List of 17 items.

• What type of school is CDS?

  The Country Day School is an independent day school serving students in JK-12. Independent schools are not-for-profit and are governed by a volunteer board of trustees working with the Head of School. The Board of Directors select, support and work in partnership with the Head to develop and guide the vision for the School. The Head implements this vision through responsible and accountable leadership practices.

• Which post-secondary institutions do CDS graduates attend?

  At CDS, students pursue their passions in every subject and field imaginable. After graduation, the variety of university and college pursuits and professions our alumni choose highlights the value of an education with balance. Members of each year’s graduating class pursue a broad range of academic and professional disciplines. Science typically leads the way with 40% of our graduates pursuing Life Science, Physical Science or Engineering. The Social Sciences and Humanities are next at 35% and Business at 20%. Some unique disciplines pursued of late include Graphic Communications Management, Environment and Urban Sustainability, Architectural Engineering and Astrophysics.

  
  The vast majority of CDS students attend Canadian universities, although many apply and are accepted elsewhere. In recent years, about 10% of students have opted to go to US or UK destinations, including the University of Oxford, King’s College London, the University of Edinburgh, Royal College of Surgeons Ireland, University of Southern California (USC), Dartmouth College, Berklee College of Music and George Washington University.

• To which associations does CDS belong?

  The Country Day School is a proud member of the Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS), the national organization and accrediting body of independent schools in Canada. CAIS was formerly known as CAIS/CESI (Canadian Educational Standards Institute). CDS is also a proud member of the provincial organization the Conference of Independent Schools (CIS) and the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS).

• When is the best time to visit CDS?

  We love to show prospective families around our campus and offer a variety of ways for you to visit! Please start by perusing our Visit Us page to learn more about our upcoming Junior, Middle and Senior School Open Houses and Sneak Peek dates (starting again in September) and how to RSVP for each of them.

   

  Alternatively, you can always reach out to our Admission Team with questions and they would be happy to help!

• What is the guideline for class sizes?

  The guidelines for our class sizes:
  

  • 16 students for JK and SK
  • 18 students for Grade 1 - 8 
  • 22 students for Grade 9 - 12

• Does the CDS bus travel to my community?

  The Country Day School offers a user-pay bus service to its students, arriving at school at 8:30 a.m. and departing at 4:45 p.m. following after school programs (3:30 p.m. on early dismissal days when there are no after school activities).
  
  Although the routes vary slightly from year-to-year in response to demand, as a general rule, the bus travels to the following communities:
  
  Kleinburg & King City
  Caledon, Bolton, Nobleton
  Brampton/North Kleinburg
  Thornhill
  Richmond Hill
  Barrie
  Woodbridge
  
  Please contact our Admission Team if you should have inquiries concerning your family’s specific transportation needs or visit our busing webpage.

• From how far do students travel to attend CDS?

  Some CDS students travel up to an hour from either the east, west, north or south. The outer boundaries are presently Barrie to the north, Uxbridge to the east, Caledon to the west and Toronto (North York and Leaside) to the south.
  
  Please contact our Admission Team if you should have inquiries concerning your family’s specific transportation needs or visit our busing webpage.

• How far in advance should we apply?

  There are many opportunities to discover whether CDS is the right fit for your family via open houses, tours and discussions. Most families start to engage with us a year or more ahead of when they are thinking of joining. The online application process opens in the summer one year in advance of the school year you are applying for. E.g. The September 2026-2027 online application opens in Summer 2025.  For all grades we recommend applying for admission at your earliest convenience. Please review our deadlines listed under How to Apply.

   

  Please note: When considering applying to CDS, we accept a larger number of students for JK, Grade 4, 7 and 9 each year with JK representing two full classes and Grades 4, 7 and 9 each enrolling one additional class of students. These are our entry years for Elementary, Middle and Senior School. Availability can fluctuate over time and between the other grades and we encourage you to connect with our team for the most up-to-date information for the coming school year before applying.

  
  Visit How to Apply for more information on the application process.

• Is there an admission test?

  All applicants are assessed. The Academic and Character Assessment varies depending on the applicant’s grade level. Detailed information describing specific elements of the academic and character assessment will be communicated directly to applicants in a timely manner.
  

• What are The Country Day School's tuition fees?

  Please visit our Tuition & Fees page for complete details.

• Does CDS offer financial aid or entrance scholarships?

  The benefits of a CDS education are exceptional, but we understand it is a significant financial investment to join and remain a part of our community. As a result, and thanks to the generosity of our donors, funds are available to help make an education with balance a reality for families in need of financial assistance.
  Learn more here.

• What is the minimum age for entry into Junior Kindergarten?

  Students must be four years old by December 31st of the year they begin Junior Kindergarten at CDS.

• What are the lunch options for my child(ren)?

  From beef or bean quesadillas or baked flaxseed chicken fingers to butter chicken or grilled marinated flank steak, these are just some of the choices offered during a typical week in the CDS Dining Hall. These delicious healthy meals are made from scratch with locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. 
  
  All CDS students in Grades 4-12 enjoy the culinary delights in our Marché style Dining Hall, while students in Kindergarten and Grades 1-3 have their lunches delivered to their classrooms where they eat with their teachers.

   

  Students in Grades 4 to 6 serve themselves marché style from the food stations and eat alongside the Junior School faculty. Students in Grades 7-12 also serve themselves and eat with their friends during separate Middle School and Senior School lunch periods.

   

  Check out our weekly menus here!

• Can I play on a sports team at CDS?

  Absolutely! Our students have extensive opportunities to participate in intramural and interscholastic sports teams through the Conference of Independent Schools Athletic Association (CISAA) starting in Grade 4.

  CDS offers 48 teams across 24 sports, including soccer, field hockey, track and field, basketball, tennis, volleyball, baseball and ultimate frisbee. The main emphasis of our physical education and athletics program is fitness for life. We encourage our students to gain an appreciation for a variety of sports and physical activities, a keen understanding of good sportsmanship, and a healthy way of living.

• Are Advanced Placement credits and examinations offered at CDS?

  Yes, CDS participates in the Advanced Placement (AP) Program, which is a cooperative educational endeavour between secondary schools and post-secondary academic institutions. It allows high school students to undertake university-level academic learning in AP courses, giving them the opportunity to show that they have mastered the advanced material by taking AP examinations. While in high school, students can earn a credit, advanced placement, or both, from the many universities that participate in the AP program worldwide.
  
  

  AP courses offered at CDS currently include:

  • Biology
  • Calculus AB
  • Comparative Government and Politics
  • Computer Science A
  • English Literature and Composition
  • Macro Economics
  • Micro Economics
  • 2D Art and Design
  • AP Seminar

• Are CDS students involved in community service initiatives?

  As active participants in serving the needs of others, students learn about the world around them and develop both civic responsibility and self-worth.
  
  By giving of their time, ideas and even their allowance, students learn that they can make a difference in their community and in the wider world as well. Students jump rope for Heart and Stroke, run for Terry Fox, plant trees with Forests Ontario, and collect food and toys to donate to local charities, just to name a few activities. Please visit our Character Development and Service page for more details.

• Will I be asked to donate to CDS?

  Like most independent schools in Ontario, CDS is funded 100 percent through a combination of tuition fees, endowment earnings, and annual fundraising and operates as a not-for-profit organization. Tuition fees cover our annual operating costs, but all school improvements and expansions are funded by annual and capital gifts from our parent and alumni donors.

   

  CDS raised the $8.4M for the Building Magic campaign completed in 2023 to fund the rejuvenated Junior School. Donors take immense pride in their contributions to CDS and are recognized in a variety of ways, including the listing in our Annual Report. A suggested Annual Capital Fund Donation of $1,000 per child is listed in the annual fee for your convenience, but is considered voluntary.
  
  For more information on ways to give to CDS, click here.