Tavia Mullen
Associate Head of School & Director of Admissions tmullen@rpds.com
Stephanie Milne ‘81 Director of Early Learning & Admissions Associate smilne@rpds.com
“At RPDS, children grow in knowledge and faith respecting the differences of others in preparation for life in a global community.”
- Ben Ketchum Head of School
Mission
To educate the mind, nurture the spirit, and foster the development of the whole child.
Riverside Presbyterian Day School provides students with a carefully planned academic program within a supportive environment where respect for the individual, community, and Christian values are promoted. Riverside recognizes that each child is an individual and gears teaching strategies to ensure that children will experience success at their level of learning. Students are challenged to rise to higher goals and achievement through the use of curriculum that addresses a variety of learning styles and exposes children to rich literature, problem solving opportunities, and cooperative learning experiences.
Different levels of academic ability, social development, and learning styles are respected and used to design and implement curriculum. A comprehensive curriculum guide built around a challenging academic program includes subject matter in the academic areas, the arts, physical education, STEAM, guidance, Bible instruction, and technology. The curriculum inspires children to become life-long learners and equips them with the skills and dispositions necessary to adapt to an ever-changing world.
The Riverside Way is composed of traits that can be heard daily throughout our campus. They are used by our faculty, staff, students, and parents. Using the RPDS acronym, The Riverside Way stands for respect, responsibility, perseverence, praise, dependability, dedication, seeking, and service.
The Riverside Way is more than eight words. It’s about the way we carry ourselves in the classrooms, the hallway, in Chapel, on the playground and in the community. It’s the way we care about those inside and outside our campus and it’s the way we want others to care about us. The Riverside Way is about showing God’s love through our actions and putting others before ourselves.
• Founded in 1948
• PreK 3 - 6th Grade
• 405+ Students
• NAIS & FCIS School
• 16 Average Class Size
• Need-based Financial Assistance
• Florida School Choice Scholarships accepted
• 35 Zip Codes
• 23% Students of Color
• Weekly Chapel, Leadership Development, and Service Learning
• AM & PM Extended Day (Riverside in the Afternoon - RITA) and Afternoon Academies
At Riverside Presbyterian Day School we believe that embracing inclusivity and belonging enriches our school community and prepares our children for a global, multicultural world. The RPDS community loves and respects all human beings in a manner consistent with our school mission. Each family completes and contributes to the body of Riverside. We strive to foster relationships by encouraging our school community to appreciate, understand and learn from others, thus demonstrating God’s unconditional love.
To achieve this commitment, RPDS seeks to enrich each child’s learning experience by being geographically, economically and culturally diverse. We are dedicated to providing an embracing, inclusive, welcoming place for all children, faculty and staff, affirming their uniqueness and believing that our commitment to diversity demonstrates God’s unconditional love to all people. Our school provides opportunities for the entire community to explore, experience, appreciate and discover the uniqueness of each individual. In these ways, RPDS empowers students through the building of strong foundations for accepting people from diverse backgrounds and by providing an educational environment that fosters a child’s desire to lead a life honoring a knowledge of and respect for all individuals. One tangible outgrowth of fostering such knowledge and respect is that RPDS students are encouraged to think beyond themselves and motivated to engage their hearts and hands in service to others.
At Riverside Presbyterian Day School, our curriculum is built on differentiated instruction that nurtures every learner.
Literacy is guided by the Science of Reading framework, ensuring explicit, systematic teaching areas such as phonics, grammar, vocabulary, and writing. Students also grow as readers through independent reading, collaborative book clubs, and embedded handwriting instruction in both print and cursive.
In mathematics, we emphasize conceptual understanding and real-world application, drawing on approaches like Singapore Math to help students visualize problems and use multiple strategies, including mental math and model-drawing.
This balance of rigor and developmentally appropriate teaching methods foster curiosity, confidence, and perseverance across all grade levels. Our students also develop a broader understanding of the world through social studies, history, and science. Exploring different communities, cultures, and perspectives helps children build global awareness and responsible citizenship. Science instruction invites inquiry and discovery through hands-on investigations that encourage students to ask questions and test ideas.
Students benefit from an enriched curriculum designed to nurture the whole child by fostering leadership, creativity, physical development, and lifelong learning! Through a 6-day rotating schedule, children engage in a variety of dynamic experiences beyond the core classroom, including music and performance, visual arts, physical education, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math), and World Language such as Spanish (PreK 3–6th grade) or Chinese (4th–6th grade option). Spiritual formation is also central, with opportunities for Bible class, chapel, and Rise N’ Shine for our youngest learners. These experiences broaden students’ perspectives and inspire them to grow as well-rounded learners.
Academic Day
PreK 3
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
PreK 4
8:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Kindergarten - 6th Grade
8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Morning Care
Programming opens at 7:00 a.m.
Riverside in the Afternoon
Extended Day
RITA Morning Care
7:00 a.m. - 7:40 a.m.
RITA Afternoon Care
Open daily until 6:00 p.m.
All extended day opportunities are at an additional cost.
RITA programming begins at the end of the academic day for all grades. We value every moment we have to equip young students with the foundations of academic and lifelong success, and our after-school program is in alignment with this approach.
Afternoon Academies
Over 40 Afternoon Academies are offered throughout the school week for all grades. There are a variety of activities from which to choose, all tailored to enrich each student’s afternoon experience including ceramics, LEGO, chess, and lacrosse.
Questions about Riverside in the Afternoon and fees?
Julia Davis, Director of Riverside in the Afternoon at jhdavis@rpds.com
The 6th Grade Experience is a culmination of an RPDS education. This final year is multi-faceted and uniquely balanced, preparing students to rise to the unique challenges of Middle School. RPDS graduates transition to the next level with a solid academic foundation, strong self confidence, and comprehensive social and emotional skills.
Our PreK 3 - 6th grade model prepares children for independence and propels them forward academically, personally, and spiritually.
Hallmark Opportunities
• Health & Wellness Project-Based Learning
• Leadership Council
• Project Leads
• Servant Leadership
• Service Rotations
• Trip to Southwind
• Trip to Washington, DC
• Appreciate the importance of physical wellness
• Confidently embrace their individual gifts and talents
• Demonstrate an appreciation for different perspectives
• Demonstrate a curiosity about life
• Demonstrate faith in God
• Display a positive self image
• Demonstrate the ability to use a variety of forms of expression
• Embrace a love of learning
Questions about the RPDS 6th Grade Experience?
Karen Worsham, Director
Riverside is an investment in your child’s present and future. Students happily enter into each day where they engage in a transformative educational experience.
Annual, semi-annual, and ten month plans are available.
RPDS accepts Florida Choice Scholarships. Step Up for Students is a state-approved, nonprofit scholarship funding organization that empowers families to pursue and engage in the most appropriate learning options for their children.
For more information and to apply, please visit StepUpForStudents.org.
There is a new student enrollment fee of $850 or a re-enrollment fee of $650, due at contract signing.
Tuition Includes
• Books
• iPad (4th-6th Grade)
• Select field trips
• Supplies
• TEAM RPDS shirt
• Technology
• Yearbook
Questions about Tuition & Fees?
Marye Edenfield, Chief Financial
Additional Costs Include
• Afternoon Academies
• Extended Day Program (Riverside in the Afternoon - RITA)
• Lunch program
• Off campus educational experiences for 5th & 6th Grade
RPDS is dedicated to providing students with a transformative education; therefore, we welcome families to apply annually for Financial Assistance. Approximately 20% of our students receive need-based financial assistance.
The Financial Assistance Committee relies upon information supplied by families to Clarity, our need analysis provider. In computing the amount of the award, RPDS considers factors such as family size, income, expenses, assets, liabilities & spending priorities. Financial pictures can be complex; therefore, we encourage the online submission of a Family Letter within Clarity. A Family Letter can provide further information that may be helpful to the Financial Assistance Committee.
Families applying for financial assistance must submit all required information. Following the timeline below is a critical step in the process.
Failure to meet deadlines and complete the application in full jeopardizes your opportunity for Financial Assistance as there is not a guarantee surrounding the availability of funds. Families seeking assistance after February 6, 2026 will receive consideration based upon available funds.
1. Submit an online Clarity Financial Assistance Application and non-refundable $60.00 fee.
2. Upload all required documentation to Clarity, including relevant supplementary documents for verification.
Riverside Presbyterian Day School admits students of any race, creed, color, sex, or national origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and aid programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. The distribution of awards will adhere to the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) principles of Good Practice for Financial Aid with special attention to fairness, equity and confidentiality.
Grants from outside funding sources (for example, Florida School Choice Scholarships) will be considered part of the student’s Financial Assistance award and must be disclosed to RPDS. In order for RPDS Financial Assistance applications to be considered, families applying for RPDS Financial Assistance with children entering Kindergarten through 6th Grade must apply for a Florida School Choice Scholarship through Step Up for Students.
Please note that if you have already been awarded financial assistance, and you receive a state scholarship award later, no additional award will be made. We will reduce your RPDS financial assistance award by the amount of your state scholarship award, which allows more families who are not eligible to receive state scholarships to receive financial assistance.
Questions about Financial Assistance?
Tavia Mullen, Director of Admissions & Enrollment Management at tmullen@rpds.com
Visit rpds.com to create a username and password within our online admissions portal, myRPDS; this is the hub to register for events, submit an online application, and complete steps in the admissions process.
Parent Tour (September - February)
Visit campus to explore teaching and learning at Riverside; register via myRPDS.
January 30)
Apply via myRPDS
• New prospective families are asked to complete the Riverside Admissions Application and submit a non-refundable $100 application fee (per applicant).
• Affiliated RPDS families are asked to complete the Riverside Sibling/Alumni/Faculty Application and submit a non-refundable $50 application fee (per applicant).
Coordinated by the Admissions Team upon submission of the online admissions application.
• PreK 3: No On-Campus Assessment required; however, children must demonstrate school readiness and be fully potty trained.
• PreK 4: On Campus Assessment
• K-6th Grade: On-Campus Visit and Assessment
February 6)
Confidential FCIS Teacher Recommendation Form (PreK 4-6th grade applicants)
• Completed and submitted directly by your child’s current teacher (email smilne@rpds.com).
Transcripts (1st-6th grade applicants)
• Current school records must be requested by parents via the Transcript Release Form and sent directly from your child’s current School.
February 6)
Apply via rpds.com through Clarity
• Awards are based upon demonstrated financial need.
• Admissions decisions are made without regard to whether a family has applied for financial assistance.
September 4
Online application opens
January 30
Application deadline (first round)
February 6
Supplemental Materials & Financial Assistance deadline
March 4
Online decision notification
March 18
Enrollment deadline