Important Dates and How to Apply

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.

Applying to Denver Jewish Day School

The application for the 2026-2027 school year is now closed.

Late or mid-year applications are considered on a space-available basis.

Please contact the admission office directly at 720-449-9522.

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.

Ready to apply for admission?

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.

Pre-Kindergarten

Pre-K applicants and their parent(s) will schedule a tour and brief interview with Director of Pre-K, Jodie Applebaum. This visit gives you the opportunity to tour the school, and gives us a chance to discover how your child learns and interacts with those around them. After submitting the application, the Office of Admission will contact you to schedule this visit.

Kindergarten

Future Tiger Visits for Kindergarten applicants will take place in February of 2026. 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. 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 2026-27 school year opens on November 1, 2025. Please check back here on that date to begin your application process. For all prospective families, the form and supporting documentation must be submitted by February 1, 2026. 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 2026-27 school year will be sent out in early February/late March of 2026. Specific dates for elementary, middle, and high school grades will be sent out as we get closer to those dates.

Grades 9 - 12: February 20, 2026
Grades 6 - 8: February 20, 2026
Pre-K - Grade 5: February 27, 2026

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 for the 2027-28 school year opens on October 1, 2026!

Denver JDS requires all prospective students to complete an application. Applications are due February 1, 2027.

Post-deadline applications are reviewed on a space-available basis.

We require all teacher recommendation forms and school records to be submitted to Denver JDS for the application to be considered complete.

For Pre-Kindergarten 2027-28: Children must be four years old by October 1, 2027, to be eligible to apply.

For Kindergarten 2027-28: Children must be five years old by October 1, 2027, to be eligible to apply.

Key Dates for applicants

October 1, 2026

Applications open for the 2027-28 school year.

October 1, 2026

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

January 4, 2027

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

February 1, 2027

New student online applications due.

February 2, 2026

Re-enrollment contracts sent to returning families with tuition assistance awards*, if applicable.

February 19, 2027

Admission notification sent to new Middle and Upper School families. Family response date is Tuesday, March 2nd at noon.

February 26, 2027

Admission notification sent to new Lower Division families. Family response date is Friday, March 5th at noon.

*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 - 2027-2028 School year

New family onboarding! Families of newly enrolled students are encouraged to attend either 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.