Questions and Answers

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QAre all Montessori schools alike? Hide

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No. Any school can call itself a Montessori school but Marin Montessori School’s accreditation from the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) ensures that MMS adheres to the highest standards of Montessori principles and methodology. We are one of just two AMI schools in Marin County.

QWhat is AMI? Hide

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Dr. Maria Montessori founded Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) in 1929 to protect the integrity of her work. AMI has remained the worldwide authority on Montessori education and practice.

AMI accreditation indicates that our school performs according to the highest standards of the Montessori philosophy, receives regular consultations from trained and qualified AMI consultants and is staffed by qualified AMI teachers and administrators.

QHow many openings do you have? Hide

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We seek to enroll approximately 12 children at the Toddler level (18 months – 2 ½ to 3 years old) and 40 children at the Primary level (2 ½ - 6 years old) each year. Most children enter our program around the age of three and continue on through Junior High school. Our Elementary and Junior High level classrooms are largely filled by students who have completed our Primary program. Openings vary from year to year.

QDo you have openings in kindergarten? Hide

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In our school, each classroom is set up as a multi-age community. A student usually spends three years in a classroom before moving on to the next level. For example, a child will enter a Primary classroom when he/she is 3 years old and remain in that classroom until he/she moves up to Lower Elementary (1st to 3rd grade). A child’s “kindergarten” year is the last year in his/her Primary classroom. Any spaces at the “kindergarten” year are based on attrition since most students enter the Primary level at the age of three and continue through the Junior High level.

QIs there a wait pool at Marin Montessori School? Hide

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Yes. Turning in your application by the priority deadline is important.

QDo you have a financial aid program? Hide

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We provide tuition assistance to families experiencing hardship in paying full tuition costs. Applications for tuition assistance are available in the School Office in October (click here for online application information). For current MMS families the tuition assistance application is due by the end of the first week in December. For individuals applying to MMS for the first time, tuition assistance applications are due by the same deadline in January as the admissions application. Responses to tuition assistance applications will be completed prior to the re-enrollment deadline for returning families and completed prior to the status notification date in March for new families.

We are a member of the School Scholarship Service, which processes each application on an impartial basis to determine financial need of the family applying. The Tuition Assistance Committee considers all applications and decides on allocations according to Board policy.

QDoes my child have a preference for admission if s/he has a sibling already at MMS? Hide

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Sibling preference will be given to siblings of children who have graduated from the Upper Elementary level.

Sibling preference will be given to siblings of children committed to graduating from the Upper Elementary level.

Please note that Sibling Preference does not guarantee admissions to our school in any level.

QHow is class placement determined? Hide

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After your family visits, the Director of Admissions, Head of School and the teachers spend a considerable amount of time determining the best placement for each child. We consider the needs of each individual child and the needs of the existing classroom community. Once your child is placed, he/she will remain in the same classroom within his/her level.

QIs diversity a component of admission decisions? Hide

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Yes. We strive to give every child a diverse and realistic view of the world. We are committed to offering the broadest possible experience to our students and families by maintaining a diverse community that reflects the variety of experience, culture, development and physical abilities, economic diversity, lifestyles and philosophies in the Bay Area.

QWhat happens to children who transfer from Marin Montessori School to traditional schools? Hide

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We believe that in order to gain the full benefit of our program, students should transfer after the completion of the Junior High level. Because that is not possible for all children, it is highly recommended that students transfer only after they complete the full Primary level or Elementary level, in order to gain the most from their experience at MMS.