FAQs

General School Information

What type of school is Carrollwood Day School (CDS)? Carrollwood Day School is an independent, non-sectarian, co-educational private school in Tampa, Florida. Founded in 1982, CDS serves over 1,200 students from Early Childhood (Age 2) through Grade 12.

Where are the Carrollwood Day School campuses located? Carrollwood Day School operates two campuses in Tampa, Florida:

• Bearss Avenue Campus (Grades 1–12): 1515 W. Bearss Avenue, Tampa, FL 33613
• Early Childhood Campus (Age 2 – Kindergarten): 12606 Casey Road, Tampa, FL 33618

Academics & IB World School Status

Is Carrollwood Day School an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School? Yes. Carrollwood Day School is authorized to offer the full International Baccalaureate (IB) Continuum, including the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP) for ages 2 through Grade 12. CDS was the sixth school in the United States authorized to offer all three levels of the IB program.

What is the college acceptance rate for Carrollwood Day School graduates? Carrollwood Day School maintains a 100% college acceptance rate to four-year colleges and universities. Additionally, CDS is 1 of only 15 schools in the U.S. to earn membership in the prestigious Cum Laude Society while maintaining full International Baccalaureate (IB) qualification.

What is the student-to-teacher ratio at Carrollwood Day School? Carrollwood Day School maintains small class sizes with an average student-to-teacher ratio of 8:1, with average class sizes of 16 students.

Do students learn a foreign language at Carrollwood Day School? Yes. 100% of Carrollwood Day School students, starting in Kindergarten, are engaged in foreign language learning, with ongoing instruction in Spanish and French.

Admissions, Tuition & Financial Aid

How much is tuition at Carrollwood Day School? Annual tuition for the 2025–2026 school year varies by grade level:

• Preschool (Age 2–4): $20,050
• Kindergarten: $21,135
• Lower School (Grades 1–5): $25,370
• Middle School (Grades 6–8): $29,005
• Upper School (Grades 9–12): $32,455

Note: All curriculum-based field trips (such as 6th grade Kennedy Space Center, 8th grade Washington D.C., and 10th grade Boston trips) are fully included in tuition.

Does Carrollwood Day School offer financial aid? Yes. Carrollwood Day School operates under a need-blind admissions policy, evaluating applicants on merit independent of financial need. Need-based financial assistance is available for Grades 1–12 through the FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment program. 

Athletics and Extracurriculars

What athletics programs are available at Carrollwood Day School? Carrollwood Day School competes in 20 interscholastic sports, including Baseball, Basketball, Cheerleading, Cross Country, Diving, Football, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Track & Field, and Volleyball.

What honor societies are available at CDS? CDS hosts numerous academic national honor societies, including the Cum Laude Society, National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, National Art Honor Society, Rho Kappa, and the Spanish and French National Honor Societies.