Admissions Steps

Step 1: Schedule a Phone Call or Zoom Meeting
Submit an inquiry form  to learn more about our school and schedule a phone call or Zoom meeting with our Director of Advancement.

Step 2: Attend a Campus Tour or Open House Event
After your phone call or Zoom meeting, you can schedule a tour of our beautiful 5-acre campus to see our community in action or attend one of our Open House events.
Note: If you attend an Open House first, you will need to schedule a phone or Zoom call with our Director of Advancement afterward.

Step 3: Submit an Application for Admission
Once Steps 1 and 2 are completed, an Application for Admission form will be emailed to you. Complete the application and pay the $150 application fee, which will be invoiced to you after the application is received.

Step 4: Schedule a Family Interview
Once the application fee is paid, you will schedule a family interview. Family interviews will be conducted after the application is received. Your family will be placed in the wait pool following the interview, and spaces will be offered as they become available, based on the needs of our classrooms, such as age, gender, and schedule requirements.
  • Open Enrollment (for the 2025/26 school year): Family interviews will be scheduled as soon as possible between November 2024 and February 2025. We appreciate your patience during this busy period with significant interest. Interviews will be scheduled in the order in which applications are received and according to staff availability. Timing is of the essence: families who respond quickly to available interview openings are more likely to secure a spot. Delays in response can slow down the process, and we may need to move on to other families who respond in a timely manner.
  • Rolling Admissions (for current school year openings): Family interviews are offered after the application fee is paid. Families will remain in the wait pool until a space becomes available during the current school year that fits within our classroom's demographic needs.

Open Enrollment Timeline for the 2025-2026 School Year

Upcoming Open House Dates:

  • Saturday, December 7th, 2024
  • Saturday, February 1st, 2025

Open Enrollment is for families applying for the following school year (2025/26). Applications for consideration must be submitted by February 7th  to guarantee a family interview.
  • Family interviews must be completed by March 1st to be considered for admission during the Open Enrollment window.
  • Decision letters will be sent via email by March 15th.
  • Commitment intentions must be received within 5 business days of the offer.
  • Enrollment agreements must be signed within 5 business days of the date sent.
  • Deposit invoices must be paid within 5 business days of the date sent.

​Note: These timelines ensure fairness in our admissions process and allow us to offer spaces to other families in the wait pool in a timely manner.​

Rolling Admissions (for Current School Year)

Spaces may become available outside of the Open Enrollment timeline for the current school year and can be offered to families in the wait pool during the school year or in the summer. A completed family interview does not guarantee an automatic offer of an open space. The decision to extend an offer is made after careful evaluation of various factors.
 
If families decline an offered space, they may choose to remain in the wait pool for the next available opening or be removed from the wait pool.
 
Once a space is offered, families must make commitment decisions within 5 business days. Enrollment agreements must be signed within 5 business days from the date sent, and deposit invoices must be paid within 5 business days from the date sent. New students may not start the program until the enrollment agreement has been signed, deposits paid, and all enrollment paperwork completed.
 
Note: These 5-day timelines ensure fairness in the admissions process and allow us to offer spaces to other families in the wait pool efficiently.

Wait Pool

MCH uses a wait pool to manage all applications for admission. All applicants are placed in the wait pool. When a space becomes available, we choose a candidate from our wait pool, considering the needs of the classroom, including age, gender, schedule, and the individual needs of both the child and the classroom.

Spaces may become available during the school year (through Rolling Admissions), over the summer, or during the next Open Enrollment period. Families in the wait pool will be contacted when a space becomes available that fits their child’s profile.

​Family Interviews

At Montessori Children’s House (MCH), family interviews with our Head of School, Angela Spayde, are a crucial part of our admissions process. These interviews are conducted after the application is received and the application fee is paid, placing your family in the wait pool until a space becomes available during Open Enrollment or Rolling Admissions. Both parents and the child applying must attend the meeting, which typically lasts up to an hour. Angela will engage in a warm conversation to better understand your family’s values and goals, assess alignment with our mission and values, and ensure mission fit when filling spaces from the wait pool. She will also provide details on next steps and timelines, answering any questions you may have.

Student Visits

Student visits are required for all Upper School (First Grade – Eighth Grade) applicants and must be completed before family interviews. Your Upper School child will be invited to join a class for a day to make friends, meet teachers, and experience life as a Montessori Children’s House student.
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Occasionally, applicants in our Lower School (Infant – Kindergarten) may also be asked to visit a classroom or undergo a readiness assessment.

Admissions Decision Making Process

Admission decisions are made by the Admission Team, which includes the Owner, Head of School, Director of Advancement, Student Support Director, and Program Director. Decisions are based on selecting mission-appropriate families while balancing classroom needs, including age/grade level, gender, schedule, and diversity. Additional considerations include (in no particular order):
  • Sibling priority
  • Alumni children priority
  • Alumni siblings priority
  • Staff children priority
  • Prior Montessori experience
  • Developmental and social/emotional readiness

Application Considerations

MCH generally receives more applications than available spaces, particularly during the Open Enrollment Window for the following school year. Not all families may be offered a space, but we encourage applicants to remain in the wait pool for mid-year or summer openings or the next Open Enrollment Window.
Families will periodically be given the option to remain in the wait pool or withdraw their application. MCH will periodically update the wait pool based on families' responses to our communication inquiries.

​Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What happens if I don’t get a space during the Open Enrollment period?
If no space is available for your child during the Open Enrollment period, you will remain in the wait pool for future consideration. Spaces may become available mid-year, over the summer, or during the next Open Enrollment Window.

Can I reapply if my family does not get offered a space?
There is no need to reapply if you are already in the wait pool. Your application will remain active, and you will be contacted when a space becomes available.

Does placement in the wait pool guarantee a spot?
Being placed in the wait pool does not guarantee a spot. Spaces are offered based on the needs of the classroom and demographic balance, including age, gender, and schedule.
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Can I visit the campus again while waiting for a decision?
Yes, we encourage families to stay engaged. If you'd like to visit the campus again while waiting, please contact our Director of Advancement to schedule a time.