K-8, Co-educational Independent School

CURRENT FAMILIES

FAQs

Is there an age requirement for Kindergarten?

Students must turn 5 by September 30th of the year they enter Kindergarten.

How long is the school day?

The school day begins at 8:00 am and ends at 3:00pm.  AM and PM Care are available for an additional fee from 7:00 – 8:00am and 3:00 – 6:00pm.

Is lunch provided?

Students may bring their own lunch or enroll in the school-sponsored lunch program. 

ACDS partners with Full Spectrum Catering for its hot lunch program.  Meals are pre-ordered and may be ordered by the day, week or month. Orders must be placed by the Friday before the desired delivery date.

Is there transportation available?

Unfortunately, during COVID-19, we lost our transportation provider.  We are currently seeking another solution.  Please contact Liz Hendrickson at admissions@acdsnet.org for more information.

Are there uniforms?

At ACDS we believe that the content of a student’s mind and character is what is most important. Therefore, we require our students to dress in accordance with the following dress code:

• Hunter green or white knit polo shirts or dresses with a collar or turtleneck

• Khaki pants, shorts, skirts, skorts, capris or jumpers

• Enclosed soft sole shoe

• White or hunter green sweaters or sweatshirts or certain ACDS Spirit Wear sweatshirts (with or without hoods) are also permitted

Is the school accredited?

ACDS is accredited by the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS). The school is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), Independent School Management (ISM), Elementary Schools Heads Association, The Parents Council of Washington, Latino Student Fund, Emerging Scholars, International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), Educational Records Bureau (ERB), and Enrollment Management Association.

When is the application deadline?

Applications are accepted beginning in September and should be submitted no later than January 17, 2025 for the 2025-2026 school year. Applications submitted after January 17 will be considered under a rolling admissions policy. 

Is tuition inclusive of all fees?

Although tuition covers the majority of our program, the following additional fees may apply:

ACDS will provide the majority of the necessary school supplies for the school year. A list of school supplies that we are asking parents to supply will be provided.

ACDS provides an optional hot-lunch program through Full Spectrum Catering for an additional fee. Students can elect to participate in this program or bring their own lunch.

ACDS provides before-school and after-school (A.M. and P.M.) care on a drop-in basis and on a trimester contract basis.

The ACDS Association of Parents & Families (APF) dues are $175 per student. These dues cover faculty appreciation activities and gifts as well as fund class parties and school-wide events sponsored by the APF.

Do you offer financial aid?

Need-based Financial Aid is available to students at ACDS. In order for us to allocate our resources wisely and fairly, we have enlisted the help of an independent third-party, Clarity. Clarity does not decide whether financial assistance will be given or how much to give, rather Clarity provides the school with a report, which includes a recommendation of what a family should reasonably contribute toward tuition. Financial aid grants are made for one school year only; recipients must reapply for financial aid each year. Applications for tuition assistance should be completed no later than January 31st for new applicants and December 31st for returning students for the school year starting the following September.

What is your student/teacher ratio?

Our student/teacher ratio is 7:1.

What is your average class size?

Our average class size is 13.

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