Frequently Asked Questions

Like many of the top private schools across the country, PCDS is an independent school. In fact, PCDS is the Valley's only not-for-profit independent school with grades Pre-K through 12 on one campus. PCDS is a proud member of the National Association of Independent Schools and accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest. 

But what does being independent mean? Independent schools are governed by a board of trustees, not by a public school board. They are not funded by federal or state education dollars, nor by a for-profit corporation or a church; instead, they are primarily supported by tuition payments, charitable contributions, and endowment revenue.

Being independent also means balancing tradition with innovation; exercising best practices that are thoughtfully developed, research-based, and evolving to meet the needs of our students; achieving high academic standards with a student-centered approach in small classes with excellent teachers; and educating the whole child in an inclusive, well-rounded community.

Visit The Independent School Difference for more information

In keeping with the PCDS Portrait of a Graduate, the PCDS admissions committee is looking for students who will be confident individuals, academically strong critical thinkers, collaborative classmates, and active, kind community members. In building a class, the committee seeks to balance interests, gender, and diverse backgrounds and points of view. The committee looks for families who will act as good partners by supporting the school's mission, philosophy, and policies.

Visit PCDS Portrait of a Graduate for more information

All students who wish to enroll at PCDS must participate in a selective application process. This process occurs during the admissions season (September to February) prior to the upcoming school year for which they hope to enroll. PCDS does not have a lottery or rolling list for future enrollment. 

The school’s admissions season commences in September, when campus tours begin and the online application becomes available. All required application items must be finished by early February in order to be considered for admission. During the month of February, our admissions committees review all completed applications. Decisions regarding admission to the school for the following school year are posted in late February or early March.

It is rare for PCDS to be able to accept late applications outside the admissions season. PCDS does not admit students mid-year.

Visit How to Apply for more information

Each year, the PCDS admissions season runs from early September through early February. There is no advantage in submitting an application sooner rather than later within the window of that admissions season. PCDS does not have a lottery or rolling list for future enrollment. 

It is rare for PCDS to be able to accept late applications outside the admissions season. PCDS does not admit students mid-year.

While we welcome applications for grades Pre-k through 11, the following grade levels are our main entry points with built-in spaces for new students.

Entry points:
Pre-kindergarten (28 spaces)
Kindergarten (8 spaces)
3rd grade (3 - 4 spaces)
5th grade (12 -14 spaces)
6th grade (8 - 10 spaces)
9th grade (20 - 25 spaces)

Space in a non-entry grade is rare and depends on attrition.
PCDS does not accept applications for grade 12. 

Visit How to Apply for more information

Admission to PCDS is selective. The number of applications for each of those entry points varies slightly from year to year, but we usually receive 3-4 applications for each opening. In general, PCDS is typically able to offer admission to one-third of students who apply to the school.

PCDS tuition is designed to be as all-inclusive as possible. For the 2025-2026 school year, tuition ranges from $29,800 – $35,800, depending on the grade level; in addition, Middle and Upper School students pay a small annual activities fee and purchase textbooks.

Otherwise, lunch and snacks, field trips, electives, and signature grade level trips are included in the cost of tuition for Pre-kindergarten through 8th grade. Also, for grades 5-12, there are no additional fees for participation in after-school programs (like athletics, robotics, speech & debate, and theatre productions).

Costs above and beyond tuition would include things like Lower School after-school enrichment classes, bus transportation, or optional travel programs.

Visit Tuition and Affordability for more information

PCDS offers need-based financial assistance to qualifying families and approximately 20% of our families receive aid. Any interested family may apply for need-based financial aid grants, and we encourage families to explore their options with our Director of Financial Aid, Kristie Berg.

The school does not offer merit-based scholarships.

Phoenix Country Day School has a dedicated financial aid budget of more than $2 million; additionally, PCDS helps to facilitate more than $1.5 million for families who qualify for the Arizona low-income scholarship program, and many families take advantage of tax credit opportunities to help finance their children’s PCDS education.

Phoenix Country Day School is committed to being an inclusive community with a student body that reflects a broad economic and social mix with a diversity of interests, talents, and backgrounds. No student should be deterred by financial circumstances from applying to PCDS, and families who feel they need assistance are encouraged to apply for aid.

Visit Tuition and Affordability for more information

To be considered for admission into our Pre-kindergarten program for the 2026-2027 school year, children must be 4 years old by September 1, 2026. (A child could be 3 years old going through the admissions process.)

To be considered for admission into our Kindergarten program for the 2026-2027 school year, children must be 5 years old by September 1, 2026. (A child could be 4 years old going through the admissions process.)

PCDS recognizes the value of keeping a family together in the same school and appreciates how a family’s involvement in the school enriches our community. In addition, we also recognize the value of bringing new families into the PCDS community. While the admissions committee is always thoughtful about any connected student who is applying, in a competitive pool we cannot guarantee admission to PCDS for sibling or legacy applicants.

Though PCDS has non-US citizens who are enrolled at the school, PCDS does not have programming designed specifically to accommodate international students. As a day school, we do not provide housing for students, and PCDS does not issue the I-20, which is the necessary paperwork for a student visa. In addition, PCDS does not have an English language development program for students who need support with their English language skills.

In our effort to understand each applicant’s learning profile, the PCDS admissions committee aims to be thorough and thoughtful in its review of a student’s readiness for our school program. Access to skills-based achievement testing and/or aptitude testing is helpful in completing a student’s application to PCDS.

Applicants for Pre-k, Kindergarten, and Grade 1

All applicants will be required to complete an on-campus individual readiness assessment. PCDS will administer Pre-kindergarten and Kindergarten individual readiness assessments in December, January, and February. Applicants to Grade 1 will complete their individual readiness assessment during their shadow visit day.

Once you have initiated your child's application, use your PCDS Admissions Portal to schedule the assessment.

Applicants for Grades 2 - 11

All applicants will be required to take the Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE).

Options for taking the ISEE

• PCDS offers in-person, on-paper administrations of the ISEE: Saturday, January 24 and Saturday, January 31
  OR
• Students may test at any other authorized test location (online or in-person) or at-home (online) as listed on the ISEE website

Registering to take the ISEE

• Once you have initiated your child's application, use your PCDS Admissions Portal to access directions and the required test registration code for scheduling the ISEE. You will use this code to register online at https://iseeonline.erblearn.org
• An ISEE testing fee is due at the time of registration (testing fee assistance is available for those who qualify)

Please contact the admissions team if you have questions or want to discuss assessment alternatives.

Your PCDS Admissions Portal should be your point of reference; items in your child’s application checklist will be marked as completed as the items are submitted and processed. You will hear from us in early to mid-February if we see you still have missing items. An application is considered complete and ready for committee review once all required items in the checklist are finished.

Small class sizes and relationships between students and teachers are the foundation of the PCDS learning experience.

The overall student:faculty ratio is 8:1.
The average class size is 16 students. 

Overall enrollment: 760 students
Lower School (Pre-k - 4th): 220
Middle School (5th - 8th): 240
Upper School (9th - 12th): 300

PCDS intentionally adds new students at entry points along the way to ensure a growing and vibrant community within each grade. Ultimately, in the Upper School, a typical graduating class of 75 students has this breakdown: one-third of the grade started in Lower School, one-third joined in Middle School, and one-third joined in 9th grade.

After our admissions season ends and admissions decisions are posted in March, PCDS invites newly admitted families to grade level “meet & greet” programs and other springtime community events on campus, like our annual Arts Walk in May. Then, during the summer, our Lower and Middle Schools coordinate host families and Summer Buddies for new parents and students. In addition, orientation programs happen before the first day of classes, so newly enrolled families already feel comfortable on campus and know some teachers, parents, and classmates before the first day of school!

In our college preparatory program, PCDS students are challenged and supported by expert teachers as they strive for academic excellence while maintaining a healthy balance, grounded perspective, and sense of joy and curiosity. In general, the PCDS curriculum is about 1.5 years ahead of the standard public school grade level curriculum. In our Middle and Upper Schools, all classes operate at what would be “honors” level at a larger school. Also, starting in 7th grade, students are placed in ability-based math and foreign language sections.

Through our selective admissions process, we ensure that students will be able to succeed in our academic spaces where they will engage in high level critical thinking, be presented with big questions, wrestle with new ideas, and learn to embrace challenges. The PCDS Upper School offers an array of intellectually rigorous courses designed to engage our students at the highest level. From core courses to demanding academic electives, students are able to navigate a well-rounded experience with both choice and passion, and are prepared to succeed at a wide range of impressive colleges and universities.

Visit the Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School pages to learn more
Review our Upper School Course Catalog and College Counseling

PCDS does not believe in giving homework for homework's sake. Rather, we are committed to giving students homework that is purposeful – a thoughtful extension of the deep work and collaborative learning that happens in our classrooms and an opportunity for students to develop their time management and independent thinking skills. In keeping with research, we make homework meaningful and manageable, with ample time during the school day to complete some of that independent work on campus. 

Homework for a Lower School student will vary depending on the grade level, ranging from 5-20 minutes a night. All Lower School students are also assigned 20 minutes of daily reading. Middle School policy limits homework to 90 minutes a day. Homework for Upper School students varies depending on their coursework, but averages 2-2.5 hours a day, which includes independent work completed during the day on campus.

Visit Middle School Schedule & Advisory
Visit Upper School Schedule & Advisory

PCDS does not provide individualized academic support or learning plans outside of the classroom. Our classroom teachers are well-versed in differentiated learning and create rich lesson plans designed to engage varied learning styles. Students with diagnosed learning needs who qualify for accommodations, like extended time or a quiet test space, coordinate directly with classroom teachers and guidance counselors.

Each division has guidance counselors who support the social and emotional growth of our students. They conduct classroom observations, work with classroom teachers, and meet with students individually as needed.

The PCDS community is diverse in many ways and enriched by varied ideas and perspectives that allow students to grow and flourish as they safely explore their identities. At PCDS, we are committed to nurturing thoughtful, self-aware, compassionate thinkers who can learn from challenging conversations and who recognize their limitless opportunity for growth, especially when considering perspectives different from their own. Beyond providing essential knowledge and skills, we strive to develop students' intellectual acuity to grapple with complex topics and build a community in which every individual feels a sense of belonging.

43% of students identify as people of color
20% families receive need-based financial assistance from the School
$3.5 million total dollars provided for need-based financial support
67 zip codes represented in the student body

Visit Community & Culture for more information.

PCDS is a nonsectarian, independent school. As a diverse community, PCDS educates students about world religions and celebrates a wide range of religious holidays and cultural traditions on campus.

PCDS is committed to educating the whole child and pays thoughtful attention to each student’s character development. In small classes, students develop fundamental relationships with teachers, allowing them to feel recognized and known; in weekly assemblies, students develop public speaking skills and take pride in sharing their ideas and interests; through a diverse range of clubs and activities, students become engaged and inclusive stewards of their school community; and through community outreach opportunities, students learn to be active citizens in their communities and in the world beyond campus. In addition, each school division has an age-appropriate social-emotional curriculum guided by school counselors.

Visit Community & Culture for more information.

Service learning is an essential part of the PCDS experience. The PCDS Portrait of a Graduate states, “I am inclined to action. I have made a difference in my community and I will continue to make a difference in the communities I join. I will use my education and my individuality to benefit someone other than myself. Because I know myself and I am curious about my world, I will identify an impact only I can make, and I will make it.”

Lower School students learn about needs in different communities and participate in various drives to support organizations, like Arizona Helping Hands, around the Valley. Older Lower School students will also experience firsthand volunteer opportunities at organizations like St. Vincent de Paul and Feed My Starving Children. 

Middle School students participate in grade-level service projects connected to particular organizations. Students and faculty volunteer with St. Mary's Food Bank, Feed My Starving Children, Children's First Academy, and more. Ongoing, meaningful follow-up with the organizations continues throughout the year, ensuring that students understand the impact of their volunteer work.

In Upper School, each student is required to complete at least 10 hours of independent community service every year. Also, there are grade-level service days and many student-led service-based clubs, including Key Club, which spearheads drives and service-based opportunities.

PCDS students do not wear uniforms. In keeping with the school’s Portrait of a Graduate and celebration of individuality, PCDS seeks to allow freedom of expression through dress while creating an atmosphere conducive to learning, respect, and personal growth.

Hot lunch and snacks are included in the cost of tuition for Pre-kindergarten through 8th grade students. Upper School students can purchase hot lunch and snacks in the Upper School Cafe or the Dining Hall through a student debit account, or they are permitted to bring their own lunch. Our hot lunch provider, Sage Dining Services, aims to provide delicious, nutrient-dense meals made from scratch in small batches using fresh, seasonal ingredients from local farmers and suppliers.

We currently offer pick-up and drop-off locations in Central and West Phoenix, and bus service is an additional fee. All routes are based on demand and are subject to annual review. Service is not available for Pre-kindergarten or Kindergarten students.

We want the parents of our students to feel welcome on campus and to feel encouraged to participate in the community in ways that feel comfortable for them and that work within their schedules. We have a very active Parents' Association that is an essential part of our school community. Our PA relies on volunteers to help support athletics, campus life, community outreach, hospitality, and special events. 

Visit Parents’ Association to learn more