Admission Process

UCDS uses Ravenna, a web-based admission system for prospective families to submit application materials, register for events, track application status, and view decisions online.

To register for a tour or submit an application, create an account in Ravenna or log in to your existing account.

If your child will not be 3-years-old before September 1, 2026, visit Infant-Toddler Education for enrollment  information. 

Due to limited tour capacity, tour registration is reserved for prospective families applying for the 2026-2027 school year.

After creating an account in Ravenna, register for a required small-group tour. Throughout the tour, prospective families will experience UCDS in action. The tour begins with the Head of School sharing the UCDS philosophy and hallmark programs followed by the opportunity to observe students and teachers in preschool through 5th-grade classrooms, including Specialist classrooms. The tour ends with an opportunity to talk with key leadership and faculty.

Parent/Guardian tours are designed for adults only and conducted on school days from 9:00 am-11:00 am from October through January (when available, dates will be listed in Ravenna). If you are unable to attend any of the scheduled tour dates, please contact the Admission Office (admission@ucds.org) to receive the link to our virtual tour.

In an effort to ensure the quality of our admission process and give applicants our most thoughtful consideration, UCDS only accepts 300 applications.

To secure your place in the application process, we strongly recommend submitting your preliminary application and $75 fee in Ravenna by early December. The deadline to submit all application materials is January 15, 2026.

The following supplemental materials are submitted and tracked through Ravenna and are due January 15, 2026:

• Parent/Guardian Questionnaire
• Teacher Evaluation Form
• IQ Testing (required for K-5th grade applicants) (not submitted through Ravenna)
  Click for testing information
• Transcripts (required for 1st–5th grade applicants)

UCDS Visit Days are designed to be a fun experience for your child and allow them to explore our school environment. Classrooms are set up like a regular school day with a variety of activities for your child to explore. Our goal is to meet your child in person and get to know their personality and the qualities that make them unique.

Registration for UCDS Early Elementary and Elementary Visit Days will become available after you have submitted your preliminary application. In the meantime, please reserve the following dates in your calendar:

Early Elementary (PS-K) Visit Days: 

• Thursday, February 26th
• Friday, February 27th
• Saturday, February 28th

Elementary (Grades 1-5) Visit Days:

• TBD
• TBD

Out-of-state Applicants: We encourage your child to visit on one of our scheduled dates, but can work with your family to accommodate your schedule. UCDS classrooms must be in session to host an applicant.

The Parent/Guardian Interview serves a vital role by giving parents/guardians the opportunity to talk about their child(ren) in greater depth with faculty members. The interview is also the best time for you to ask any remaining questions you have about UCDS.

Parent/guardian interviews will be conducted virtually and will last approximately 15 to 20 minutes. All parents/guardians are required to attend (adults only, please). Registration takes place in Ravenna, where available dates will be listed once scheduling opens.

For more information, contact our Director of Enrollment Management and Outreach,
Tami Milles-Atterberry.