Apply to be a CESJDS Lion today!

Follow these step-by-step instructions to apply to the Lower School Gurim and Kindergarten.

STEP 1: Submit Inquiry

Begin the application process by clicking "submit inquiry" to fill out the inquiry form and set up an account in the Admission Portal.

Submit Inquiry

STEP 2: Schedule a Tour

We would be happy to give you a personal tour and show you all that CESJDS has to offer students and their families. 

SCHEDULE A TOUR

After you reserve a time slot, a member of the Admission Team will be in touch soon to confirm your visit.

Feel free to reach out at any time by contacting admission@cesjds.org.

STEP 3: Submit Application

When you are ready to move forward, the next step would be to complete the application, which can be found at www.cesjds.org/apply. We look forward to getting to know your family and welcoming you to our community, where tradition meets innovation.
 

Submit Application

STEP 4: Complete Supplemental Application Materials

You can complete the application by submitting the material listed below in the Admission and Enrollment Portal. All material is due by January 23, 2026.

• Teacher Recommendations: All recommendation requests are completed through the Portal Checklist. You will use the Send Request buttons to directly email the students current classroom teacher.  If you need assistance navigating the request field, please contact Wendi Sager at wsager@cesjds.org. 
• Student Picture: Please upload a photo of your child as part of the application process.
• Permission Forms: Sign Permission for Observation & Access to Information Form
• Parent Interview: An integral part of the admissions process is the opportunity to speak with the parents or guardians to learn even more about the applicant. We are happy to hold this over the phone, Microsoft Teams or in person. Please use this link to sign up for a time to meet with Natalie Selzer, Assistant Director of Lower School Admission.

STEP 5: Schedule Student Assessment Visit

Student Assessments

All Kindergarten and Gurim applicants will visit the Lower School to participate in a screening with a teacher or member of our faculty. The screening will include a set of pre-literacy activities such as coloring and drawing and pre-numeracy activities.  Additionally, the staff member who meets one on one with your child will observe language production and social emotional skills.  

Screenings for sibling applicants are November 17-18, 2025 and November 20-21, 2025. New family screening dates are January 12-15, 2026 and January 21-23, 2026. 

A member of the Lower School Admission Team will be in touch to schedule your child’s visit.

STEP 6 (Optional): Apply for Tuition Assistance

Applications for tuition assistance will open on October 19. To learn more about tuition and tuition assistance visit cesjds.org/tuition.

Tuition Assistance applications for new families are due January 11, 2026.

Follow these step-by-step instructions to apply to First Grade at the CESJDS Lower School. 

STEP 1: Submit Inquiry

Begin the application process by clicking "submit inquiry" to fill out the inquiry form and set up an account in the Admission Portal.

Submit Inquiry

STEP 2: Schedule a Tour

We would be happy to give you a personal tour and show you all that CESJDS has to offer students and their families. 

SCHEDULE A TOUR

After you reserve a time slot, a member of the Admission Team will be in touch soon to confirm your visit.

Feel free to reach out at any time by contacting admission@cesjds.org.

STEP 3: Submit Application

When you are ready to move forward, the next step would be to complete the application, which can be found at www.cesjds.org/apply. We look forward to getting to know your family and welcoming you to our community, where tradition meets innovation.
 

Submit Application

STEP 4: Complete Supplemental Application Materials

You can complete the application by submitting the material listed below in the Admission and Enrollment Portal. All material is due by January 23, 2026.

• Teacher Recommendations: All recommendation requests are completed through the Portal Checklist. You will use the Send Request buttons to directly email the students current classroom teacher.  If you need assistance navigating the request field, please contact Wendi Sager at wsager@cesjds.org. 
• Student Picture: Please upload a photo of your child as part of the application process.
• Permission Forms: Sign Permission for Observation & Access to Information Form
• Parent Interview: An integral part of the admissions process is the opportunity to speak with the parents or guardians to learn even more about the applicant. We are happy to hold this over the phone, Microsoft Teams or in person. Please use this link to sign up for a time to meet with Natalie Selzer, Assistant Director of Lower School Admission.

STEP 5: Schedule Student Assessments & Visit Days

Student Assessment

All 1st Grade applicants will visit to participate in a one on one academic assessment with a teacher or member of our faculty. The assessment will include reading, writing, and math tasks. Additionally, our staff members will observe fine motor skills, language production, and social emotional skills. 

Screenings for sibling applicants are November 17-18, 2025 and November 20-21, 2025. New family screening dates are January 12-15, 2026 and January 21-23, 2026. 

A member of the Lower School Admission Team will be in touch to schedule your child’s assessment.

Visit Days

In addition to visiting for an academic assessment, the Admission Team will also be in touch about scheduling a day for your child to visit the Lower School. This visit day is an opportunity for your student to shadow a current student and experience a day in the life of a CESJDS student. The visit day will last approximately 90 minutes.

STEP 6 (Optional): Apply for Tuition Assistance

Applications for tuition assistance will open on October 19. To learn more about tuition and tuition assistance visit cesjds.org/tuition.

Tuition Assistance applications for new families are due January 11, 2026.

Follow these step-by-step instructions to apply to Second - Fifth Grade at the CESJDS Lower School.

STEP 1: Submit Inquiry

Begin the application process by clicking "submit inquiry" to fill out the inquiry form and set up an account in the Admission Portal.

Submit Inquiry

STEP 2: Schedule a Tour

We would be happy to give you a personal tour and show you all that CESJDS has to offer students and their families. 

SCHEDULE A TOUR

After you reserve a time slot, a member of the Admission Team will be in touch soon to confirm your visit, and provide you with all the information you and your student need to know prior to your visit.

Feel free to reach out at any time by contacting admission@cesjds.org

STEP 3: Submit Application

When you are ready to move forward, the next step would be to complete the application, which can be found at www.cesjds.org/apply. We look forward to getting to know your family and welcoming you to our community, where tradition meets innovation.
 

Submit Application

STEP 4: Complete Supplemental Application Materials

You can complete the application by submitting the material listed below in the Admission and Enrollment Portal. All material is due by January 23, 2026.

• Recommendations: All recommendation requests are completed through the SchoolAdmin Checklist. You will use the Send Request buttons to directly email the teacher. If you need assistance navigating the request field, please contact Wendi Sager at wsager@cesjds.org. 

  • General Studies Recommendation: This should be completed by your student's current classroom teacher.

  • Judaic Studies Recommendation (For students who currently attend a Jewish Day School): This should be completed by your child’s Judaic Studies or Hebrew language teacher.

  • Counselor Recommendation: This should be completed by your child’s current school counselor.

• Transcript Request Form: On the checklist, you will see an item and downloadable file called Request for Access and Information. You should download and complete the form and send to the students current school. This allows current school to send CESJDS current and past report cards.

• Permission Forms: Sign Permission for Observation & Access to Information Form.

• Student Picture: Please upload a photo of your child (this will be for internal use only) as part of the application process.

• Parent Interview: An integral part of the admissions process is the opportunity to speak with the parents or guardians to learn even more about the applicant. We are happy to hold this over the phone, Microsoft Teams or in person. Please use this link to sign up for a time to meet with Natalie Selzer, Assistant Director of Lower School Admission.

STEP 5: Schedule Student Assessments & Visit Day

Student Assessments

Students applying for Grades 2-5 will participate in a General Studies assessment. If your child has attended a Jewish Day School, they will also participate in a Hebrew Language assessment.   These assessments will be facilitated by teachers or faculty members and will assess reading, writing, and math; as well as reading, writing and speaking if the student is being assessed in Hebrew. 

Screenings for sibling applicants are November 17-18, 2025 and November 20-21, 2025. New family screening dates are January 12-15, 2026 and January 21-23, 2026.

A member of the Lower School Admission Team will be in touch to schedule your child’s assessment. 

Visit Days

Once you've submitted your application, the Admission Team will be in touch about scheduling a visit day for your student. This visit day is an opportunity for your student to shadow a current student and experience a day in the life of a CESJDS student.

STEP 6 (Optional): Apply for Tuition Assistance

Applications for tuition assistance will open on October 19. To learn more about tuition and tuition assistance visit cesjds.org/tuition.

Tuition Assistance applications for new families are due January 11, 2026.

Follow these step-by-step instructions to apply to the CESJDS Upper School.

STEP 1: Submit Inquiry

Begin the application process by clicking "submit inquiry" to fill out the inquiry form and set up an account in the Admission Portal.

Submit Inquiry

Once you submit an inquiry, a CESJDS Director of Upper School Admission Wendi Kaplan will reach out to connect with you to learn more about your student and what you are looking for in a school program. You can also sign up for a personal tour (see Step 2).

STEP 2: Schedule a Tour

We would be happy to give you a personal tour and show you all that CESJDS has to offer students and their families. 

SCHEDULE A TOUR

After you reserve a time slot, a member of the Admission Team will be in touch soon to confirm your visit, and provide you with all the information you and your student need to know prior to your visit.

Feel free to reach out at any time by contacting admission@cesjds.org.

STEP 3: Submit Application

If you are ready to move forward, the next step would be to complete the application, which can be found at www.cesjds.org/apply. We look forward to getting to know your family and welcoming you to our community, where tradition meets innovation. 
 

Submit Application

STEP 4: Complete Supplemental Application Materials

You can complete the application by submitting the material listed below in the Admission and Enrollment Portal. All material is due by January 23, 2026.

• Recommendations: All recommendation requests are completed through the portal Checklist. You will use the Send Request buttons to directly email your student's  teachers. You are required to request three recommendations.

  • English Recommendation: This should be requested of your student's current English teacher.

  • Math Recommendation: This should be requested of your student's current Math teacher.

  • Administrative Recommendation: This should be requested of your student's current Administrator or School Counselor.

  • Optional Recommendation: At the bottom of the Checklist is a final and optional recommendation that can be sent to another academic teacher, an academic teacher from a previous school year, or any other adult who knows your student in an academic setting (e.g. teacher, guidance counselor, or principal) or non-academic setting (e.g. coach, camp director, community service organizer).

• Student Picture: Please upload a photo of your child (this will be for internal use only) as part of the application process. 

• Transcript Request: On the checklist, you will see an item and downloadable file called Request for Access and Information. You should download and complete the form and send to the person at your student's current school responsible for school records (e.g. registrar, counseling admin, or main office). This allows their current school to send CESJDS current and past report cards.
  *Please note that transcripts for Upper School Students are due by January 23, 2026

STEP 5: Schedule a Visit

The curated visit will provide your student with an opportunity to drop in on portions of classes, meet with relevant faculty/staff, meet with students, and get a general sense of how we do school at CESJDS.

Interview

Your student will have a 30-minute conversational interview with two members of our Admission Committee, which includes teachers, guidance counselors, and administrators. This is a “getting to know you” conversation for both the student and interviewers. 

Student Assessments

All Upper School applicants will complete a 60-minute academic screening for math and a more comprehensive writing sample for the remaining time. The writing sample helps us get to know how they reads, writes, and thinks. 

STEP 6 (Optional): Apply for Tuition Assistance

Applications for tuition assistance will open on October 19. To learn more about tuition and tuition assistance visit cesjds.org/tuition.

Tuition Assistance applications are due January 11, 2026.

Follow these step-by-step instructions to apply to the CESJDS Upper School as a student coming from Israel

STEP 1: Submit Inquiry

Begin the application process by clicking "submit inquiry" to fill out the inquiry form and set up an account in the Admission Portal.

Submit Inquiry

Once you submit an inquiry, a CESJDS Director of Upper School Admission Wendi Kaplan will reach out to connect with you to learn more about your student and what you are looking for in a school program. 

STEP 2: Submit Application

If you are ready to move forward, the next step would be to complete the application, which can be found at www.cesjds.org/apply. Please contact admission@cesjds.org for the waiver code. Students are not officially registered until this step is complete.

Submit Application

STEP 4: Complete Application Materials

You can complete the application by submitting the material listed below in the Admission and Enrollment Portal. All of this MUST be complete before a student is officially registered.

• Send Teacher Contact Information: Please send teacher contact information (name, email/WhatsApp) for each child applying to the Upper School. CESJDS will send the teacher a recommendation form to complete. Please communicate with the teacher to expect and respond to this email as it is a requirement for the application process.  Students are not officially registered until this step is complete.
• Send Report Card: Please send a current report card to the CESJDS Admission Team. It is okay if the report card is in Hebrew. This an extremely important step in the admission process. Students are not officially registered until this step is complete.
• Meet with CESJDS: Upper School applicants must interview with CESJDS. This interview is in English, but our Israeli liaison can be present to assist with Hebrew. Some applicants are required to complete a writing sample. 
• Send Psycho-Didactic Evaluation (if applicable): If your child has a psychological or didactic diagnosis, please send the evaluation. We evaluate this document to determine how to support your child.

STEP 6 (Optional): Apply for Tuition Assistance

Applications for tuition assistance will open on October 19. To learn more about tuition and tuition assistance visit cesjds.org/tuition.

Tuition Assistance applications are due January 11, 2026.