Kindergarten Admissions Process

Kindergarten Application Process

List of 6 items.

Inquire

The first step to the application process is to complete an inquiry form.

Please note: for the 2026-27 school year, Kindergarten girls must be five years old by August 1, 2026 and Kindergarten boys must be five years old by June 1, 2026. Families should apply to the grade that directly corresponds with the stated birthday cutoff date. If you have questions about your child’s readiness and/or our birthday cutoff, please contact the Admissions Office.
Tour

Parents/Guardians are invited to join a group tour during May and September of their child’s application year. Once the inquiry is processed, families can self schedule a tour date.
Apply

Applications will become available through the admissions portal on August 12, 2025. The first date to submit an application for Kindergarten is September 30, 2025. Please note that we limit the number of Kindergarten applications we process to 70 boys and 70 girls, and often reach that number within the same week, and at times in the first few days.

Sibling, legacy and faculty applicant families are asked to submit their applications on September 15, 2025.
Interview

Parent and guardian interviews are scheduled October-January. Interviews provide an individualized opportunity for the Admissions Office to learn more about each family and address specific questions about JTD.
Student Assessment

The Kindergarten admissions process includes an assessment of a child's developmental readiness for our program and an understanding of each child’s personality and strengths. Kindergarten assessments will be held on select Saturdays in January and February.
Events

We host a number of events throughout the fall and winter for applicant families, including Open Houses and Curriculum Chats. More information will be shared later in the process.

A Note About Birthdays

All of our grade levels, but especially our Kindergarten, are designed to meet children where they are developmentally. We strive to create grade levels that are composed of children within a set age range and recognize that within this age range will also be an array of corresponding developmental skills. When a child’s birthdate falls close to the cutoff date, the School will ask a family to still apply in the application year that their birthday falls. In some cases, in consultation with the family and preschool, it may be determined that the child is not ready for our Kindergarten program in that school year. If a family applies for a year outside the cutoff date, the School reserves the right to determine if the child should be considered for the grade associated with their birthday.

The integrity of the class dynamic is determined by many factors, including chronological age. While we recognize that chronological age and developmental age can appear differently when children are younger, this gap tends to narrow as students become older. It is not in the best interest of a grade to have children who are significantly older or younger than their grade-level peers.

Please note, in order to apply to our Kindergarten for the 2026-27 school year, boys must be five years old by June 1, 2026, and girls must be five years old by August 1, 2026. Families should apply to the grade that directly corresponds with the stated birthday cutoff date. Please contact the Admissions Office with any questions.

Important Dates

August 12, 2025: Applications and Fall Tours are released online
September 15, 2025: Affiliated Family Submission Date
September 30, 2025: First day to submit Kindergarten Application
November 3, 2025 – January 9, 2026: Teacher Recommendations accepted
March 13, 2026: Notification Date

Learn More

Visit our FAQ

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Submit Inquiry

Looking for transfer student application information?

Let’s begin the application process for grades 1-6.

Transfer Student Admissions Process ›

Ready to apply?

Applicants for admission are accepted one year prior to the student's enrollment. If you have just found out you are moving to Los Angeles or if you have any questions, please feel free to call the admissions office for information.

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The John Thomas Dye School

11414 Chalon Road
Los Angeles, CA 90049
Phone: (310) 476-2811

The John Thomas Dye School admits students of any race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic or other school-administered programs.

Located In Los Angeles, CA, John Thomas Dye is an independent school for grades K-6. Students benefit from a challenging academic program, fine arts, competitive athletics, and a wide selection of extracurricular activities.