There is always a chance if the spot hasn't been given up to someone on the waitlist. Keep in mind they wanted you. Post-offers (Post March 3) THEY ARE SELLING THEMSELVES TO YOU.

Anonymous wrote:We do know someone for who declined GDS for K in favor of a K-8. Child was later accepted for HS. Family explained that the then commute to the LS was too long for their young child.

OP, this was clearly a long time ago.
No one can say it's impossible, but pretty close to it. Are you asking about a situation like this PP wrote about someone else or do you mean in a shorter amount of time?

We do know someone for who declined GDS for K in favor of a K-8. Child was later accepted for HS. Family explained that the then commute to the LS was too long for their young child.

Wait, are you saying you declined but now want to enroll for this year, or you declined and your kid is going into K but might later want to apply to the upper school?

If you turn down a school's offer and in later years want to apply the same child again, I think you would need to be very honest and upfront in your application about why you turned the school down initially and how the circumstances have now changed. I think there are a number of reasons that a school might be won over by a compelling renewed application by a strong candidate, including a past need to address learning differences, changes in a family's finances or commute to the school, experienced discrimination / bullying / social difficulties at current school, etc. I find it unlikely that an Admissions Office is going to hold a grudge if they are presented with a coherent explanation for the change of heart. But you will, of course, be back to square one in a probably even greater pool of qualified candidates.

If you have already changed your mind, unless your kid is exceptional, I'd think they'd want a more drama free family

If you accepted this weekend and already changed your mind, yes I think you can contact admissions at the declined school first to see if you can still attend. I doubt they've moved forward that quickly yet. If you get that spot, accept it and back out of the contract at the other school (you will loose your deposit).

Depends on how desirable the school is, but for one with many applicants, yes, if you decline you won't get the offer again.

I don't think the door is closed for future years- if you explain that you made a mistake a current school isn't a good fit and why you think their school will be, I think you've got as good a shot as anyone else provided teacher recs, etc are good.

My strong suspicion is yes, there’s no going back, but probably doesn’t hurt anyone to give admissions a call. I doubt they are moving to waitlists already.

Correct. Once you decline, they move onto other kids.

If you realize afterwards the choice was wrong?