Ask the Admission Office!

Sylvanda Padilla
The admission season for the 2023-2024 school year is well underway, and the admission office is delighted to meet with prospective students and their families. To quote the first sentence of our mission statement, Harbor Day School provides an academically challenging, well-balanced education in a nurturing an inclusive family-centered environment. The information below answers some of the most frequently asked questions about the admission process and Harbor Day School. 

Q: What are the requirements to apply to Harbor Day for the 2023-2024 school year?
A: The online application for the 2023-2024 school year is due on January 11, 2023. To begin the online application, click here. Please reference the checklists by grade level for admission requirements and due dates.

Q: In what grades do you accept new students?
A: 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: What is the age requirement for kindergarten admission?
A: 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: How do I schedule a school tour?
A: The online application for the 2023-2024 school year must be submitted before scheduling a school tour. Tours can be scheduled by accessing the checklist scheduler when logged in to the admission portal.

Q: Does Harbor Day offer rolling admission?
A: We do not have rolling or mid-year admission.

Q: Is financial aid available?
A: 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 2023-2024 school year are due by February 15, 2023. For more information, visit https://www.harborday.org/admission/tuition--financial-aid.

Q: Is there a separate admission process for international students?
A: 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?
A: Beyond the Bell is our new after school program and offers enrichment classes from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Students are served a snack after school and meet their enrichment teachers. Enrichment class offerings have included Minecraft, Escape Room, Makerspace, Ceramics, Basketball, and Debate. Starting January 2023, we will offer after school care from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and enrichment classes. 

Q: Does Harbor Day have sports offerings?
A: 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: Which world languages are offered at Harbor Day?
A: 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: What is homework like?
A: 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: How do teachers keep their curriculum current?
A: 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? 
A: 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?
A: 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.
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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.

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