"What you learn and who you become are equally important."
This is CDS's guiding principle. The school balances academic success with character development. They want graduates who are both intellectually capable and grounded human beings.
| Pillar | Description |
|---|---|
| Learning is Active | Students learn through hands-on, meaningful work grounded in real-world issues (local and global) |
| Differences Lift Us | Diversity across socioeconomic backgrounds, races, cultures, faiths, gender identities, and neurotypes is central to their identity |
| Community Matters | They prioritize belonging, trust, and families partnering together |
The FAQ section explicitly states they want parents who will:
- Form a partnership with teachers — share information about your child, observe and practice CDS values
- Set appropriate limits and boundaries
- Encourage independence — shift from being your child's "manager" to their "coach"
- Participate in community — attend events, volunteer, support the Annual Fund
According to their FAQ:
- Comfortable with transitions (there are many throughout the day)
- Can work and learn collaboratively with other students
- Excited about learning
- Happy, confident, curious, respectful of others
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Farm & Garden curriculum | Unique urban farm/garden program |
| Spanish from preschool | Every preschool class has a Spanish-speaking teacher |
| Anti-bias curriculum | Explicit commitment to discussing differences |
| Inquiry-based learning | Students explore questions, not just receive answers |
| Competency Framework | Focus on collaboration, self-direction, critical thinking, communication |
| Sliding scale tuition | 30% of students receive adjusted tuition |
| Small ratios | 8:1 teacher-student ratio schoolwide |
Be prepared to discuss how you value these:
- Curiosity and open-mindedness
- Resilience and persistence
- Emotional/social intelligence
- Intellectual humility
- Advocacy/activism/civic engagement
Reference their specific values: progressive education, diversity, community, inquiry-based learning, the farm
Think about how you encourage curiosity, handle mistakes, support independence
They craft classes seeking "socio-economic, racial, cultural, and family diversity"
They expect real community commitment
Focus on curiosity, adaptability, collaborative spirit
Head of School: Shelly Luke Wille
She emphasizes preparing children "not just to succeed in an unpredictable world, but to shape it for the better."
- Enrollment: 466 students
- Grades: Preschool through Grade 8
- Location: Mission neighborhood, San Francisco (333 Dolores St / 601 Dolores St)
- Faculty diversity: 52% people of color
- Teacher-student ratio: 1:8