Eligibility and Time Frames
MCS does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion or national origin.
Applications are accepted at any time during the year. However, children must be at least 18 months old to enter MCS. Early application is advised.
Tours
Parents should contact the Admissions Office to make an appointment and to receive additional information regarding MCS philosophies and programs.
Tours, which are for adults only, are regularly conducted each week on Wednesday or Thursday mornings at 9:00, and include: program and philosophy overview, walking tour of the campus with brief observations at each level, and some specialists' classes.
Tours last approximately 90 minutes.
Application
Parents receive an application, parent questionnaire, tuition information and, if applicable, record release forms at end of the tour.
Parents return the application, non-refundable application fee, and, if applicable, record release form.
Parents return the questionnaire prior to child's interview date.
Interviews
MCS schedules a visit for the child that may last:
- 30 minutes for Pre-Primary (1.5-2 year old) candidates,
- 30-45 minutes for Primary (3-5 year old) candidates,
- 60-90 minutes and an additional half-to-full day for most Elementary (ages 6-12) candidates.
Prior to a decision regarding possible acceptance, applicants are interviewed by a teacher or the Director of Admissions, either individually or in a classroom grouping. Interview notes and recommendations are submitted to the Head of School. Follow-up interviews, when necessary, may be conducted, perhaps by a different teacher. In any event, the interviewing teacher is not necessarily the teacher with whom the child would be placed.
While the child is interviewing, the Head of School or the Head's designee meets with the parents, gives them the 'Enrollment and Orientation Information Summary' and discusses the contract and enrollment procedures.
Following interviews with the child and parents, a decision is made by the Head of School and Director of Admissions regarding child's readiness for admission and child's/family's potential to benefit from MCS' available, pertinent programs. Parents are notified of the school's decision by phone or letter. No information regarding placement decision is given except by the Head or Head's designee.
Such notification will address readiness and placement considerations only; they are not considered clinical evaluations. Interview specifics remain confidential.
If immediate placement is not an option, the student's name is placed in MCS waiting pool.
Siblings, children applying for re-admission, or those transferring from another Montessori school are interviewed as noted above and may be given special consideration for any available openings.
Enrollment and Placement
Although most enrollments begin in September, children may be enrolled as appropriate openings occur. MCS determines placements in accordance with reasonable classroom balance (age, sex, ability) and potential matches between school/class and candidates. Thus, enrollment is not first-come, first-served.
When enrollment is offered, parents receive a school year contract, which should be signed and returned immediately, with appropriate fees. MCS anticipates long term enrollments/re-enrollments, although contracts are annual.
When contracts and fees are received by MCS:
- The child is entered on MCS roll (the speed with which the child is assigned to a specific class depends on when the child is enrolled).
- An enrollment packet (handbook, forms, class assignment and start date) is sent to the parents (immediately, for those enrolled once school has begun, and during summer for those beginning in fall).
- A host family is asked to call and welcome new families.
- All forms are to be returned prior to child's entry.
Families attend an orientation session to:
- Review the anticipated acclimation process for the child (with the teacher)
- Answer questions (the teacher or administrative staff)
- Explain involvement in parents' association and fund-raising efforts (administration)
- Distribute any pertinent support material (teacher, administration)
Teachers orient students to the environment and daily routine during their first week of school.
Enrollment contracts for returning students are offered in February and must be returned by March 1 with appropriate fees to secure enrollment, prior to release of enrollment contracts for new students; the latter are offered in March.
A six week observation (probationary) period applies to all new students.
When possible, new student totals do not exceed 1/3 of a class enrollment.
