Admissions

Welcome to Seattle Country Day School (SCDS), a warm, welcoming school for gifted children, grades K–8. We’d like to answer a few questions that arise for parents as they search for a new school. If you have additional questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to our admissions team.

How can I tell if my child is gifted? Gifted children are part of every community, race, and social class, but they sometimes go unrecognized. Gifted children often display curiosity, intensity, a drive to learn, enjoyment in playing with ideas, and the ability to pull together concepts, make associations, recognize patterns, and note disparities.

Is admission based on giftedness? Yes, in part. The school requires that children take the WISC IQ test, and their score serves as a basic metric (but not the only metric) for admission. Read more about the admissions-application process and IQ testing.

Will SCDS provide a welcoming, inclusive community for my child? Absolutely. We want children to bring their entire selves to school, and we help foster their development through a program called Synapse. Synapse, which combines social-emotional learning (SEL) and DEI-related concepts, allows children to learn more about themselves, their families, and the world around them. More generally, we’d like you to know that SCDS places a high priority on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and these values are reflected throughout our school, from our admissions process to our curriculum.

Can my family afford SCDS? If you think SCDS is out of reach for your family, please reconsider. SCDS provides generous, need-based financial aid packages, and financial aid will be available in the 2024–25 school year. Our financial aid program supports other school expenses, including bus service, lunch, and overnight trips.

What will my child experience in class? Classes at SCDS are small, and teachers are dedicated to their subjects and their students. What really sets our close-knit, welcoming campus apart, however, is our focus on guided inquiry-based learning. All courses at SCDS are taught using inquiry, which uses students’ natural curiosity to challenge them As a result, teachers shape their classes around series of questions that puzzle and stimulate students, rather than around rote learning and textbooks — neither of which we employ.

What about arts, sports, and other activities? SCDS has a vibrant arts program and a sports program that includes basketball, cross-country, soccer, tennis, track, ultimate frisbee, and girls’ volleyball. Our Extended Day after-school program offers additional classes.

Can my child transfer in for Middle School? Yes! SCDS’s Middle School, grades 6–8, welcomes new students and provides deeper opportunities for learning and leadership. Your child will have access to dozens of electives, find teachers who will stimulate their interest in learning, and make good friends. (Children are welcome to transfer to SCDS in any grade; grades K–2 and 4–6 are common entry points.)

What transportation options do you offer? SCDS offers bus service to South Seattle, West Seattle, the Eastside, the Madison Park/Capitol Hill area, and North Seattle. Some families employ carpooling, too.

How does SCDS prepare my child for the future? Inquiry-based learning and Synapse form the educational core of our school, and our goal is to graduate lifelong learners and creative, empathetic problem-solvers. More immediately, our graduates consistently attend great high schools and colleges.

Meet the Team

Matt Stenovec, Director of Admissions
Matthew Ropp, Assistant Director of Admissions

Matt Stenovec, Director of Admissions

Matt Stenovec graduated from Whitman College with a B.A. in environmental humanities and followed that with an M.Ed. in private school leadership from the University of Hawai`i Mānoa. Matt began his career as an outdoor leadership and adventure instructor, slowly turning towards field science and, finally, the classroom. Prior to his arrival at SCDS, Matt was the director of enrollment management at another local independent school. He also volunteers as a board member at DiscNW and as a trustee at Seven Peaks School in Bend, Oregon. Matt’s work with NWAIS led to the founding of the Emerging Leaders Program, and he sits on both the Steering and Equity and Access Committees for Puget Sound Independent Schools. In his free time, Matt enjoys camping, cycling, playing Ultimate, and spending time with his wife, three daughters, and extremely delinquent lab, Moose.

Matthew Ropp, Assistant Director of Admissions

Matthew Ropp graduated from Northern Illinois University with a BA in Communications (Media Studies). After spending several years in the classroom, first as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Malaysia, then as a literacy and creative writing tutor in Shanghai, China, Matthew decided to return to the States and pursue working "behind the scenes" in private education. In his free time, Matthew enjoys exploring Tacoma's breathtaking public parks and beaches with his partner and their newly-adopted pitbull puppy.

Why Do You Love SCDS?

Students and Identity at SCDS

Students consider — in Synapse and in other classes —
questions related to identity and belonging.

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