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:
Visit our blog shortly before 7:00 PM and refresh the page.
Look for the new post containing the enrollment request link (top post).
Click the link and complete the requested information (parent's name and phone number).
Double-check your contact information for accuracy.
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:
Open House is Thursday, February 25th.
Enrollment requests open Monday, March 1st, at 7:00 PM.
Waiting lists from 2026–2027 do NOT carry over.
Submitting a request does NOT guarantee a space.
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.
