Enrollment Information for the 2027-2028 School Year

It's almost time to start planning enrollment for the 2027-2028 school year, and we are so excited to begin welcoming new families into our Coastal Day School community!

We know that choosing a preschool and kindergarten is a big decision, and we also know that enrollment season can feel a little overwhelming, especially when spaces are limited.

Our goal is to make the process as simple, fair, and organized as possible.

If you are interested in enrolling your child at Coastal Day School for the 2027–2028 school year, please read this entire post carefully. We've outlined exactly how enrollment works, what you need to do, and what to expect.

Important Dates

Open House: Thursday, February 25, 2027 — Register for a time slot via this link.

New Family Enrollment Opens: Monday, March 1, 2027, at 7:00 PM

Where to Enroll: Our Blog

Our school year begins in early September and runs through the end of May.

Step 1: Attend Our Open House

We would love the opportunity to meet you and show you what makes Coastal Day School so special!

Open House gives prospective parents the opportunity to see our classrooms, meet our teachers, learn about our programs, and ask questions before enrollment opens.

A few important things to know:

• Open House is for adults only.

• Attending Open House does not reserve or guarantee a space.

• You cannot enroll your child at Open House.

• All new families must participate in the online enrollment process on March 1st.

Can't attend Open House?

That's okay! Attendance is not required to participate in enrollment.

However, please understand that we do not offer individual tours to families who are on our waiting list.

If your child is offered an available space, we will provide an opportunity for a group tour of our school before you are required to commit or submit payment.

We encourage families who are interested in learning about our school to attend Open House on February 25th.

Step 2: Submit Your Enrollment Request on March 1st at 7:00 PM

This is the most important step!

On Monday, March 1st, at exactly 7:00 PM, we will publish a link to our online enrollment request form right here on our blog.

Here's what you need to do:

1. Visit our blog shortly before 7:00 PM and refresh the page.

2. Look for the new post containing the enrollment request link (top post).

3. Click the link and complete the requested information (parent's name and phone number).

4. Double-check your contact information for accuracy.

5. Submit your enrollment request.

IMPORTANT: Completing the form is an enrollment REQUEST, not a completed registration or a guaranteed space.

There is no payment or registration packet required at this stage.

🚨 IMPORTANT: Current Waiting Lists DO NOT Carry Over!

If your child is currently on our waiting list for the 2026–2027 school year, you MUST submit a NEW enrollment request on March 1st to be considered for the 2027–2028 school year.

Our waiting lists do not automatically roll over from one school year to the next.

Being on the 2026–2027 waiting list does not reserve your child's place in line or give your child priority for the upcoming school year.

Every family who wishes to enroll a new student for 2027–2028 must participate in the new enrollment process.

Step 3: How Are Spaces Offered?

Spaces are limited and fill quickly. To keep the process fair and organized, every enrollment request is automatically timestamped.

Available spaces are offered in the order enrollment requests are received, based on classroom eligibility and availability.

This means:

• Requests are considered in the order they are submitted.

• Submitting your request right at 7:00 PM gives your child the best opportunity for an available space.

• Completing a request does not guarantee enrollment.

• Once a classroom is full, additional requests will be placed on the waiting list for that classroom.

We strongly encourage families to be prepared when the link opens.

Step 4: What Happens After I Submit My Request?

Beginning Tuesday, March 2nd, our administrative team will begin reviewing enrollment requests and contacting families by phone.

We will work through requests in the order they were received.

If your child is offered a space:

We will contact you to explain the next steps. If you were unable to attend Open House, we will provide an opportunity for a group tour before you are required to commit.

If your child's classroom is full:

Your child will be placed on our 2027–2028 waiting list.

Being placed on the waiting list does not guarantee that a space will become available.

Because we process enrollment requests individually, this process takes time. We kindly ask that families refrain from calling the front office for updates while we are working through the initial requests.

Please make sure your phone number is entered correctly and watch for communication from our administrative team.

Step 5: Completing Registration If Your Child Is Offered a Space

Congratulations! We would be so excited to welcome your family to CDS!

If your child is offered a space, and you choose to accept it, you will receive a confirmation email with instructions for completing registration.

Registration includes:

• A completed enrollment packet

• The $225 New Student Fee

• All required enrollment documentation

Families will have one week to complete registration. Your confirmation email will include your specific deadline.

If registration requirements and payment are not received by the stated deadline, the space will be offered to the next family on the waiting list.

A Note About Morning and Afternoon Preschool

We know that many families are especially interested in our morning preschool classes, and those spaces are VERY limited and fill quickly.

However, we encourage families to consider our afternoon preschool program as well!

Our afternoon students enjoy the same wonderful teachers, engaging curriculum, classroom experiences, and school community as our morning students. The only difference is the time of day.

For many families, the afternoon program becomes a wonderful fit! 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to attend Open House to enroll?

No. Open House is encouraged but not required. 

Can I enroll my child at Open House?

No. Enrollment requests for new families open online March 1st at 7:00 PM.

My child is already on the 2026–2027 waiting list. Do I need to submit another request?

Yes. Waiting lists do not carry over from year to year. You must submit a new request on March 1st for the 2027–2028 school year.

Does being on this year's waiting list give me priority?

No. All new enrollment requests are considered according to their submission timestamp and classroom availability.

Can I submit my request before 7:00 PM?

No. The enrollment request link will not be available until 7:00 PM on March 1st.

Does completing the enrollment form guarantee my child a space?

No. It simply submits your child's request for consideration. Spaces are limited and are offered in the order requests are received.

Do I need to pay the $225 New Student Fee when submitting my request?

No. The fee is only required if your child is offered a space and you choose to complete registration.

Can I schedule a tour if my child is on the waiting list?

No. Due to the large number of interested families, we do not offer tours to families who are on our waiting list.

Our February 25th Open House is the opportunity for prospective parents to visit and learn about CDS before enrollment opens.

What if I missed Open House but my child is offered a space?

We will provide you with an opportunity for a group tour before you are required to commit or submit payment.

How will I know if my child has been offered a space?

Our administrative team will contact families by phone as we process enrollment requests.

What happens if the classroom I want is full?

Your child will be placed on our 2027–2028 waiting list. If an opening becomes available, we will contact families in the order of their requests.

Can I call to check my child's waiting-list position?

We kindly ask that you allow our administrative team to complete the initial enrollment process before requesting waiting-list updates. This process typically takes us one week. 

How old does my child need to be?

Children must meet the age requirement for their intended classroom by August 31, 2027.

What happens if I don't complete registration by my deadline?

Your child's space will be offered to the next family on our waiting list. Unfortunately, we cannot hold spaces beyond the stated deadline.

One Last Reminder!

We are incredibly grateful for the continued interest in Coastal Day School! We still find it hard to believe what this school community has grown into and we will be forever grateful for this CDS family!!! 

We understand how exciting, and sometimes nerve-racking, enrollment season can be. Our team works hard to make this process fair, organized, and efficient while giving every family the attention they deserve.

Please remember these five important things:

1. Open House is Thursday, February 25th.

2. Enrollment requests open Monday, March 1st, at 7:00 PM.

3. Waiting lists from 2026–2027 do NOT carry over.

4. Submitting a request does NOT guarantee a space.

5. Tours are offered at Open House or after a child has been offered a space—not while on the waiting list.

Thank you for considering Coastal Day School for your child's early education. We look forward to meeting new families and beginning another wonderful school year together!

-CDS Admin Team 

Questions not answered above? Email melissa@coastaldayschool.com. 

Enroll Here!!

**Our enrollment period has ended and the link has been disabled. If you are interested in enrollment, please contact ashley@coastaldayschool.com. Thanks!**

Thank you for your submission! Your request has been time-stamped, and we will begin processing applications in the order they were received.

Our administrative team will start making phone calls on Monday morning to fill available spaces. If you are offered and accept a spot, you will receive a confirmation email with all the information needed to secure your child’s placement. Deadlines for fees and required paperwork will be included in that email. Please note that any missed deadlines will result in the space being offered to the next child on the list.

Be sure to check your Spam or Junk folder, as our emails frequently get filtered there.

If you have not heard from us by Thursday, March 5th, please contact our office. Prior to that date, our front office staff will not be able to provide waitlist status updates, so please wait for our administrative team to reach out.

Thank you again for your interest in Coastal Day School. We are excited to welcome our new friends into the CDS family!

Thanks for joining us at Open House!

What a wonderful evening we shared at last week’s Open House! We are so grateful to the many new parents who took time out of their busy schedules to visit Coastal Day School. It was a pleasure to welcome you into our space, introduce our team, and share what makes our community so special. We truly loved meeting each of you and appreciated the thoughtful conversations, great questions, and genuine enthusiasm in the building. Opportunities like this remind us how fortunate we are to partner with families who care deeply about their children’s early learning experiences. We are already looking forward to getting to know many of you better in the coming school year!

For the past 19 years, the Leland community has embraced Coastal Day School in ways that continue to humble and inspire us. Watching generations of local families walk through our doors, many referred by neighbors and friends, reminds us daily how fortunate we are to be part of this incredible community. Your trust, encouragement, and word-of-mouth support have helped our school grow, while still holding tightly to the warm, personal feel that defines Coastal Day School. 

We understand that life is busy, and some interested families were unable to join us for Open House. Don’t worry! You can still request enrollment when the online form opens at 7pm on March 1st. There is no commitment, paperwork, or payment required at the time of your request. All submissions are timestamped and spaces offered in the order the requests were received. Any families who are offered a space, and were unable to attend Open House, will be invited to a group tour of our school. After the tour, you can decide whether you would like to move forward with enrollment. Again, families invited to a group tour will not need to complete paperwork or submit payment until after their visit. We want you to feel confident that Coastal Day School is the right fit for your family!

We are truly excited for what lies ahead and hope to welcome many new families into the Coastal Day School community very soon! 

*Have more questions about how enrollment works? Check out our previous blog *here*.

*Are you worried about not receiving a space in our morning program? We understand but have a great alternative!! Read about it *here*.

The Afternoon Advantage: A Different Time of Day, the Same Coastal Day School Experience

When families begin exploring preschool options, many naturally hope for a morning schedule, and it’s true, our morning program at Coastal Day School tends to fill quickly. But our afternoon preschool program isn’t a backup plan or a lesser option. It’s a thoughtful, enriching experience and, for many families, an unexpectedly perfect fit. Our afternoon preschool offers the same high-quality program as our morning classes. Children learn from the same wonderful teachers, follow the same engaging curriculum, and explore the same themes and learning goals. The only difference is the time of day.

One of the biggest benefits of the afternoon program is availability. While morning spots can be limited, afternoon openings are often more accessible, making it a great entry point into our school family. Many families begin in the afternoon program and, as current students, have the opportunity to move into the morning program during re-enrollment the following year.

We also know that parents sometimes hesitate about an afternoon schedule because of nap time and we completely understand that concern. Transitions around sleep can feel challenging at first. What we’ve consistently seen, however, is that children adjust beautifully. Within a few weeks, students settle into the afternoon rhythm and feel comfortable, rested, and ready to learn. In fact, many families find that the afternoon schedule ends up working so well that they choose to re-enroll year after year, not because they can’t move to mornings, but because their child is thriving and the schedule fits their family’s life just right.

Afternoon students and their families are fully part of the Coastal Day School community. They participate in all school-wide events, celebrations, and traditions, building meaningful connections with classmates, teachers, and families across the school. While the morning program tends to be the more popular option, the afternoon program offers the same warmth, care, and sense of belonging. For many children, it’s not just a great alternative, it’s the perfect place to begin their CDS journey.

We invite new families to join us for our Open House on Thursday, February 19th from 6:00–7:00 pm. This is a relaxed opportunity to tour our school, meet our staff, ask questions, and get a feel for the community that makes Coastal Day School such a special place for young learners. Hope to see you then!

 

Enrollment Information for the 2026-2027 School Year

 Happy New Year! As we look ahead to the 2026–2027 school year, we are excited to begin welcoming new families into our Coastal Day School community! This September, we will proudly celebrate the start of our 20th year of serving families in our community, an exciting milestone we are incredibly grateful for! Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of meeting so many wonderful families, many of whom have become lifelong friends, and we are thrilled that you’re considering Coastal Day School for your child.

Our school is home to amazing teachers and students, and we would love for your family to become part of it. The school year runs from early September through the end of May. Children must meet the age requirement for their intended classroom by August 31st.

We invite parents to attend our Open House on Thursday, February 19th from 6–7pm, where you’ll have the opportunity to tour our facility, meet our staff, and ask any questions you may have.
This Open House is for parents only. We also host a separate Open House in the summer for enrolled students to visit their classroom and meet their teacher and classmates.

Enrollment requests will open on March 1st at 7:00pm. A link to the request form will be posted right here on our blog. The form will ask for your name and phone number. Please be sure your contact information is entered correctly before submitting. Requests are timestamped, and available spaces will be offered in the order received. Once classrooms are full, we will begin our waiting lists. For the best chance at a space, we recommend submitting your request promptly at 7:00pm.

Please note that this form is a request for enrollment and does not guarantee placement. No payment or additional documentation is required at this time.

Beginning Monday, March 2nd, our administrative team will begin reviewing enrollment requests submitted on March 1st. Families will be contacted by phone and notified whether their child has received a space or has been placed on the waiting list. Families who are offered a space will have one week to complete registration, which includes submitting a completed enrollment packet and the $200 New Student Fee.

For families who receive a space but were unable to attend the February Open House, we will offer a group tour during that same week. While we are not able to offer tours to families who do not receive a space, if a family is contacted from the waiting list at any point, we will be happy to offer a tour at that time, before any commitment or payment is required.

In the meantime, click *here* for more information on our programs. 

If you have any questions, I’m always happy to help! Please feel free to email me at ashley@coastaldayschool.com.

We hope to see you on February 19th and can’t wait to celebrate our 20th year with our CDS families this fall!

Open House for New Families

 

Full Circle Moment

Next month marks a very special milestone for Coastal Day School. We will celebrate our 19th year of learning, laughter, and adventures with the amazing students and families who make up our little school family. 

Over the years, we’ve welcomed countless preschoolers on their very first day of school, holding hands with their parents, a little nervous, but full of curiosity. We’ve watched those tiny hands grow steady and confident. We’ve seen our students discover new skills, new friendships, and new dreams. We’ve celebrated birthdays, milestones, and the everyday victories that matter so much in these early years. 

Over time, we’ve had the privilege of seeing our students move on to bigger schools, new adventures, and bright futures. Many have come back to visit, walking through our door a little taller each time, greeting us with those same radiant smiles we remember. They tell us about sports teams, school plays, college acceptances, and the friends they’ve made along the way. Every visit is a reminder that the bonds we form here last far beyond the preschool years.

But this year, something amazing is happening… a first in our history.

This fall, we are welcoming a brand-new preschooler who holds an especially dear place in my heart, because her mom, Alexis, was once one of our kids. Alexis spent many years here in our after-school program, growing up within these same walls, playing on the same playground, and laughing in the same classrooms. She was part of our Coastal family long before she ever imagined becoming a parent herself.

And now, all these years later, Alexis is bringing her own child to CDS.

When I saw her walk through our doors again, this time holding the hand of her little one, I had to take a moment to let it sink in. It was one of those “pinch me” moments that make you realize just how precious the work we do truly is. It was as if time folded in on itself, the past and present meeting in the most beautiful way.

This is what it's all about. It’s the joy of seeing a child grow up, step out into the world, and then choosing to return, entrusting us with the next generation. It’s a living reminder that the love, care, and guidance we pour into these years really does ripple forward, touching lives we may not even see yet.

I feel so blessed to be part of this incredible journey. So lucky to watch generations grow, learn, and thrive, and to know that Coastal Day School is more than a place to prepare for kindergarten. It’s a place where roots are planted, where friendships are born, and where children are truly known and loved.

As we step into our 19th year, my heart is full of gratitude. Thank you to every child, parent, and family who has been part of Coastal Day School’s story, past, present, and future. You are why we do what we do, and you are the reason this little school feels like home.

Here’s to the next chapter and to the joy of watching the circle continue.

💙Ashley 

Alexis at Coastal Day School in June 2007 - participating in summer camp games 

Alexis' daughter and I playing on the playground in July 2025

Full circle moment 😊