Prospective & New Family FAQs

Duke School is open Monday-Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM

Morning Drop Off:

Preschool:       8:10-8:30 AM 

K-4^th:                 8-8:15 AM

5th-8th:            7:30-8:07 AM

*Families with children in both divisions who want to drop their Middle School student off before 8 AM should park in the preschool parking lot. Middle School students may be dropped off at 7:30 AM and Lower School students may be dropped off at 8 AM. Parents choosing to use this option must leave the preschool parking lot no later than 8:05 AM to make room for preschool parents who must walk their children into school. To improve the efficiency of drop off, left turns into the Lower School carline will not be permitted. 

Afternoon Pick Up:  

Preschool:      3 PM

K-4^th:                3:10-3:20 PM 

K-8^th:                3:25 PM (Families with children in both divisions)  

5^th-8^th:              3:25 PM (If your middle schooler is not staying for Prime Time)

*Middle School students not picked up by the end of carline will go to Prime Time. Lower School students will be taken to the Lower School Office.

Immunization forms for children must be on file in the appropriate division office by the first day of school. The Health Assessment Form is available on the school’s Website. You can use the attached Health Assessment form or one provided by your health care provider. Kindergarteners are required to have the 4^th dose of the polio vaccine on or after the 4^th birthday and prior to entering school for the first time and the 2^nd dose of the varicella vaccine prior to entering school for the first time. Seventh graders are required to have a booster dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccine, if five or more years have passed since the last dose and one dose of the meningococcal vaccine.

New Students: Incoming students are required to provide an immunization record.

Kindergarten: Each child needs an up-to-date physical and immunization record.

7th Grade: Rising seventh graders will need an up-to-date physical and immunization record.

Children who have been prescribed the EpiPen Auto-Injector are required to submit two EpiPens along with an allergy plan to the school before the first day of school. Students will not be allowed to begin school until appropriate paperwork and EpiPens are provided.

Information regarding teachers and class lists will be released in the first week of August if your child(ren)'s emergency/health information (to be emailed in June), is submitted.

An email notification will be sent in June to submit your child(ren)’s emergency/health information. Please review the document and confirm that all of your family details are up-to-date before submitting. Your child(ren) will not be permitted to start school on the first day if the enrollment form is not submitted.

All Duke School students are encouraged to read throughout the summer. Lower School students can read books of their choice at their reading level throughout the summer months. In mid-June, 5-8th grade teachers will email their summer reading letter and supply lists to parents.

Preschool-4th Grade: The school provides classroom supplies. 

Middle School (5-8th Grade): You will receive an e-mail in July with a list of all materials your child will need.

Preschool and Kindergarten:: You will receive a letter—as part of the summer mailing, that tells you when your child can visit their classroom at the beginning of the year to get comfortable in the new space and get familiar with teachers and peers.

1-8^th Grade: You will have a dedicated visit day (usually a Tuesday) before school starts. Exact times and plans will be shared closer to the date.

Generally, Lower School After School Program registration for preschool through fourth grade is completed online. However, unlike the enrollment process, the registration form is not unique for each student nor will a deposit be due at this time. Although more than one parent/guardian may receive this email, only one registration per child is necessary. 

Prime Time is the name of our Middle School after school program and is included in tuition. Rising fifth through eighth grade students do not register for after school. 

Preschool parents are required to walk in/out their child every day. There is a separate parking lot for Preschool parents.

Lower School parents have a carline near the Admissions Office entrance and the Middle School carline drops off in front of the Middle School Office. 

Preschool:  You will park in the Preschool parking lot and walk your child to class each day. More details of the protocol will be shared on your visit day.

Kindergarten-8th Grade: Carline will be covered on your visit day. Teachers will also give you a carline sign to help the process.

With a variety of afternoon activities, including a general after school program, private music lessons, and specialized activities, students are able to extend their day in areas they enjoy the most. Middle School students are also able to join the chorus, the performing arts (drama) production and/or our athletics program.

We operate on a traditional calendar. Our students start the new year in late August and end the year in early June of the next year.

The next year’s skeleton calendar is published in January by Duke School's Leadership Team.

DragonConnect is Duke School's internal community portal! It contains secure information such as our parent and staff directory, your child’s classroom info and updates, the school calendar, parent links, medical/summer forms, letters and downloads, event registrations, community news, and athletic, academic, and community group pages. In August, new parents will receive an email with login instructions. You can log in to Dragon Connect by using the dragon icon in the website's top menu bar.