You belong here
We’re excited to share all that KDES has to offer. We encourage you to explore our website and take a closer look at our vibrant campus through our KDES Virtual Tour. You are also warmly invited to visit us in person at one of our Open House events, a great opportunity to meet teachers, staff, tour the campus, and learn more about our programs.
Transcript
Welcome to KDES! Thank you for your interest in Kendall Demonstration Elementary School (KDES)! We’re excited to welcome new families into our community.
We invite you to explore our website to learn more about what makes KDES a unique and supportive learning environment. You can also schedule an in-person tour or take a KDES Virtual Tour to get a closer look at our campus.
Applications are open for all grades, from the Parent-Infant Program through Grade 8.
We look forward to hearing from you!
different states student attended from all over
student applied got accepted into our programs.
students attends to MSSD after graduates.
Community begins right here in the heart of the DMV.
We proudly serve local families, welcoming Deaf and hard of hearing students from across Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. Our campus is a vibrant, close-knit environment where students grow together—rooted in shared values, culture, and community connection.
Apply
Applications for the 2025-2026 school year are being accepted for all grades
(Parent-Infant Program through grade 8).
Step One
Applications are considered complete when all required documents and educational records have been received.
* Local education agency representatives may also apply for admission for deaf and hard of hearing students in their school districts with the support of the student’s family.
Visit
Come see us in person!
We invite you to schedule a campus tour, where you’ll meet our dedicated faculty and staff, explore our learning spaces, and discover what makes our academic programs special. If you’re unable to visit in person, we encourage you to explore our virtual tour and experience the spirit of our campus from wherever you are.
Frequently Asked Questions
The admissions process has various parts and phases. See the following terms and their meanings:
- Accepting applications – KDES is currently accepting applications for admission and reviewing them.
- Application complete – KDES has received the full application and all supporting documents, including birth certificate, proof of residency, and all required school records, for the child. The next step in the process is an application review.
- Accepted/acceptance – The applicant meets the admissions criteria and has been accepted to KDES. The enrollment date is yet to be determined. Acceptance does not mean the child may enroll immediately.
- Enrollment – The child has been accepted and may begin attending KDES on the designated date after an Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting.
Who is eligible to attend KDES?
Students eligible to attend KDES have a hearing status that results in a need for an educational environment sensitive to diverse educational, cognitive, and social needs that necessitates a continuum of specialized educational and support resources, including nonrestrictive access to a visual environment throughout the day.
Are there any residency requirements?
KDES applicants must legally reside with a parent or legal guardian in the Washington Metropolitan area.
Are there any age restrictions?
Applicants considered for admission to KDES must be between the ages of birth-15. No student at KDES may be age 16. The current grade level and the age of the student at the time of application will be reviewed to ensure the student will not turn 16 before completing the eighth grade.
My child has secondary disabilities. Does this affect admission?
An applicant with secondary disabilities will be considered if the student’s primary educational needs are related to deafness.
What does KDES need in order to consider a student for admission?
In order to consider a student for admission, KDES needs the following documents:
- Completed electronic application form
- Completed electronic release of information form
- Birth certificate (copy)
- Proof of residency (copy of current utility bill)
In the application process, there is an electronic Student Records Request Form that authorizes your child’s school to send records to KDES. Records requested include, but are not limited to:
- Audiogram/audiological evaluation
- Current IFSP/IEP
- Multidisciplinary evaluation performed within the past three years (also called comprehensive or psychoeducational evaluations at some schools)
- Re-evaluation/Triennial Review
- Report card
*A completed physical exam, immunization record, and other medical record forms are due prior to enrollment.
How do I apply for admission for my child?
Our application process is entirely online. To apply, please begin by completing the application form at https://kdes.gallaudet.edu/apply/.
Step 1: Create an account.
Step 2: Complete the Student Records Request Form and submit it to your child’s current school. If you need support making a records request, please contact the Admissions Office at kdesadmissions@gallaudet.edu.
What about transportation?
Bus transportation is provided within a 15-mile radius of the U.S. Capitol at no cost (see map). Students residing outside of the 15-mile radius may still receive transportation services at pick-up and drop-off points within the 15-mile radius.
Does KDES provide before-school care?
KDES does not offer before-school care. The earliest a student may arrive at KDES is 8:10 a.m.
Does KDES provide after-school care or extracurricular activities (e.g., sports)?
KDES does not provide after-school care. However, for students ages 4 and above, KDES does offer a range of activities through the After School Program (ASP). Please see our After School Program page for more information.
Students in grades 5-8 can participate in athletics. See our Athletics page for more information.
Please note that the After School Program and Athletics operate from Monday through Thursday during established activity periods. Neither program runs throughout the school year.
May students apply for admission at any time during the school year? Is there a deadline for applying?
KDES accepts applications for the Early Childhood Education (ECE) program and enrolls ECE students on a rolling basis if there is available space in the age-appropriate class.
KDES accepts applications for students in kindergarten through eighth grade (K-8) until April 1 and enrolls K-8 students no later than May 1 of the current school year if there is space available in the student’s grade level. K-8 applications received after April 1 will be considered for fall enrollment of the next school year.
What are the possible outcomes of my child’s application?
Review of a complete application file may result in one of the following:
- The application is accepted. Enrollment will depend on available space.
- The application is denied.
- The parent or legal guardian may be directed to their local educational agency (LEA) so that the LEA may make the referral in order to be available to partner with KDES to provide the accommodations, supports, and services the student needs.
What is the difference between “acceptance” and “enrollment”?
“Acceptance” means that the student’s application has been reviewed and that the student meets the KDES admissions criteria. It does not mean that the student may begin attending classes. “Enrollment” means that the student has already been accepted; the enrollment date on which the student may begin attending KDES is also provided.
If my child has been accepted but cannot be enrolled right away, when may they enroll?
For reasons such as classroom size and capacity, there may not be an available space for the student at the time of acceptance. Students are enrolled when there is an available space for them.
Are immunizations required?
D.C. Law 3-20 (revised November 1996) mandates that all students must have certification of immunizations.
What are the costs involved in attending KDES?
There is no charge for tuition. Breakfast and lunch are free. Fees include:
Required:
- Damage or loss (e.g., to bus/school property, classroom materials/furniture, library books, technology)
Optional:
- Activities (e.g., school field trips)
- After School Program
- Events (e.g., dances, KPTA events)
- Sports participation
- Yearbook
Are there any fees for participation in the After School Program or athletics? Is transportation home afterward available?
There is an activity fee for students who participate in the After School Program and/or athletics. There is no additional bus service after ASP and athletics end for the day. Families will need to pick up their children.
May my child attend KDES through remote instruction only?
Learning at KDES happens in physical, on-campus classes. KDES students must be on campus in order to attend classes. KDES does not provide an online-only education.
How may I visit KDES?
KDES offers program tours to prospective families interested in our ECE program and for prospective families with children entering grades kindergarten through eight.
Click to register for a tour.
Take a virtual tour to get a closer look at our campus: KDES Virtual Tour.
- Email: KDESadmissions@gallaudet.edu
- 202-651-5397 (Voice)
- 202-250-2216 (Videophone)
- Fax: 202-651-5362