Admission

Frequently Asked Questions

List of 15 frequently asked questions.

  • Q. What are the requirements to apply to Harbor Day for the 2024-2025 school year?

    The online application for the 2024-2025 school year is due on January 12, 2024. This is a hard deadline. Please reference the checklists by grade level for admission requirements and due dates.
         2024-25 Grades 5, 7-8 Checklist

    The online application for the 2025-2026 school year will open on September 1, 2024. Tours are available on a first-come, first-served basis after submitting the online application.
  • Q. In what grades do you accept new students?

    We accept applications for all grades, kindergarten through eight. Kindergarten and sixth grade are our main entry points. We have 44 openings in kindergarten and a minimum of six openings in sixth grade each year. We typically learn of openings in non-entry grade levels in March.
  • Q. Does Harbor Day have a waitlist?

    The wait pool is created after the admission committee has reviewed all completed candidate files, with admission decisions posted in March. The wait pool remains active through the summer. The wait pool is not ranked. If an opening becomes available due to enrollment changes, each applicant remaining in our wait pool will be reviewed to determine which candidate will best fill the position. If the opportunity to enroll does not become available, candidates may reapply for the following school year. Applications will open September 1.
  • Q. Does Harbor Day offer rolling admission?

    We do not have rolling or mid-year admission.
  • Q. What is the age requirement for kindergarten admission?

    Applicants must be five by September 1 of the year they enter kindergarten. There are no exceptions. Students who turn five during the summer (June 1 - August 31) are encouraged to wait until the following year.
  • Q. What does tuition include?

    Harbor Day’s tuition includes all field trips, school supplies, athletics, one-to-one iPads in all grades, and the yearbook.
  • Q. Is financial aid available?

    Financial aid is available and is need-based. We strongly encourage families who think they may need financial assistance to apply for financial aid. Financial aid applications for the 2024-2025 school year are due by February 15, 2024. For more information, visit https://www.harborday.org/page/admission/tuition-and-financial-aid.
  • Q. Is there a separate admission process for international students?

    Our online admission process is the same for all applicants. Students who are not U.S. citizens but have legal status to attend school in the U.S. without being issued an I-20 may apply. Admitted students must be fluent in English as we do not have an English as a Second Language program. All Harbor Day School students must live locally with a parent or legal guardian.
  • Q. Do you offer extended care for students after school?

    Beyond the Bell is our after school program. Students are served a snack after school and either go to after care or participate in enrichment classes. Previous enrichment class offerings have included Minecraft, art, chess, robotics, ceramics, basketball, mindfulness, and debate.
  • Q. What is homework like?

    Brief homework assignments are sent home once a week in kindergarten. As the children move through the grades, they become accountable for more extensive independent work. In addition to its essential value as practice and preparation, homework allows children to take responsibility for their work.
  • Q. Which world languages are offered at Harbor Day?

    Spanish begins in kindergarten and is taught three days a week. Fifth grade students take a trimester of Spanish, Latin, and Mandarin. At the end of their fifth-grade school year, students choose which world language to continue studying for grades six through eight.
  • Q. Does Harbor Day have sports offerings?

    Middle school students (grades 5-8) may participate in our after school sports program. Sports offerings include volleyball, basketball, flag football, cross country, and track and field. Fourth grade students are also eligible to participate in cross country.
  • Q. How do teachers keep their curriculum current?

    Professional development is of the utmost importance to our teachers and administration. Teachers and administrators attend workshops and conferences each year. The faculty, led by department chairs, assumes a significant part of the responsibility for designing the curriculum.
  • Q. How does the school get families involved?

    Family involvement supports school operations, enrichment opportunities, and the academic program. Coordinated by the Parent Council Board, there are many volunteer opportunities for parents/guardians, such as staffing the library, and the lunch program, serving as a room parent, and being on committees for special events like Grandparents’ Day.
  • Q. In what high schools do Harbor Day students typically enroll?

    Our students matriculate to various high schools, including Corona del Mar High School, JSerra, Laguna Beach High School, Mater Dei High School, Pacifica Christian, Sage Hill High School, and St. Margaret’s Episcopal School. We also have students matriculate to boarding schools such as Cate School, Choate Rosemary Hall, Phillips Academy Andover, and The Thacher School. Wherever our students matriculate, they report that they are well prepared.

Harbor Day School

3443 Pacific View Drive
Corona del Mar, CA 92625 Phone<title><script type="mce-text/javascript"> (function(a,e,c,f,g,h,b,d){var k={ak:"984895077",cl:"EfBCCP-Fv3UQ5ZzR1QM"};a[c]=a[c]||function(){(a[c].q=a[c].q||[]).push(arguments)};a[g]||(a[g]=k.ak);b=e.createElement(h);b.async=1;b.src="//www.gstatic.com/wcm/loader.js";d=e.getElementsByTagName(h)[0];d.parentNode.insertBefore(b,d);a[f]=function(b,d,e){a[c](2,b,k,d,null,new Date,e)};a[f]()})(window,document,"_googWcmImpl","_googWcmGet","_googWcmAk","script"); </script><head><body>1-949-640-1410<html></html></body></head><br><br><br>
949-640-1410
Harbor Day School is a co-educational private independent K-8 school established in 1952.
Harbor Day School does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, or other programs administered by the School.