Lower School students fly planes they built on the GDS field

Your Journey Starts Here

We can’t wait to start getting to know you and your family—and for you to start getting to know the GDS community. Learn more about the admissions process below. We’ll be with you every step of the way!

Our application portal for the 2026-2027 school year is now open. Our application deadline for prospective families is January 7, 2026 and supplementary materials are due on January 14, 2026.

12th Grade is not an entry year and admission is very limited. The Admission Office will collect applications, teacher recommendations, and grades. We will be in touch with prospective families ONLY IF space becomes available. 2nd, 3rd, 8th grade are not entry years, and admission is very limited. The Admission Office will collect applications, teacher recommendations, and grades. Availability is based upon attrition each year.

GDS Admissions Process

Step 1 : Create An Account and Student Profile on Ravenna

Step 1

Create an Account and Student Profile on Ravenna

This is your chance to tell us all about yourself and how you can connect to the GDS community. When you complete this first step, you will begin receiving our admissions outreach, including information about important dates and upcoming events.

Create a Ravenna Account

Step 2: Schedule Your Interview

Step 2

Schedule Your Interview

This step varies by division a bit: In Lower and Middle school, we start with a parent interview; at the High School, the interview process includes our prospective students and a tour. This is a wonderful opportunity to make connections with each other, answer questions, and understand your hopes and dreams.

Register for an interview

Step 3: Submit your application

Step 3

Submit your application

All applications are due by January 7, 2026, and admissions decisions are shared by February 27, 2026. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions along the way.

Start your application on Ravenna

Step 4: Visit GDS: Attend an open house, optional campus tour, or student visits.

Step 4

Visit GDS: Attend an open house, optional campus tour, or student visits

We want to give you and your family every opportunity to see what awaits you at GDS. We offer virtual and in-person open houses for each division throughout the fall, student visits for Lower & Middle School applicants, and campus tours at all divisions.

Register for all events on Ravenna

Step 5: Submit your supplementary materials.

Step 5

Submit your supplementary materials

Supplementary materials such as transcripts, teacher recommendations, standardized testing and graded writing samples are all due by January 14, 2026. For more information on the required supplemental documents and deadlines, please visit Ravenna.

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Additional Details

Lower School (Pre-K–Grade 4)

Register for a parent interview.

Submit your preliminary application.

Complete your child's Play Visit. (PK-1st Grade Applicants)

Students applying to Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade will participate in an in-person Play Visit with a small number of applicants applying to their same grade. During this fun and interactive visit, students will interact with play visit teachers, participate in group activities, and spend a short period of time working one-on-one with a teacher. Register in Ravenna.

Complete your child's Student Visit. (2nd-4th Grade Applicants)

Attend an open house.

Attend an optional campus tour.

Families applying to PK, K, and 1st Grade: Parents/guardians will have the opportunity to tour the Lower/Middle School campus during their child’s play visit.

Families applying to 2nd-4th Grade: Optional group tours for parents/guardians are led by GDS parents and community members who offer a unique insight into our school. Tour spaces are limited, so we recommend registering early. Register in Ravenna.

Submit supplementary materials.

In addition to the preliminary application, we also require a parent statement, report cards, standardized testing, and teacher recommendations. Standardized testing is required to apply to 2nd - 4th grades. Applicants can submit ISEE, SSAT, WPPSI, or WISC testing administered within the last year. Alternatively, if the applicant has taken a standardized test at school during the 2024-25 school year (such as DIBELS, DRA, ERBs, CoGAT, MAP, SOL, Stanford, IOWA, CTPs, CAPE), Georgetown Day School will accept this testing in place of the SSAT or ISEE.

Middle School (Grades 5–8)

Register for a parent interview.

8th Grade is not an entry year, and admission is limited. The Admissions Office will collect applications, teacher recommendations, standardized testing, and grades. We will be in touch with prospective families for a parent interview ONLY IF space becomes available.

Parent interviews are offered on weekdays from mid-September to January. Applications do not need to be submitted before the parent interview. For your convenience, we offer both virtual and in-person interview options. Interview spaces fill quickly, so we recommend scheduling as early as possible. Register in Ravenna.

Submit your preliminary application.

Complete your child's Student Visit (5th - 7th Grade Applicants)

Attend an open house.

Attend an optional campus tour

Submit supplementary materials and required testing. (5th - 8th Grade Applicants)

In addition to the preliminary application, we also require a parent statement, report cards, teacher recommendations, and standardized testing for each applicant.

Standardized testing is required to apply to 5th - 8th grades. Applicants can submit the SSAT or ISEE. Alternatively, if the applicant has taken a standardized test at school during the 2024-25 school year (such as ERBs, CoGAT, MAP, SOL, Stanford, IOWA, CTPs, PARCC, CAPE), Georgetown Day School will accept this testing in place of the SSAT or ISEE. For more information on the required supplemental documents and their deadlines, please visit Ravenna.

High School (Grades 9–12)

Register for a family interview.

12th Grade is not an entry year, and admission is limited. The Admissions Office will collect applications, teacher recommendations, standardized testing, and grades. We will be in touch with prospective families for a family interview ONLY IF space becomes available.

The first required step in the application process is to register for an interview that will include both the applicant and parents/guardians. Interviews are offered on weekdays from mid-September to January. Applications do not need to be submitted before the family interview. For your convenience, we offer both virtual and in-person interview options. Interview spaces fill quickly, so we recommend scheduling as early as possible. Register in Ravenna.

All admitted students will have a Shadow Day in March before enrollment contracts are due.

Attend an open house.

Submit your application.

Submit your supplementary materials and required testing.

In addition to the application, we also require report cards, teacher recommendations, and standardized testing for each applicant.

Standardized testing is required to apply. Applicants can submit the SSAT or ISEE. Alternatively, if the applicant has taken a standardized test at school during the 2024-25 school year (such as ERBs, MAP, SOL, Stanford, IOWA, CTPs, PARCC, CAPE), Georgetown Day School will accept this testing in place of the SSAT or ISEE. 10th - 12th grade applicants can submit a PSAT, SAT, or ACT test in place of the SSAT or ISEE.

For more information on the required supplemental documents and deadlines, please visit Ravenna.

How can we help?

Our admissions team is available to assist you every step of the way during your application process.

✉️ Email Us

📞 Call Us @ 202-274-3210

Application Deadlines

January 7, 2026
Admissions and financial aid applications due. This includes all parent/student-submitted forms in Ravenna as well as the Clarity financial aid application. We recommend working to submit school materials, such as recommendations and transcripts, by January 8, but will accept those documents up until January 14.

January 14, 2026
Supplementary materials such as transcripts, teacher recommendations, and standardized testing due. However, we will gladly take these materials earlier. We understand that some transcripts may come later and ask that you or your child's school provide us with an approximate date of receipt.

February 27, 2026
Admissions and financial aid decisions will be released at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, February 27, 2026, via Ravenna. Be sure to log in, as emails will not be sent.