fast Facts
Location
4200 Davenport Street NW, Washington, DC 20016
Type
Private, Co-Educational, PreK–12 Day School
Total Enrollment
1,075 students
Student-Teacher Ratio
6:1
Average Class Size
16 students
Student Diversity
40% of students identify as students of color
Accreditation
Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools; Member, AIMS
Academic Snapshot
College Enrollment
100% of high school graduates attend college
Faculty
165 faculty members
Athletics
14 interscholastic sports across 63 teams
Testing Policy
Test-optional; SSAT or ISEE scores may be submitted but are not required
Families can pair these outcomes with academic coaching support to strengthen a GDS application before it’s submitted.
Entry Points & Divisions
GDS’s primary entry grades are Prekindergarten, Kindergarten, 4th, 6th, and 9th, with slightly expanded enrollment in 1st and 3rd Grade. Students may be admitted into other grades if space is available. Grade 12 is not an entry year, and admission is limited to cases where space becomes available.
Athletics & Beyond the Classroom
GDS fields 14 interscholastic sports across 63 teams, competing in the Independent School League (girls) and Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference (boys), part of a broader extracurricular program. Beyond athletics, GDS’s Community Engagement and Experiential Learning (CEEL) curriculum runs from Green Corps in 5th grade through the Citizen Corps in 8th grade, and continues into high school with required community service, Minimesters, and internships.
For a deeper look at GDS’s admissions process and student life for Asian American families, see our full Georgetown Day School guide for Asian American applicants.
Admissions Timeline
GDS accepts applications on a defined annual cycle, with family interviews offered from mid-September through January. Applications are typically due in early January, with admissions decisions released via Ravenna in late February. Families should confirm exact current-cycle dates directly with the admissions office, since deadlines can shift from year to year.
See our guide to private school open houses and tours for how to make the most of a campus visit.
What Makes GDS’s Admissions Process Unique?
GDS is test-optional: families may submit SSAT or ISEE scores if they feel the results reflect their child’s strengths, but scores are not required. International applicants who haven’t been in an English-speaking school for at least four years must submit an English proficiency score (TOEFL, Duolingo English Test, IELTS, or TOEFL Jr.). The interview format scales by division: Lower and Middle School applications begin with a parent interview, while High School applicants complete a combined student interview and campus tour.
Top Tips for Applying
- Register for your required family interview early; slots fill up quickly between mid-September and January.
- Since GDS is test-optional, only submit SSAT or ISEE scores if they genuinely strengthen your child’s application.
- For Grades 5 and up, prepare a recent graded writing sample and graded math sample that reflect authentic classroom work.
Best Practices for Families
- Attend an admissions event, open house, or campus tour to experience the CEEL curriculum and GDS community firsthand.
- Give teacher recommenders plenty of notice and context about your family’s interest in GDS.
- Submit report cards and school records from the current and previous two years well ahead of the deadline.
What the GDS Application Requires
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01Testing Policy
GDS is test-optional. Families may submit SSAT or ISEE scores, but they are not required. International applicants without at least four years in an English-speaking school must submit an English proficiency score.
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02Interviews
A family interview is required for all applicants. Lower and Middle School applications begin with a parent interview; High School applicants complete a combined student interview and tour.
How Cardinal Education Helps Georgetown Day Applicants
Because GDS’s process is holistic and test-optional, the family interview, teacher recommendations, and writing and math samples all carry real weight. Cardinal Education’s private school admissions consulting helps families prepare for the family interview, select strong graded work samples, and decide whether submitting SSAT or ISEE scores genuinely strengthens their child’s file. Families evaluating GDS alongside other options may also find our results useful context.
“Thanks to Cardinal’s consulting team, we were totally prepared for the Georgetown Day School admissions process. They understood our child and the school perfectly. We couldn’t have done it without them. Kudos!”— Parent of a 9th Grader
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Georgetown Day School require the SSAT or ISEE?
What are GDS’s primary entry grades?
Is an interview required to apply to GDS?
What is the CEEL curriculum at GDS?
Who is the current Head of School at GDS?
Considering Georgetown Day School?
Our consultants help families navigate GDS’s admissions process with clarity and confidence.