Admission Process

Parent Visit and Campus Tour

We would be pleased to share our campus life and educational programs through a personal tour. Individual tours provide parents with an opportunity to ask specific questions about a Riverside education for their child. Please call the Admission Office at (904) 353-3459 to schedule your tour and meeting with Shirley Francis, Director of Admission and Head of Lower School.

Application and Fees

Please submit application form (PDF) and appropriate application fee:

  • Pre-K3: $100
  • Pre-K4 through Grade 6: $50

Receipt of the signed application form and application fee initiates the application process. The Admission Office will guide you throughout the admission process.

Assessment and Student Visit

Admission assessment and school day visits are scheduled by the Admission Office according to the grade level the student will be entering. Appointments are scheduled upon receipt of an application.

  • PreK3 – Our three year old program is a developmental play program and requires no admission evaluation for entry. As PreK3 students move to PreK4, they will participate in the same assessment process required for admission to the PreK4 program.
  • PreK4 – Our four year old program requires that students be evaluated for overall readiness and maturity for preschool learning. The Admission Office will call you to schedule an individual assessment for your child.
  • Kindergarten – Our Kindergarten program requires that students be evaluated for overall readiness and maturity for Kindergarten. The Admission Office will call you to schedule an individual assessment for your child.
  • Grades 1 – 6 – Students are paired with a buddy during a full school day visit. Lunch and snack is our treat! Each student will be evaluated during the course of a regular school day.

Recommendations and School Records

Please submit the following to the Admission Office at 830 Oak Street, Jacksonville, FL 32204:

  • A Teacher Recommendation Form (PreK3 to 1st Grade | 2nd to 6th Grade) completed for students entering PreK4 through sixth grade. Completed forms should be mailed directly to the Admission Office by your child’s current teacher after November 1st.
  • Current school records including report cards and standardized testing scores for students entering first through sixth grade.

Admission Deadline

RPDS is currently accepting applications for the 2010-2011 school year. We welcome all applications and look forward to serving your family.

Admission Decision

The Admission Committee reviews all applications. First round decisions will be mailed Thursday, February 24, 2011. We continue to offer acceptances for available openings throughout the spring and summer months.

Financial Assistance

Admission decisions are not made based upon a family’s need for financial assistance. Riverside is dedicated to providing financial assistance through ISM FAST. Information and an application are available online.

If you have any further questions about the Admission process, please contact Vivian Bradford in the Admission Office at (904) 353-3459. Thank you.