Enrollment Information

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Questions about how to become a Champion? Here is information about registration and Frequently Asked Questions about TCDS.

To schedule a tour of TCDS, or if you have any questions, please click here.

Tucson Country Day School is an open enrollment, tuition-free public charter school and follows the rules and regulations set by the Arizona State Legislature and the Arizona Department of Education for accepting students into the school.

You can read about why former and current families and staff love TCDS here.

All students are given equal access to the school based on the Open Enrollment Policy adopted by our School Board. The policy is based on a fair and equitable system that provides for an Open Enrollment period, a lottery, and if necessary, a waiting list.  

Enrollment

Pre-Registration

Pre-registration begins November 21st, 2022 and guarantees a spot for current student(s) for the 2023-2024 academic year. Currently enrolled students must complete this process if they would like to continue at TCDS. Click here to pre-register.

Student(s) that have not completed pre-registration by December 5th, 2022 will be entered into the Open Enrollment lottery.

If your student falls into one of the categories below, they may enroll during the pre-registration period. Use the form found here (which includes a different version of our registration forms):

  • The student is a sibling (that has never attended TCDS) of a child that attends TCDS
  • The student is transitioning from Lil’ Champs to Kindergarten

Open Enrollment

Open enrollment for the 2023-2024 academic year for grades K-8 begins December 5th, 2022 and will continue until all stated capacities have been met.  As long as capacity is available after the pre-registration period, all new open enrollment applicants are considered for enrollment based on the following preferences:

  • New students who are children of employees or school board members
  • New students who are siblings of currently enrolled TCDS students
  • New students who have completed and turned in their Open Enrollment registration packet

Please contact Ms. Nicky Brown (nbrown@tcdschampions.com) with any additional questions.

Please note that students must be 5 years old by August 31st in order to be accepted into our Kindergarten program.

click here to start the open enrollment process

Common FAQs About TCDS:

1. What grades do you offer?

Tucson Country Day School is a tuition-free public charter school for grades K-8. We also offer a private preschool/pre-kindergarten (Early Childhood Education) that is tuition based.

2. What is the focus of your Early Education Program?

Your child’s early years are some of the most critical for developing an outlook built around exploration and learning beyond what is offered in a classroom. We provide diverse learning environments, materials and experiences that are designed to deepen children’s investigations into the world around them. To learn more, please visit our Early Education Program page.

3. Do TCDS students receive report cards?

All K-8 students receive a quarterly academic report card that outlines student progress in their grade level subject standards. Grades are reported in the form of the following proficiency scores:

Highly Proficient (HP): Consistently meets most requirements for exceptional work related to course standards and demonstrates a deep level of knowledge and skill for this point in the school year.

Proficient (P): Consistently meets most requirements for proficient work related to course standards and demonstrates grade level knowledge and skills for this point in the school year.

Partially Proficient (PP): Consistently meets some requirements for proficient work related to course standards and demonstrates some grade level knowledge and skills for this point in the school year.

Minimally Proficient (MP): Consistently meets few requirements for proficient work related to course standards and demonstrates little grade level knowledge and skill for this point in the school year.

4. What time does school start and finish?

TCDS runs on a split schedule to minimize congestion in the parking lot.  

  • K-3rd grade students attend from 7:40 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
  • 4th-5th grade students attend from 8:10 a.m. to 3:05 p.m.
  • 6th-8th grade students attend from 8:10 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.
    • Free sibling care is provided for 4th-8th grade students who need to remain after school until a K-3rd grade sibling is dismissed.
  • Early Childhood Education instruction begins at 8:30 am with care available from 6:30 am-6 pm.

Please reference the Parent/Student handbook, for specific drop off instructions.

A fee based before and after school care program is available for students who need to arrive at school prior to their scheduled drop-off, or remain at school more than 15 minutes after they (and any siblings) are dismissed at the end of the day.

5. Do you offer before and after school care?

Before and after school care is available. Before-school care starts at 6:30 a.m.-8:15a.m., and after-school care is available until 6 p.m.

  • Please contact our office for current rates for both before and after school programs.
  • Free sibling care is provided for 4th-8th grade students who need to remain after school until a K-3rd grade sibling is dismissed.

You can complete the Champion Care registration packet on our Parent Info page.

6. How much does it cost to attend TCDS?

  • Our K-8th grade programs are tuition free under Arizona’s Charter school statutes.  
  • Our Early Childhood Education (preschool/pre-kindergarten program) is tuition-based. We offer a variety of schedules including full week, and half days. Tuition is based on the schedule attended. Please contact the administration office for more information.

7. Do students that attend TCDS wear uniforms?

Within the K-8 programs, we structure uniforms using a color-coded system. Our Early Childhood Education program does not require uniforms. Please reference our Parent/Student handbook for more detail.

8. What types of activities do you offer outside of the regular school day?

We have many clubs, sporting teams and other activities depending on the child’s grade level and interests.  Some clubs include: garden club, drama, jump rope, Girl and Boy Scouts, KidzArt, and more.

5th through 8th grade students can participate in the extracurricular sports program.  We have boys teams in soccer, basketball and flag football, and girls teams for soccer, softball, volleyball, and basketball.  Our sports teams compete with other charter and private middle schools.

Please check out our sports and clubs page for additional information and required forms.

9. How is the lunch program structured?

Students are able to bring their own sack lunch or hot lunch can be purchased in advance for your child(ren). The service is provided by an outside vendor, “Healthy Innovations“. We participate in the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch program. If you’d like to see if you qualify, please complete the Free and Reduced Lunch Packet.

Lunchtime is staggered by grade level with students eating outside on the picnic tables or in their classrooms.

Regardless of whether you purchase hot lunch or send a lunch, please be sure to pack a healthy morning and afternoon snack for your child to eat during scheduled snack breaks.

Check out our lunch program page for additional details and you can purchase hot lunch online here.

10. How can parents and families participate in supporting TCDS?

Our Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) is an integral part of Tucson Country Day School, offering assistance to teachers in the classroom, holding fundraisers for supplemental materials and experiences, encouraging social interaction and generally helping out wherever and whenever a need arises.

Interested in volunteering? Please email <erinjoy1003@gmail.com> to be added to our volunteer list and also check out our PLEDGE (Parents Leaders Educators Developing Growth and Excitement) Facebook page.

11. How is TCDS governed and operated?

Tucson Country Day School is governed by a five-member school board. It is comprised by members involved in all areas of our community, including a former teacher, an author, a Raytheon employee, and Mr. Richard Cooper- our founder. We hold regular meetings to discuss how our school operates and methods to continue offering an environment of excellence to all students. You can find more information here.

12. How is TCDS financed?

For information about our budget and finances, please click here.

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