The admissions process will vary depending on what type of school you want your child to attend. Public schools require you to show proof of residency in the district area along with a few other pieces of documentation. Some private schools require that students be academically gifted, exceptionally creative, or show promise in a certain area of study like technology or science in order to be admitted. Each school has details about the admissions process that are unique to that program. This means that you must learn about the specific school to find out exactly what you need to get your child enrolled. If you are considering a private Montessori program for your child, you can learn about the ins and outs of the process by taking a look at what Fountainhead Montessori School requires for admission.

Classroom observation and campus tour

Prior to the admissions process, parents who are considering a Montessori program are encouraged to schedule a classroom observation and campus tour. The Montessori classroom looks a lot different than the public school classroom and many other private programs. The Montessori classroom has a child-centered design. You will not find rows of student desks facing a larger teacher’s desk to accommodate lectures and busywork. Instead, you will see stations set up throughout the room that provide opportunities for individual and group learning. Another big difference in Montessori school is that each student follows an individualized learning plan. Students are able to move at their own pace instead of being forced to wait for others to catch up or move on without fully grasping a topic. Observing a class and taking a campus tour will help you see for yourself all the ways that a Montessori education differs from other options. This will help you during the admissions process because it can make you confident in your choice of program and give you a chance to talk to staff at the school about the process.

Online application and student assessment

Once you have completed a class observation and campus tour of the Montessori program, the next step is fill out the application. Many Montessori programs have an online application that you can easily find and fill out. Fountainhead Montessori School, for example, puts the applications for preschool, kindergarten, and elementary programs online. You can fill out the application and get set up to pay the first month of tuition or get put on the waitlist. Some Montessori schools also require an assessment for kids entering programs at the kindergarten level or above. At Fountainhead Montessori School, students in kindergarten and above are required to complete a two-day on-campus assessment as part of the admissions process. The application and assessment are the final steps in the admissions process for most Montessori programs.

The admissions process for private Montessori school is not complicated if you know what to expect. As mentioned above, there will be nuances at each school but you can expect the same general admissions process at private Montessori programs. You can get started by scheduling a class observation and filling out the application for admissions on the Fountainhead Montessori School website.