Admissions FAQs

How do I contact Bennett Day Admissions?

For grades PreK-2, contact Laura Maheshwary, Director of Admissions (PreK-2), at laura.maheshwary@bennettday.org or call 312-236-6388 ext. 1103. You can also directly schedule a call here.

For grades 3-12, contact Stephanie Castrounis, Director of Admissions (3-12), at stephanie.castrounis@bennettday.org or call 312-236-6388 ext. 1603 You can also directly schedule a call here.

When can I apply for the 2024-2025 school year?

We are currently accepting applications for the 2024-25 school year. Start your application today.

Please note: after you click the link above, you will need to:

Create an account on Ravenna
Search for Bennett Day School
Click to start your application

What is Bennett Day School tuition?

Grade	Tuition
PreK (M-F from 8:30-11:30 am)	$17,975*
PreK (w/ Stay & Play M-F; 8:30-3:15 pm)	$24,875*
JK-SK	$31,795*
1st-12th Grade	$33,075*
More Info on Upper School Tuition

What are the birthday cut offs at each grade level?

PreK: 3 years old by September 1, 2024
JK: 4 years old by September 1, 2024
SK: 5 years old by September 1, 2024

What is the required admissions playdate for grades PreK-SK? What can I expect?

Applicants will spend time interacting with peers and Bennett Day School teachers in a variety of experiences. PreK applicants should have one trusted adult present with the applicant child at the playdate. Please note due to space limitations, we can only accommodate one adult. JK and SK applicants do not have an adult accompany them in the playdate but an adult should remain in the school building during this time.

What is the required student shadow day for grades 1-12? What can I expect?

As part of the admissions process, we require students in grades 1-12 to attend a full day of school at Bennett. During the shadow day, your child will have the opportunity to meet their grade level peers, experience a “typical” day at Bennett, and gain a sense of what our school community is like.

What is the required student display of creative work for Upper School?

Display of Creative Work:

As part of our Upper School admissions process, we want to really get to know students. Applicants will submit a quality display of creative work that will help us understand who they are. The display should be one page (8.5 by 11) or a media file (video, audio, etc.) lasting one-minute maximum. Ideas for displays could be, but are not limited to:

Short story
Lines of code
Poem
Drawing
Painting
Musical composition
Video

Submissions can be created specifically for this application or can be something that the student previously produced for another purpose. Students are also asked to submit a short paragraph explaining their submission choice.

What is the enrollment policy at Bennett Day School?

Enrollment in Bennett Day School is open to children and families of any race, color, religion, sexual orientation, and national or ethnic origin. We seek a diverse student body and family community in support of the mission, vision, and values of the school. We maintain an admissions process reflective of these goals.

What do you look for when considering an applicant?

We strive to create a diverse and inspiring learning community at Bennett Day School, so our process for considering applicants includes observations from family and teachers and takes into consideration developmental readiness, adaptability, and eagerness to learn. Those attributes wear many different faces and look different on different children. We are looking for students and families who will benefit and contribute to the life of our school.

What is the student to teacher ratio?

PreK: 7:1
JK – Grade 12: 8:1

If my child is denied acceptance, will I be able to find out why?

Per the School’s Admissions Policy, the Admissions Office will keep all materials confidential.

How do you measure and evaluate student growth?

Bennett Day School views outcomes and growth in a variety of different ways. Our evaluative process focuses heavily on documentation of learning. Frequent communication between school and home through conferences and narrative reports serve as the primary means of evaluative data. The school will use standardized tests to support evaluation of student growth at developmental milestone years. However, this data will not be used for class ranking, placement, or to define student growth.

What subjects does your program include?

In addition to the core subjects of mathematics, literacy, physical sciences and social sciences, the school also offers Spanish, Tinkering and Engineering Sciences (TES), Art, Music, and Physical Education.

What after school programs do you offer?

We offer a variety of after-school programs for PreK-12th grade students that extend until 5:45 pm each day.

This includes Stay & Play (for PreK students only), AfterCare for PreK-SK, Bennett & Beyond enrichment programs for 1st-4th, and Clubs and Athletics for 5th-12th.

Learn more.

Do the Early Childhood classroom schedules include a nap?

The PreK Stay and Play program includes an afternoon naptime.
The JK schedule includes an afternoon naptime.