Admissions

Procedure for Admissions
2010-2011 Academic Year

The Montessori Schools of Central Texas admits students of any economic and social class, racial and ethnic heritage, and religious beliefs. In order to be considered for our Preprimary program, a child must be between 18 months and 3 years of age by their start date. Children who are between 3 and 5 years of age by their start date will be considered for our Primary program. Students who are between the ages of 6 and 12 years of age by their start date will be considered for our Elementary program.

The following is a list of specific steps in our admissions process:

1. Interested parents will need to make an appointment for a tour of the school at 254-771-1116. School tours are scheduled Monday-Friday between 2:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., as not to disrupt the children’s work in progress. During your tour, we will explain in more detail about our school programs and answer your questions. Tours usually last approximately thirty minutes.

2. As an option, we accommodate observations of our classrooms as a scheduled appointment. Scheduling can also be made through the school office. Observation times are individual to each classroom and are scheduled during the morning “work period.”

3. When the decision to apply for admission is made, complete the application form and mail it to the school with a non-refundable $50 application fee. Applications will be considered on a first come, first serve basis as long as spaces are available. We will contact you by phone or mail after receipt of your application form and fee to schedule your child’s initial enrollment period.

4. Your child’s paperwork and the initial enrollment period fee of $550 will be due at this time. The initial enrollment fee is considered the first installment payment and will be deducted from the total annual tuition amount.

5. Initial Enrollment Period:

A. If you applied for a Preprimary program position, your child will be observed by our teaching staff for an initial enrollment period. Your child, along with their parents, may visit our preprimary class from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. during two transitional days. After these visits, your child may participate in our orientation program for the remainder of the initial month of enrollment. A parent orientation session with admissions staff will also be conducted during your child’s orientation period to review the parent handbook and to answer your questions about the Montessori educational approach to learning.

B. If you applied for the Primary program, your child will be observed by our teaching staff for an initial enrollment period. Your child may visit and work with a group of peers and teachers from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. during two transitional visits. After these visits, your child may participate in our orientation program for the remainder of the initial month of enrollment. A parent orientation session with admissions staff will also be conducted during your child’s orientation period to review the parent handbook and to answer your questions about the Montessori educational approach to learning.

C. If you applied for our Elementary program, the student will be invited to spend two half-days from 8:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. After these visits, your child may participate in our orientation program for the remainder of the initial month of enrollment. During the orientation period, your child’s math and language skills will be assessed. The results of the assessment will be shared with the parents by a lead teacher at the conclusion of the initial enrollment period. A parent orientation session with admissions staff will also be conducted during your child’s orientation period to review the parent handbook and to answer your questions about the Montessori educational approach to learning.

6. After the initial enrollment period and parent orientation, a meeting will be scheduled with you and your child’s teacher. At this time, we will discuss our observations of your child. Admission decisions are made by administration and teaching staff. Decisions are based on an evaluation of the child’s initial month of enrollment and the needs of existing classes with the regard to the balance of age, gender and ethnic diversity and include the parent’s commitment to our Montessori educational approach to learning.

7. Parents will be contacted to schedule an admissions meeting. If a position is offered to your child, an enrollment contract will be reviewed with you. The signed contract will need to be signed and returned to the school along with the non-refundable $250 supply fee. Upon receipt of the signed contract and supply fee your child may begin enrollment in our school.

8. If a place is not immediately available, your child may be placed upon our waiting list. We occasionally experience drops through the summer and we urge parents to remain in the wait group.

9. Children who are on the waiting list for the current year must reapply for acceptance the following year. The application fee will transfer to the following year if we are unable to provide a space for your child due to a full class.

Please call me if you have any questions or for further information at 254-771-1116.

Jennifer Watson

Assistant Director