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Carrollwood Day School

United States, Tampa

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 2 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 1265
Type Co-educational
Opened 1981
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)
Taught languages Spanish, French
Strengths Sport, Visual and Creative Arts, Languages
Clubs Leadership and Professional, Community and Service, Cultural and Language
Stages Infant/Toddler Care, Early Years, Elementary, Middle School, High School
Introduction

Carrollwood Day School is a private, independent PreK–12 in Tampa, Florida, serving ages 2–18 on two campuses: the Early Childhood Campus and the Bearss Avenue Campus. It is an International Baccalaureate World School offering the full continuum: PYP in the Lower School, MYP in the Middle School, and the Diploma Programme in the Upper School. CDS is one of 36 U.S. IB World Schools authorized for the full continuum, and the only west Florida school to offer the complete MYP five-year sequence. It joined Round Square in 2022. Facilities include a Design Technology/Maker Lab, a library, and dedicated spaces for music, art, PE, and technology; athletic facilities at the Wagner Athletic Complex and the Hayes Family Gymnasium. The school offers extensive after-school options, including Beyond the Bell, the Duke of Edinburgh program, Round Square experiences, and the Entrepreneurship Institute, with IB service and leadership opportunities. Arts offerings include Visual Arts, Music, and Theatre, with DP extensions.

The Essentials

Carrollwood Day School has 1,265 pupils, instruction in English.

Location
Bearss Avenue Campus: 1515 W Bearss Ave, Tampa, FL 33613. Early Childhood Campus: 12606 Casey Road, Tampa, FL 33618. CDS is located in the Tampa area. The campuses are connected by the Bearss Avenue corridor and Casey Road area, with bus transportation available to and from the Bearss Avenue Campus.

Stages
PreK 3 through 12th grade. Lower School uses the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) for ages from preschool through grade 5; Middle School uses the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) for grades 6–8; Upper School uses the IB Diploma Programme (DP) for grades 9–12.

Type
Private, independent K-12 school.

Additional learning support
The CDS student support team focuses on the whole child by addressing social-emotional, physical, and intellectual wellness. Counselors and learning specialists provide support for social-emotional and academic needs and collaborate with families, faculty, and external providers.

Country affiliation
IB World School (International Baccalaureate).

School day structure
School day typically runs 8:00 AM to 3:05 PM, with division-specific variations.

Bus service
Carrollwood Day School offers transportation to and from the Bearss Avenue Campus on a fleet of school-owned buses.
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
The school is a day school and does not offer boarding.

Uniform Requirement
CDS uses an approved uniform dress code. Lower School uniforms include CDS polo shirts in red or white with khaki slacks or skirts and white blouses for girls. Middle and Upper School uniforms include CDS polo-type shirts in red, white, or gray with khaki or gray bottoms; shoes must be closed-toe and outerwear must be CDS-branded.

Food Options
Flik Independent School Dining provides the CDS dining program with scratch-prepared entrees, a vegetarian option, a daily grill, chef-prepared salads, a full salad bar, deli sandwiches, fresh fruit and yogurt parfaits, snacks, and grab-and-go options. Breakfast is available daily from 7–10 AM, and menus can be viewed at carrollwoodday.flikisdining.com. Lunch is prepaid via MySchool Bucks or by check, and each student has a POS ID for lunch purchases.

Governance and Ownership
Carrollwood Day School is governed by a Board of Trustees. The Head of School is Sara Rubinstein. The Board sets policy, oversees financial affairs, hires the Head of School, and guides the school's future.
Fees
Application fee
- A non-refundable application fee of USD 75 is required for the 2026–2027 admissions cycle.

Tuition fees (2026–2027) — annual amounts and payment-plan installments
- Payment-plan options available: Full Pay (single payment), Semi‑Annual (2 installments; annual amount includes a USD 250 plan fee), or Monthly (9 months, June through February; annual amount includes a USD 550 plan fee). Annual amounts shown below include the applicable plan fee when listed under those plans; Semi‑Annual installment = Semi‑Annual annual ÷ 2; Monthly installment = Monthly annual ÷ 9.

- Toddlers & PK‑3 — 3‑Day Half‑Day (toddlers only)
- Full Pay (annual): USD 12,980
- Semi‑Annual (annual): USD 13,230 → Semi‑Annual installment: USD 6,615.00
- Monthly (9 months, annual): USD 13,530 → Monthly installment: USD 1,503.33.

- Toddlers & PK‑3 — 3‑Day Full‑Day (toddlers only)
- Full Pay (annual): USD 15,380
- Semi‑Annual (annual): USD 15,630 → Semi‑Annual installment: USD 7,815.00
- Monthly (9 months, annual): USD 15,930 → Monthly installment: USD 1,770.00.

- Toddlers & PK‑3 — 5‑Day Half‑Day
- Full Pay (annual): USD 17,195
- Semi‑Annual (annual): USD 17,445 → Semi‑Annual installment: USD 8,722.50
- Monthly (9 months, annual): USD 17,745 → Monthly installment: USD 1,971.67.

- Toddlers & PK‑3 — 5‑Day Full‑Day
- Full Pay (annual): USD 20,050
- Semi‑Annual (annual): USD 20,300 → Semi‑Annual installment: USD 10,150.00
- Monthly (9 months, annual): USD 20,600 → Monthly installment: USD 2,288.89.

- PreK‑4 — 5‑Day Full‑Day
- Full Pay (annual): USD 20,050
- Semi‑Annual (annual): USD 20,300 → Semi‑Annual installment: USD 10,150.00
- Monthly (9 months, annual): USD 20,600 → Monthly installment: USD 2,288.89.

- Kindergarten
- Full Pay (annual): USD 21,135
- Semi‑Annual (annual): USD 21,385 → Semi‑Annual installment: USD 10,692.50
- Monthly (9 months, annual): USD 21,685 → Monthly installment: USD 2,409.44.

- Elementary (Grades 1–5)
- Full Pay (annual): USD 25,370
- Semi‑Annual (annual): USD 25,620 → Semi‑Annual installment: USD 12,810.00
- Monthly (9 months, annual): USD 25,920 → Monthly installment: USD 2,880.00.

- Middle School (Grades 6–8)
- Full Pay (annual): USD 29,005
- Semi‑Annual (annual): USD 29,255 → Semi‑Annual installment: USD 14,627.50
- Monthly (9 months, annual): USD 29,555 → Monthly installment: USD 3,283.89.

- Upper School (Grades 9–12)
- Full Pay (annual): USD 32,455
- Semi‑Annual (annual): USD 32,705 → Semi‑Annual installment: USD 16,352.50
- Monthly (9 months, annual): USD 33,005 → Monthly installment: USD 3,667.22.

Deposit / Enrollment fee
- A non‑refundable USD 1,000 deposit is required.
- For returning students and all ECC (early childhood) students the deposit is applied to tuition.
- For newly enrolled students in grades 1–12 the deposit is applied to a one‑time matriculation fee.

Student Services Fee (annual)
- Lower School (Kindergarten): USD 500
- Lower School (Grades 1–5): USD 600
- Middle School (Grades 6–8): USD 700
- Upper School (Grades 9–11): USD 930
- Upper School (Grade 12): USD 1,350
The Student Services Fee covers a portion of tuition insurance, yearbook, class activities, technology infrastructure, IB fees, and graduation costs for 12th graders.

Optional / Additional fees and items not included in tuition
- Mandatory exclusions (costs not covered by tuition): uniforms; Middle and Upper School daily supplies (notebooks, pens, etc.); laptops for Grades 7–12 aligned with published tech specifications (families must supply or follow school program).
- Examples of optional fees or add‑on services (amounts vary by program or participation):
- Lower School After‑School Care and ECC before/after care
- Enrichment and after‑school programs
- Athletic participation fees (grades noted by program)
- Summer camps
- Global travel / overnight curricular trips (grades 6–10 curricular trips are included in tuition when specified; other travel programs may be additional)
- Bus transportation (school bus)
- Flik Dining lunch plan (annual): ECC USD 915; Elementary USD 1,150; Middle School USD 1,330; Upper School (Grades 9–11) USD 1,425; Grade 12 USD 1,260.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Payment plans: families choose Full Pay, Semi‑Annual (2 payments) or Monthly (9 payments: June through February). The Semi‑Annual plan carries a USD 250 administrative fee (included in the Semi‑Annual annual amount) and the Monthly plan carries a USD 550 administrative fee (included in the Monthly annual amount).
- Billing and payment platform: VC Pay is used for billing and payments of tuition and fees (lunch payments excepted). Parents must set up and maintain a VC Pay account.
- Accepted payment methods (for normal installment billing): Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) from checking or savings (no convenience fee) or credit card (convenience fee applies). Credit‑card convenience fees are applied directly to card payments (range cited for AMEX on file). Personal checks, cashier's checks, bank checks, and money orders are accepted only for lump‑sum or full‑tuition payments.
- Late and returned‑payment charges: a late charge of 1.5% per month (18% per annum) applies to payments not received within 10 days of the due date; a returned‑payment fee of USD 30.00 (or the actual bank fee, whichever is higher) applies to returned checks or failed ACH; default (30 days past due) may trigger collection costs; accounts more than 90 days past due may be accelerated and referred to collections.

Boarding
- Carrollwood Day School is a day school; boarding accommodations and boarding fees are not applicable.

Refund information (summary of applicable items)
- The USD 1,000 deposit is non‑refundable; it is applied to tuition for returning and ECC students and applied to a one‑time matriculation fee for new students in grades 1–12. The Student Services Fee includes a portion that supports tuition insurance coverage. Standard late‑payment, returned‑payment, default and collection provisions apply to unpaid balances.

Contact / billing note
- VC Pay account setup is required for tuition billing; questions about VC Pay or billing may be directed to the CDS business office contacts provided by the school. Late fees and returned check fees will be applied as described above.
Academics

Carrollwood Day School teaches IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP) for students aged 2 to 18.

Curriculum
Carrollwood Day School is an International Baccalaureate World School serving students from age two through 12th grade and follows the IB continuum: Primary Years Programme in the Lower School, Middle Years Programme in the Middle School, and the Diploma Programme in the Upper School. It is one of only 36 U.S. IB World Schools authorized to offer the full IB continuum from early childhood through college preparatory. The school is the only one on the west coast of Florida to offer the full five-year Middle Years Programme curriculum. CDS has been a Round Square member since 2022. In the Upper School, 9th and 10th graders complete the MYP, about 70% graduate as full IB Diploma, and many 11th–12th graders enroll in four IB Diploma courses.

Exam Results
Diploma Programme pass rates have been strong: Class of 2025 90%; Class of 2024 92%; Class of 2023 90%; Class of 2022 97%. Global DP pass rates for these years range from 81% to 86% (Class of 2025 81%; Class of 2024 81%; Class of 2023 80%; Class of 2022 86%).

Higher Education Progression
Graduates have been admitted to a broad range of colleges and universities, including Allegheny College, American University, Appalachian State University, Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Duke University, Johns Hopkins University, University of Michigan, University of Florida, and many others.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The CDS student support team focuses on the whole child by addressing social-emotional, physical, and intellectual wellness. They provide short-term social-emotional and academic support and collaborate with outside service providers to support long-term needs. Counselors and learning specialists are available to support CDS families, faculty, and the broader community. The Wellness Philosophy emphasizes proactive, preventative, and developmentally differentiated approaches. Programs value connection, resiliency, diversity, and mental health.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The learning specialist coordinates academic services, ensures appropriate accommodations, and serves as a student advocate who liaises between families, Carrollwood Day School, and outside learning professionals. Each division has full-time school counselors dedicated to promoting student success by addressing social, emotional, physical, and intellectual well-being, providing individual and small-group counseling, classroom interventions, and prevention education. Co-teaching, small-group instruction, and individual services are available as needed to support students. The CDS Inclusion Policy creates a welcoming environment and provides reasonable accommodations and modifications for students with disabilities, in accordance with applicable law.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Starting in Kindergarten, every student is immersed in foreign language learning. Language options include Spanish and French.

Mental Wellbeing
CDS emphasizes mental health as part of overall wellbeing. The Wellness Philosophy centers on connection, resiliency, diversity, and mental health, with proactive prevention education. School counselors and learning specialists provide support across divisions to promote student wellbeing.

Safeguarding
Freedom from Bullying Policy prohibits bullying and cyberbullying; defines prohibited conduct and sets the scope of enforcement (on property, during school-sponsored events, or off-campus if it interferes with education). The policy defines bullying by actions that place a student in fear of harm, cause emotional distress, or disrupt learning, and includes power-imbalance and group dynamics.
Parent Experience

History
Carrollwood Day School began as a preschool with a group of small children who asked big questions. Since 1982, that has not changed. The school offers a full International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, including the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP). CDS is an IB World School rooted in a globally oriented curriculum.

Community
Beyond the Bell provides after-school enrichment programs, Power Hour, and features Round Square adventures and Duke of Edinburgh outdoor experiences. Carrollwood Day School was accepted as a Round Square Candidate School in 2022, becoming part of a global network and is the 21st Round Square school in the United States and one of only three in Florida. Enrichment and extended care are available to CDS students on both campuses. Community service is integrated with the IB curriculum across divisions, with the 8th-grade Community Project Fair in Middle School and IB-based service requirements in the Upper School.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The school has a Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO). As a parent/guardian of a CDS student, you are automatically a member of the PTO. The PTO organizes events such as stock the lounge, fall festival, Scholastic Book Fair, ECC movie night, divisional dances, fall/winter treats, STEM events, pop-up shop, and more. The PTO is a parent volunteer organization made up of parents, teachers, administrators, and support staff who are dedicated to the education of CDS students. For involvement and opportunities, the PTO maintains a webpage and contact points through CDS.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
CDS operates on two campuses: the Early Childhood Campus (ECC) and the Bearss Avenue Campus. The ECC serves Toddlers through Kindergarten. The Elementary Campus is described as part of the lower school offerings. The facilities include a Design Technology/Maker Lab, a library, and dedicated spaces for music, art, physical education, and technology. Athletics venues on the Bearss Avenue Campus include the Hayes Family Gymnasium and the Wagner Athletic Complex, with golf at Cheval Golf and Athletic Club and swim at Tampa Palms. CDS is an International Baccalaureate World School offering the full IB continuum (PYP, MYP, DP).

Sports Facilities
Football, soccer, and baseball home games are held at the Wagner Athletic Complex on the Bearss Avenue Campus. Softball home games and Middle School cross-country meets are held on South Beach at the Bearss Avenue Campus. Volleyball and basketball home games are held at the Hayes Family Gymnasium on the Bearss Avenue Campus. Golf matches are hosted at Cheval Golf and Athletic Club. Swim meets are held at Tampa Palms, and tennis home courts are at Cheval Golf and Athletic Club. There are 21 competitive sports in the Upper School.

Academic Facilities
The school offers the full International Baccalaureate continuum: Primary Years Programme (PYP) in the Lower School, Middle Years Programme (MYP) in the Middle School, and Diploma Programme (DP) in the Upper School. Lower School specialist classes include Spanish, music, art, physical education, library, and technology, with Design Technology/Maker Lab available in Elementary. Elementary offers Additional Enrichment: Art, Maker Lab, Music, Library, PE, Spanish, and Computers. The Arts across divisions include Visual Arts, Music, and Theatre, with DP extensions in Visual Arts, Theatre, and Music. The ECC uses High Scope, Conscious Discipline, and Responsive Classroom as part of its approach.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Beyond the Bell offers after-school enrichments with four sessions per year and weekly enrichment clubs on both campuses. The Duke of Edinburgh (DOE) program provides service, skill-building, physical activity, and outdoor expeditions for Upper School students. Round Square experiences, including Patriots Around the World, connect students with global opportunities. The Entrepreneurship Institute offers programs such as Design Sprints, Patriot Pathways, Ohman Patriot Pitch, Patriot Spark, Patriot Labs, and Yumtrepreneurs for various grade levels. CDS also emphasizes Community Service as part of IB-related opportunities.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school offers the full continuum of International Baccalaureate programs (Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, and Diploma Programme) from PreK 3 through 12. The Lower School uses the IB Primary Years Programme, the Middle School uses the IB Middle Years Programme, and Upper School offers the Diploma Programme. Through advanced coursework, project-based learning, and leadership opportunities, Upper School students emerge as confident, principled, and innovative thinkers.

Arts & Creative
The Arts at Carrollwood Day School include Visual Arts, Music, and Theatre in the Lower School, with continued arts offerings through Middle School. Upper School offers Visual Arts (2D and 3D), Digital Media Creation, and Photography. The arts program fosters creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking across visual and performing arts.

Cultural & Language
Carrollwood Day School is an IB World School that emphasizes international-mindedness. There are 23 honor societies for Middle and Upper School, including academic societies for French and Spanish. Global Programs and the IB continuum support global perspectives.

Social & Hobbies
Beyond the Bell offers after-school enrichments, Power Hour, community service, Round Square adventures, and Duke of Edinburgh outdoor experiences. CDS provides a variety of athletic and performing arts activities through after-school programs and clubs. Students can explore interests through arts, athletics, and other enrichment opportunities beyond the regular day.

Community & Service
Community service begins in the Lower School and grows through the IB curriculum, with 8th-grade students participating in the Community Project Fair in Middle School. In the Upper School, service deepens through IB service requirements, challenging students to address real-world issues and make meaningful contributions to communities.

Leadership & Professional
Leadership opportunities are integrated across the Upper School, with the Entrepreneurship Institute offering Design Sprints, Patriot Pathways, the Ohman Patriot Pitch Award Endowment, Patriot Spark, Patriot Labs, Yumtrepreneurs, and the Forge Incubator. Patriot Pathways connects students with internships and mentors through alumni and community partners. Duke of Edinburgh and TEDx events provide leadership and presentation experiences.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
There are 20 varsity sports teams across Lower, Middle, and Upper School athletics. The Sports Medicine program supports the health and safety of student-athletes. Enrichment and aftercare programs promote well-being beyond the classroom.
Languages

Language Provision
English is the primary language of instruction. Beginning at age 3, second language instruction is Spanish; in the IB Middle Years Programme students study either Spanish or French for language acquisition, and in the Diploma Programme Mandarin Chinese is offered as an Ab Initio option online through Pamoja Education. The media center contains books in English, Spanish, and French, and home-language support is provided for languages including Spanish, German, Portuguese, Gujarati, Italian, Russian, Tamil, Telugu, Chinese, and Arabic.

Bilingual Teaching
Spanish is introduced as a second language starting at age 3. Teachers across all classrooms support language development and collaborate with Spanish teachers to integrate language learning with inquiry.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Schedule a tour and attend admissions events. Carrollwood Day School strongly recommends a personal tour for parents before submitting an application, and families receive an admissions packet during the visit. In the fall, the school hosts a VIP Series at the Bearss Avenue Campus and Open Houses at the Early Childhood Campus, with personal tours available year‑round. Applications are available online starting September 1.

2. Apply and prepare materials. Complete the online application and schedule your child's assessments/visits. Lower School requires a scheduled assessment and group observation (if applicable); PreK 4–5th Grade submit one teacher recommendation; Elementary submits two years of report cards and standardized test scores and completes an admissions assessment. Middle School requires a tour, online application, and a school visit; Upper School requires the student portion of the application and two teacher recommendations, with 9th‑grade applicants registering to take the SSAT (CDS code 2137). Applications are available online on September 1, and first‑round deadlines typically include January 31 for many divisions.

3. Wait for decisions and understand timelines. Waiting pool is used when a class is at capacity, and the Admissions Committee reconvenes to fill openings. Timelines vary by division: Lower School notifications are issued in late February; Middle School notifications are issued in late February; Upper School notifications are issued on March 1; the January 31 deadline applies for first‑round admissions across divisions.

Scholarships
Merit scholarships: The Patriot Eagle Scholarship and Robin Moir Vanguard Awards are available to a limited number of high‑achieving rising 9th‑grade students, selected based on standardized test scores, relative achievement in class, and success in rigorous courses. Recipients are strong candidates for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, Cum Laude, and National Merit. Need‑based assistance: CDS uses FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment to process need‑based aid for grades 1‑12, with awards made annually and requiring reapplication each year; aid is limited to openings in each division. CDS follows a need‑blind admissions policy and does not accept state‑funded or government scholarships; applications for need‑based aid open November 1 and must be received by January 15 for first‑round consideration.

Waitlist
Waiting pool: Once a class has reached capacity, qualified applicants are placed in a waiting pool. When an opening arises in a particular grade, the Admissions Committee reconvenes to determine which candidate in the waiting pool will fill the position.
School Events
The school has not added events
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