Georgetown Day School (GDS) in Washington, DC takes most new High School students in Grade 9, and the application for fall 2027 entry is due January 6, 2027. This guide puts the dates in the order families meet them and says what GDS asks for at each step.
Which grades can a new student enter?
The primary entry grades are Prekindergarten, Kindergarten, 4th, 6th and 9th. GDS also expands enrollment slightly in 1st and 3rd Grade, and may admit students into other grades if space is available. Grade 12 is not an entry year, and admission to it is very limited.
For a family looking at the High School, that makes Grade 9 the main door. A student who wants to join in another High School grade should expect fewer openings.
The dates at a glance
| Step | Date | | --- | --- | | High School virtual open house | October 20, 2026, 5:00 to 6:30 PM | | High School in-person open house | December 6, 2026, 12:00 to 2:00 PM | | Interviews | Weekdays, mid-September to January | | Financial aid due, returning families | December 7, 2026 | | Application due | January 6, 2027 | | Financial aid due, new families | January 6, 2027 | | Supplementary materials due | January 13, 2027 | | Decisions released | February 26, 2027, 4:00 p.m., through Ravenna | | Shadow Day for admitted students | March 2027 |
Some pages on gds.org still show dates from the previous cycle. The dates above come from the admission dates page and the how-to-apply page for the 2027-2028 school year. Check both again before you plan around a specific day.
Step 1: Book the family interview
The first required step is to register for an interview. It includes both the applicant and parents or guardians. GDS offers virtual and in-person interviews, and at the High School the interview includes the prospective student and a tour.
Interviews are offered on weekdays from mid-September to January. Families do not need to submit the application before the interview, and interview spaces fill quickly. That is the main reason to start early. Waiting until December leaves fewer choices for the day and time.
Step 2: Choose a test and book it
GDS requires standardized testing. Applicants can submit the HSPT, SSAT or ISEE. Applicants to Grades 10 to 12 can submit a PSAT, SAT or ACT in place of the SSAT or ISEE. GDS also accepts certain school-administered tests, such as ERBs, MAP, SOL, Stanford, IOWA, CTPs, PARCC and CAPE, in place of the SSAT or ISEE.
Testing is one of the four things GDS requires, along with the application, report cards and teacher recommendations. Scores are part of the supplementary materials, which are due January 13, 2027. Pick a sitting early enough that scores reach GDS in time, and leave room for a second sitting if you want one.
Step 3: Start the application in Ravenna
Families apply through Ravenna. The portal for the 2027-2028 school year is open. The application fee is $75, and a fee waiver code is available by emailing the admissions office with the child's name and apply grade.
Each applicant needs four things on file:
- The application itself
- Report cards
- Teacher recommendations
- Standardized testing
The supplementary materials are transcripts, teacher recommendations, standardized testing and graded writing samples. Teachers and the current school usually send these directly, so ask them well before January 13.
Step 4: Decide on financial aid before January
Financial aid is a separate application. It runs through Clarity, not Ravenna. New families must submit it by January 6, 2027, the same day as the application. Returning families are due December 7, 2026.
If you think you may need aid, start the Clarity application while you are still waiting on test scores. GDS says it can be completed in as little as 20 minutes and transfers the 2025 W2 and 1040 directly from the IRS. The financial aid page on this site covers the rest.
Step 5: Decisions and Shadow Day
Decisions are released at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, February 26, 2027, through Ravenna. Check the portal on that day. All admitted students have a Shadow Day in March, before enrollment contracts are due.
GDS does not publish the date its enrollment contracts are due on the pages we reviewed, so plan to confirm it when your decision arrives.
A working plan for the fall
1. September. Request an interview and book it. Pick a test and a sitting. 2. October. Attend the virtual open house on October 20 if you want a look at the High School before your interview. 3. November. Ask teachers for recommendations, and request transcripts and graded writing samples from the current school. 4. December. Attend the in-person open house on December 6. If you are a returning aid family, submit aid by December 7. 5. Early January. Submit the application and the aid application by January 6, then confirm that materials arrive by January 13. 6. February 26. Log in to Ravenna at 4:00 p.m.
A calm schedule beats a crowded one. Most of the work is gathering documents and booking slots, and none of it needs to wait for the winter break.
What GDS does not publish
On the pages we reviewed, GDS does not post an admit rate, the number of applicants or seats, or average test scores. We do not guess at them here. If a number matters to your decision, ask the admissions office directly.
If you want help thinking through a particular student's timeline, EduAvenues can send a written recommendation. Start at EduAvenues high school admissions or send a note.
Sources
GDSPrep by EduAvenues is an independent service, not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Georgetown Day School.