How to Apply

Applying to Denver Jewish Day School

We are accepting applications for the 2025-26 year for all grades!

Our application process is designed to ensure that our school’s program and environment are a good fit for prospective parents and students.

Applications for admission to Denver JDS are accepted beginning in early October for the following academic year and are due by February 1. Post deadline applications are considered on a space-available basis.

If you wish to apply for the current school year, begin with Step 1 Below.

Denver JDS has an Income Based Affordability Program that provides straightforward, predictable, and meaningful financial support for families across the economic spectrum. Click here to learn more and see if your family qualifies.

Ready to apply?

Step 1: Start Here

Step 2: Schedule Applicant Visit

There are different visits for different grade levels! You will find information for all grade levels below.

Kindergarten

Future Tiger Visits for Kindergarten applicants will take place in January and February of 2025. Our Office of Admission will contact you to schedule this visit after you submit the application.

Lower Division Grades 1-5

Students applying for grades 1-5 will schedule a half day visit to Denver JDS in their current grade. Visitors will shadow a student host for the morning, experiencing a day in the life of Denver JDS. The Office of Admission will work with you to schedule this visit after you submit your application.

Upper Division Grades 6-12

Students applying for grades 6-12 will schedule a half day visit to Denver JDS in their current grade. Visitors will shadow a student host for the morning, experiencing a day in the life of Denver JDS. The Office of Admission will work with you to schedule this visit after you submit your application. The Office of Admission will provide all testing instructions once the shadow visit has been scheduled.

Upper Division applicants are also required to interview with a member of the Upper Division Administration Team. The Office of Admission will contact you to schedule your interview after you submit your application submission. The interview can be in-person or conducted via Zoom.

Step 3: Apply for Financial Aid (if applicable)

Click here to apply for financial aid. The financial aid application window for the 2025-26 school year opens on October 15, 2024. Please check back here on that date to begin your application process. For all current and prospective families, the form and supporting documentation must be submitted by February 1, 2025. Post-deadline applications are considered on a funds-available basis.

Step 4: Decision Notification

Denver JDS will notify applicants of admission decisions via email in early March in accordance with the notification schedule set by the Association of Colorado Independent School (ACIS). Families that complete an application for tuition assistance by the February deadline will be notified of their award within two weeks of admission decision notification.

The notification deadlines for the 2025-26 school year will sent out in early February/late March of 2025. Specific dates for elementary, middle, and high school grades will be sent out as we get closer to those dates.

Grades 9 - 12: TBD
Grades 6 - 8: TBD
Pre-K - Grade 5: TBD

Decision notifications could be an admittance, a decline, or a provisional admittance. (Provisional admission is an offer of admission that includes at least one provision. Provisions are individualized depending on the situation. A common provision is for students we are unable to meet in person in an observation period at the beginning of the school year. This ensures that Denver Jewish Day School is a good match for the student.)

The application window for the 2025-26 school year is open! All students who wish to enroll at Denver JDS must complete our online application. The application is due February 1, 2025.

Post deadline applications are reviewed on a space-available basis. We require all teacher recommendations forms and school records for the applications to be considered complete.

For Pre-Kindergarten 2025-26: Children must be four years old by October 1, 2025 to be eligible to apply.

For Kindergarten 2025-26: Children must be five years old by October 1, 2025 to be eligible to apply.

Key Dates for applicants

October 1, 2024

Applications for the 2025-26 school year open.

October 15, 2024

FACTS Tuition Aid Application opens. Visit FACTS Tuition Aid online.

January 5, 2025

FACTS Tuition Aid Application with supporting documentation due for returning families.

February 1, 2025

New student online applications due.

February 3, 2025

Re-enrollment contracts sent to returning families with financial aid awards*, if applicable.

Late February - Early March 2025

Admission notification sent to new families.

*Financial aid contracts are due back to the school within 10 business days of the issue date. After this time, the financial aid amount cannot be guaranteed.

Spring & Summer - 2025-26 School year

New family onboarding! Families of newly enrolled students are required to either attend an orientation with their respective school division, or an individual meeting with division administration.

Your Denver Jewish Day School admission journey begins with your initial inquiry, and our goal is to develop a strong and supportive relationship with each and every potential new parent and student.

Denver JDS aims to serve families who desire a Jewish day school education for their children. As an independent school, we believe it's important for applicants to understand what criteria we've established for student success. These criteria guide us during the application process to ensure that our school meets the needs of all students we admit. Applicants are required to have one Jewish parent to be eligible for admission. Denver Jewish Day School does not admit students who are a part of a messianic religious community.

Kindergarten visits are scheduled during Future Tiger Week, held in January and February.

Click on the tabs below to learn more about grade-specific admission criteria.

Ready to apply? Click here.

Admission Criteria

Pre-K

Pre-Kindergarten

Demonstrates developmentally appropriate preschool skills displayed during school interview and documented in teacher recommendation form. Parent/guardian displays willingness to engage in a positive partnership with Denver JDS. Parent/guardian displays willingness to meet financial obligations to Denver JDS. Students turning four by October 1 of their Pre-K year are eligible for Pre-K admission.

Kindergarten

Demonstrates developmentally appropriate pre-academic skills displayed on school visit and documented in teacher recommendation form. Parent/guardian displays willingness to engage in a positive partnership with Denver JDS. Parent/guardian displays willingness to meet financial obligations to Denver JDS. Students turning five by October 1 of their kindergarten year are eligible for kindergarten admission.

Grades 1 - 6

Meets grade level academic expectations as documented by school records, teacher recommendation, and student visit to Denver JDS. Demonstrates positive behaviors and social skills in the classroom community as documented by school visit to Denver JDS and teacher recommendation/school records. Parent/guardian displays willingness to engage in a positive partnership with Denver JDS. Parent/guardian displays willingness to meet financial obligations to Denver JDS.

Grades 7 - 12

Demonstrates academic strength in secular studies (math, language arts, science, social studies, foreign language) as documented by a B or higher equivalent grade point average (GPA). Demonstrates positive behavior in current school as documented by minimal (if any) disciplinary interventions on school records and in teacher recommendations. Demonstrates positive school behaviors on school visit to Denver JDS. Demonstrates genuine interest in learning Hebrew and Judaic studies and in being part of a Jewish community as documented by Student Statement and in student interview. Demonstrates well-rounded interests in participation in activities outside of school as documented by application materials, in Student Statement, and in student interview. Parent/guardian displays willingness to engage in a positive partnership with Denver JDS. Parent/guardian displays willingness to meet financial obligations to Denver JDS.

Special Circumstances

Does your student have learning differences or other challenges? Denver JDS strives to welcome as many Jewish students as possible, and we have many students enrolled in our school who receive additional support from our Learning Resource Center. If your child has documented mild to moderate learning differences, ADHD, High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder, sensory issues, or other challenges, we encourage you to reach out for a conversation. We will conduct a full review of your child's written evaluation, IEP, and/or 504 Plan and work closely with you to determine whether our school is a good fit.

Denver JDS does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, creed, color, lineage or national origin, ancestry, age, disability or disabilities, gender, gender identity, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.