Admissions

Welcome.

Thank you for your interest in Marin Montessori. Our admissions process is designed to give you a variety of opportunities to understand and experience the wonder of Montessori education. Through the admissions process you will be able to determine if we are the community where your child and family can blossom and thrive.

I encourage you to learn as much as possible about our programs. Throughout this process, please don’t hesitate to call me or email me. It is my absolute pleasure to help. I love getting to know families through the Admissions process – it’s what makes this work so gratifying.

Most importantly, please join us at one of our upcoming events, which will give you the opportunity to experience Montessori education first hand. On campus, you will meet MMS parents, experience our warm community, and get a taste of the special culture we have built. Joining us while our community is in action will ensure that you feel confident you have made the right choice for your child when it comes time to make your decision.

Should you choose Marin Montessori, you will find that your son or daughter will love learning, feel valued, and be an active contributor to the school and classroom community. Choosing Montessori will provide your child with a strong foundation to lead a joyful and meaningful life.You won’t find any place like Marin Montessori. MMS students come from all over the Bay Area with transportation to serve our thriving community of San Francisco Families. It’s a very special place and I look forward to introducing your family to all that we have to offer. I hope to hear from you soon.

Warm regards,
Leslie Kastner
Director of Admissions
lkastner@marinmontessori.org

Get to know Marin Montessori School! Click on the three dots above see the viewbook in full screen. 

Admissions for Fall 2021 

1. Attend the Virtual Admissions Events that Speak to You: 
Join our mailing list (www.marinmontessori.org/information) and we’ll keep you apprised of our upcoming admissions events, including opportunities to hear from alumni, parents, and current students. We’ll also have opportunities for you to meet with our educational team.  

 2. Attend a Personal Virtual Tour: 
Personal tours give prospective parents the opportunity to learn about the Montessori approach for your child’s age and stage. We know that choosing the right school for your child(ren) is an important decision and a tour of our program is an essential part of making this determination. Choose a time that works well for you from late October through February. The tour will be individualized so you’ll have plenty of time to ask questions specific to your child and family. Please visit www.marinmontessori.org/tours to register.

 3. Submit an Application: 
Applications are accepted throughout the year and should be completed through our online portal. There is a $100 non-refundable fee per application. The Priority Deadline for Fall 2021 admission is February 1, 2021. Past the deadline, please inquire about availability.

 4. Submit Student Evaluation Forms and Copies of School Records: 
A Student Evaluation form is required for any child who has had previous school experience. This form must be filled out by your child's teacher and returned directly to us by the teacher within two weeks of the submission of the application.

If you are applying to our Elementary or Junior High Programs, you will need to submit a signed records release request to your current school. This will allow us to obtain copies of current school records, including progress reports, grades, and standardized test scores. All forms can be found on our website in the application section.

 5. Family or Classroom Visits: 
Visits take place in February and March. Due to COVID-19, our visits will likely look different than in years past. We’ll update applicants about the structure and timing as our plans develop based on the state of the pandemic.  

 6. Decision Letters: 
Starting at the Primary level, Montessori classrooms have a mixed-age environment (3-6 year olds, 6-9 year olds, and 9-12 year olds and 12-15 year olds) to allow for both individual and social development. We strive to balance each class by age and gender, meeting Association Montessori Internationale standards.

We follow the Bay Area Directors of Admissions guidelines for admission decisions notifications:

- Decision letters and enrollment contracts for children younger than 5 years olds are e-mailed to applicants on March 9, 2021. Contracts with deposits are due back on March 16, 2021.

- Decision letter for students 5 years and older are e-mailed to applicants on March 18, 2021. Contracts with deposits are due back on March 25, 2021.

Once decision letters have been e-mailed, in accordance with the Principles of Good Practice of Bay Area Directors of Admission, no member of the Marin Montessori community will contact you prior to the contract deadline. Bay Area Directors of Admission have agreed that this is a decision making time for your family.

NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS: Marin Montessori admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.

Due to COVID-19 safety precautions, our Open Hose events will be limited to applicant families. At our Open House, you will tour with a current parent and meet AMI–certified teachers. There will be time to explore our carefully prepared classrooms and our beautiful school grounds. 

After completion of an application, applicant parents will receive an invitation to join us for an Open House event in January or February 2021.

As Montessorians, we believe in the power of human connection and adaptation. In moments that feel unfamiliar, we thrive.

Keeping Our Connection

Marin Montessori School is committed to our students and families. To ensure the safety of our community, we are not touring in our school building. For families who are interested in learning more about our school, we are now offering virtual tours.

Select a date/time that works well for you. Virtual tours are personal and individual. You'll have a one-on-one tour and discussion with our Director of Admissions. We'll learn about you and your child(ren), while providing you with a full introduction to our school:

• What the “Montessori Method” is and why it leads to a lifelong love of learning
• Who makes up our talented, dedicated staff
• A “day-in-the-life” of our students

You’ll Have Questions - We’ll Have Answers

You’ll have plenty of time to ask questions! No matter the circumstance, we want you to be as informed as possible before making a decision on your child’s future.

COVID-19 is Temporary, Our Students' Love of Learning is Lifelong

In our community, we see challenges like these as opportunities to learn and gain deeper connections with each other. We are still learning together — albeit in new ways.

Tuition and Fee Schedule 2020-2021

Toddler Level (18 mos – 2 ½ Years)
Half-Days (M-Th) 8:00 – 11:30 am	$20,950
Full-Days (M-Th) 8:00 – 2:55 pm	$29,050

Primary Level (2 ½ – 6+ Years)
Half-Days (M-F) 8:30 – 11:45 am	$22,680
Full-Days (M-F) 8:30 – 3:00 pm	$31,330

Elementary Level (6 – 12 Years)
Full-Days (M-F) 8:15 – 3:15 pm	$32,060

Junior High Level (12 – 15 Years)
Full-Days (M-F) 8:30 – 3:15 pm	$34,700

Transportation Fees
San Francisco	$2,900
Junior High	$1,100

Additional Fees
Application Fee	$100
Non-Refundable Enrollment Deposit	10% of Tuition

Additional School Care (ASC)
Additional School Care is available to students enrolled in the Toddler, Primary and Elementary levels. Note that Morning Care is a separate package.

Full Year
Toddler 7:30 am - beginning of class There is no afternoon ASC for toddlers.	$1,400
Primary 7:30 am - beginning of class Until 6:00 pm	$1,850 $5,900
Elementary 7:30 am - beginning of class Until 6:00 pm	No Charge $5,900
Reserved Monthly
All levels, am + pm hours as noted above	$13/hour
Drop-in
Primary + Elementary until 6:00 pm	$14/hour

Tuition Insurance

Marin Montessori School is pleased to partner with Dewar to offer tuition insurance to families. Details on the program can be found here.

Marin Montessori School offers Tuition Assistance

Marin Montessori School attempts to provide Tuition Assistance to any family experiencing a financial hardship that renders them unable to pay the full tuition. Tuition Assistance is available for families in Primary, Elementary and Junior High. Families requesting Tuition Assistance must apply on the School and Student Services website. For current MMS families, applications are due November 29, 2020. For families new to MMS, the Tuition Assistance application is due on February 1, 2021. Click here for online application information.

Tuition Assistance Award Letters are sent with Re-Enrollment Agreements for returning families, or with the Acceptance Letter for new families.

Marin Montessori School uses the services of School and Student Services (SSS), which processes each Tuition Assistance application on an impartial basis to determine the financial need of the family. The Tuition Assistance Committee considers all applicants and makes awards based on the Tuition Policy Statement and the amount of funding available.

Marin Montessori School seeks a diverse student body

We offer programs for students from Toddler to Junior High, and seek to have a diverse student and parent body. We welcome families of any race, color, gender, nationality, ethnic origin or sexual orientation.

Accordingly, Marin Montessori School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation, national and/or ethnic origin in the admissions process, its educational policies, programs, and activities, tuition assistance, or employment.

The online application can be found here.

Supporting application forms:

• Grades PreK-1st Recommendation Form
• Grades 2-8 Recommendation Form
• Student Records Request
• Junior High Admissions Essay Questions