Admission FAQs

For 2022–2023, we have 1,237 students enrolled in Pre-K through grade 12.

• Pre-K and Kindergarten: 106
• Lower School: 293
• Middle School: 381
• Upper School: 457

• Preschool & Lower School: 18 students with a teacher and 1 to 2 teaching assistants
• Middle School: 17 students
• Upper School: 16 students

Children who are entering pre-kindergarten should be 4 years old by Sept. 1, and children entering kindergarten should be 5 by Sept. 1. Students must be fully potty trained.

Durham Academy is able to accept applications from international students when the following conditions are met:

1. The student must live with an immediate family member (mother or father) in the Triangle (Raleigh, Durham or Chapel Hill, North Carolina). We do not set up or provide housing for international students since we are not a boarding school.

2. Because we do not offer ESL (English as a Second Language) courses at our school, students must have fluent English skills, both written and spoken. We ask that international students take either the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) or the SSAT (Secondary Schools Admissions Test), as well as the TOEFL. 

3. We require a Skype interview, at a minimum, and strongly prefer that a student visit campus with his or her family so we can meet both the student and family members.

Visiting is truly the best way to see Durham Academy in action and to assess whether or not it seems like a good match for your family; learn about our On-Campus Information sessions at da.org/info. Our Enrollment Management team is eager to talk with your family as you explore our community.

Each applicant's folder will be reviewed by a committee of teachers and administrators who work with children at the applicant's particular grade level. First and foremost, each applicant must show promise of success in our academic program. To assess this, we look closely at teacher recommendations, school transcripts and testing results. Of these academically qualified applicants, we seek to admit those who represent a diverse array of talents, interests and backgrounds. We also give consideration to applicants in the following groups: siblings of current Durham Academy students; children of alumni, faculty and staff; and students who expand underrepresented populations in our school.

No. Once a child is enrolled at Durham Academy, there is no need to re-apply. It’s one of the benefits of attending a pre-k through 12 school!

Durham Academy's "entry points," which offer students the best chance for admission, are planned openings for new students in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and grades 5, 6 and 9. However, due to families moving, Durham Academy will likely have openings at every grade level for the 2023–2024 school year.

• Application fee (reductions are available if this fee presents a financial hardship)
• Online application
• Two teacher recommendations (one for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten)
• School records
• Admissions testing
• Parent questionnaire
• Student questionnaire (grades 5–12)
• Student interview (grades 5–12)

Please Note: We recognize this past spring and current academic year have looked and may look different for our applicants as schools adjust to virtual learning and re-opening. No student will be penalized for choices made by their current school due to their response to COVID-19. With students applying to DA from nearly 200 schools each year, we understand that our applicants have very different experiences and always take this context into consideration. We review every applicant’s file holistically and with context in mind. Our Admission Committee will accept and review grades and transcripts in whatever form a school submits.

Preschool (pre-k & kindergarten) Admission Assessment

After applying, you will be scheduled to visit Durham Academy. Each child visits campus twice, once for a group evaluation and once for an individual evaluation. 

Lower School (grades 1–4) Admission Screening

All applicants to Grades 1–4 spend some time with us on campus. By working with our teachers in a small group setting, DA is able to glean more about their readiness for our academic program and their classroom interactions.

Middle and Upper School (Grades 5–12) Testing

Each student applying for grades 5 through 12 must take an achievement test. Students can take either the Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE) or the Secondary School Admissions Test (SSAT). The ISEE and the SSAT are used by more than 1,000 independent schools in the United States. The only exceptions are students applying to grades 11 or 12 who have taken the PSAT or the SAT within the last year. Official ERB scores from the 2020–2021 school year may be substituted in some cases, subject to approval from the Director of Enrollment Management.

Please contact us for a fee waiver if the testing fees present a hardship to your family. We are happy to help!

For pre-kindergarten through grade 4, the most important thing is to ensure that your child comes for the testing when he or she is healthy, well-rested and has had a good breakfast.

If applying for grades 5 through 12, both the SSAT and the ISEE websites have free resources that will help you and your child understand the format of the test, directions given, sample questions and the answer sheet used.

Many Durham Academy families cannot afford the full tuition costs. In fact, during the 2021–2022 school year, about 20% of our students are receiving some form of financial aid. For families receiving assistance during the 2021–2022 school year, the average grant was $18,416. Durham Academy awards financial aid based on a family's demonstrated financial need in accordance with national guidelines established by Tuition Aid Data Services. If you have any questions about financial aid, please call the Office of Enrollment Management for more details. Most importantly, do not allow your financial situation to deter you from applying to Durham Academy. Learn more about tuition and fees, and how to apply for financial aid.

No. We make our admission decisions prior to evaluating families' financial need. Durham Academy is committed to enrolling the most dynamic student body possible, regardless of families' ability to pay the full tuition. The 2021–2022 school year's financial aid budget exceeds $4.5 million.

No. All tuition assistance at DA is in the form of grants that do not have to be repaid.

If you have questions about the financial aid process or policies at Durham Academy, please call the Office of Enrollment Management at 919-493-5787. If you have specific questions about filling out the application for financial aid, please call the Tuition Aid Data Services (TADS) directly at 800-344-8328 or visit the TADS website.

In addition to Durham Academy’s overall $4.5 million financial aid budget, the school also awards $50,000 annually to address student expenses beyond tuition, including textbooks, after-school expenses, enrichment classes, international or off-campus travel and field trips. If school-related expenses are burdensome for your family, please contact the Office of Enrollment Management at admissions@da.org or 919-493-5787. 

DA is proud to annually commit to a generous financial aid budget, and every effort is made to meet financial need — although requests for financial aid exceed the funds available each year. The following categories will be considered in allocating awards:

• Returning financial aid recipients qualifying for a comparable award 


• Returning students new to financial aid 


• New students, with preference given by grade applying from oldest to youngest

• Current and new families who apply after the financial aid deadline

In addition to each of these categories, the following factors will also be considered: 


• Grade level enrollment goals 


• Relative merit of the individual student 


• Socioeconomic, racial, religious and cultural diversity 


• Size of the award and projected long-term need 


• Adherence to school policies (payment history, past due balances, on-time financial aid application) 


DA has a policy requiring all families to pay a 10% tuition deposit in order to enroll. The deposit will be applied to the first tuition payment.  

Families are also required to participate in the Tuition Refund Plan when receiving financial aid. The Tuition Refund Plan provides for a proration of tuition in the event of the withdrawal of a student for medical reasons, as well as in the event of withdrawal or dismissal of a student. The premium is .08 percent of the cost of tuition.

We expect that all parents in a household be employed before seeking financial aid. The exception is for parents caring for preschool-aged children, living with a disability, or facing other circumstances preventing employment. Please submit to TADS an explanation regarding any unemployed parents in the household. Parents who are currently enrolled in school should submit a letter to TADS explaining their program, progress toward a degree and expected date of graduation. 


Families not currently on financial aid who have experienced unexpected financial difficulties may apply for financial assistance. DA may respond to these families depending on the circumstances and the availability of financial aid.