FAQ

Applicants who demonstrate character and integrity, show a good record of behavior in school, exert a positive influence on other children, and show academic promise and interest in learning as well as interest in extra-curricular activities, are encouraged to enroll.  We seek heterogeneity in our student body, encouraging applications from families with diverse racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds.

The Rumson Country Day School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to all students at the School.  It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid programs, and athletic or other school-administered programs.

RCDS has two admissions processes, one for the preschool and one for Beginners – Grade 8. 

Placement in preschool classes is based on a first-come-first-served process according to the date each preschool application is received by the School.  The application fee is $50.  No testing is required.

Admission to Beginners (full-day Kindergarten) through Grade 8 includes on-site testing for admission and placement.  An Application Form, Teacher Recommendation Form (B-8) and a Transcript Release Form (grades 1-8) complete the student’s application.  All forms are available at the Admissions Office.  A non-refundable $75 application fee includes the cost of testing.

As a family school, we give courtesy to siblings, children of alumni, and children of faculty.  The School tries to have a balance of boys and girls in each classroom and our cut-off date for all grades is September 1.  The final decision concerning an applicant is the Headmaster’s. 

The school day for B-8 students begins at 8:00 A.M., Monday through Friday.  The school day ends at 3:30 P.M., Monday through Thursday.  On Fridays, the school day ends at 12:30 P.M.

The Nursery program (for 3-year-olds) has a five-day/week morning class and a four-day/week afternoon class.  The morning program is from 8:30 until 11:30, but morning students can be dropped off any time after 8:00.  The afternoon class is from 12:30 until 3:30, Monday-Thursday.

The Pre-Kindergarten program (for 4-year-olds) is from 8:45 until 11:45 daily (half-day programs), or from 8:45 until 3:00 Monday-Thursday, and 8:45 to 11:45 Friday (full-day Pre-Kindergarten), but all Pre-Kindergarten children may be dropped off any time after 8:00 A.M.; there is supervised free play until 8:45.

After-school care is available for all PK-8 students on Monday through Thursday, from 3:30 until 5:00 P.M.  (There is a daily charge for after-school care.)

Most RCDS students live within a 20-mile radius of the School.  Almost half live in Rumson.  Our students travel to and from RCDS by school busses, privately-contracted vans and car pools.  The School's Transportation Director works with each individual family, advising them about the most convenient and affordable methods of transportation.  While RCDS tries to arrange bussing for all students, it cannot guarantee transportation for every family -- especially those who live a distance from the School.

All children in grades B-8 who live between 2 and 20 miles from RCDS are entitled EITHER to bussing from their local school district (if it is provided) OR to a $859 stipend (from their local sending district and the State of New Jersey), which can be applied toward the cost of his or her transportation.  Pre-school children are prohibited by law from riding busses provided by the local boards of education.

Secondary school placement is a very important for us; just as many high schools work closely with their students in choosing colleges, we help each student and his or her parents to make the best choice of high school. 

Our graduates have a long and successful history of secondary school admission.  About 65% of them go to local public, parochial, and private high schools; the others matriculate at boarding schools all over the East Coast.

For a look at the choices made by our recent alumni, please visit our "Where Are They Now?" page.