Admissions

We are honored that you are considering The Children’s House of Nashville for your child and your family.

Children’s House gives equal consideration to all children regardless of race, color, creed, sex, religious denomination or national origin. Montessori education is an approach to learning with no distinction of class, culture, or intelligence.

How to Apply

Submit the Admission Application and $100 non-refundable application fee to begin the admission process.
Complete a school visit.
*Note: We are full for the 2023-24 school year with a wait pool of more than 50 students. You are welcome to apply for future years, and visit opportunities will resume in October, 2023.

“We love Children’s House for the teachers! They have years of combined Montessori experience; sensitivity to each child’s needs with gentle but firm encouragement; they implement social-emotional learning as well as Montessori education; and longevity at the school, which is important to us. Of course, we also love the outdoor classroom!”
Jessica and Keith Massey
Parents of Taryn

When to Apply

Applications are accepted any time after your child’s birth. Considerations for enrollment include age, gender, diversity, sibling/legacy status, date of application, and the child’s readiness, including independent toileting skills. We seek families who are committed to the Montessori philosophy and committed to supporting Children’s House in its educational programs and annual fundraising efforts. Admission decisions for fall enrollment are made each year in early March. Priority is given to siblings and legacies with applications on file by January 1 of the enrollment year.

We primarily enroll new children who are three years old to balance our mulit-age classrooms. As space permits, we enroll a few children who are four and five years old. We give preference to those older children who have previously attended a Montessori school. Children must turn five on or before August 15 of their kindergarten year.

*Applicants who have a birthdate from August 16 – September 30 may be permitted to enter such classroom at the request of the parent or legal guardian if the Director finds, through our Assessment for Readiness, the applicant is sufficiently mature emotionally and academically for our environment.

*Note: We are full for the 2023-24 school year with a wait pool of more than 50 students. You are welcome to apply for future years, and visit opportunities will resume in October, 2023.

FAQ’s

Frequently
Asked
Questions

I have heard that it is impossible to get into Children’s House unless an application is submitted at birth. Is this true?

This is not true, and we encourage you to apply! The number of new student openings varies every year, and your application date is only one of several factors we consider in our admission decisions. After we place our sibling and legacy applicants, we fill remaining openings with those from our application pool, balancing age, gender, and diversity within each classroom. Applicants placed in the wait pool are considered for future openings within their age/gender group.

Is my application complete?

You need to do three things to complete the application process:

Submit an application
Pay the application fee
Attend a virtual or in-person school visit

When will I know about admissions?

We will notify you by email in early March regarding admission or wait pool status.

Can I request a specific classroom for my child?

We will consider your request as we work to balance our classrooms using several factors, including age and gender.

Will Children’s House place siblings in the same classroom?

We invite parents to join us in discussing sibling placement. Some families find it helpful for siblings to be in the same classroom, while others prefer separation. We will consider the best environment for each child and parents’ preference along with available openings.

Can I observe in a classroom at Children’s House?

Currently, we are not allowing observations in the classrooms. We will resume when it is safe for our community.

What is Montessori?

Montessori is both a method and a philosophy developed by Dr. Maria Montessori more than 100 years ago. It is a child-centered approach to learning that recognizes that children learn best within a social environment which supports individual development. Montessori trained teachers prepare the classrooms so that children can work at their own pace with specially designed, sequenced materials allowing individual choice with gentle guidance and hands-on learning. Children develop the skills needed to become responsible members of a community including cooperation, negotiation, and problem-solving skills. Learn more at the American Montessori Society.

Is my child ready?

At age three, children are entering a new stage of independence and social abilities. Our Montessori classroom is an ideal place to channel their desire for independence into a desire to learn and to explore the world around them. Your child must be three years old and possess independent toileting skills.

Are meals served?

Children bring a morning snack, lunch, and afternoon snack from home each day.

What is my role as a Children’s House parent? Can I be involved?

We invite and encourage parent involvement. We ask that parents and other extended family members be involved in some of the following ways:

Observe in child’s classroom during the school year to understand how it all works
Volunteer to make materials, garden, cook or read, etc.
Join fund-raising event planning committees
Attend parent meetings, social events and fund-raising events
Serve as a board member for a three-year term
Additionally, we expect that each family will participate in our annual House Fund at a level that is individually meaningful. This fund supports improvements and capital projects, continuing the legacy that our families always leave the school better than they found it.

Note for 2022-23 School Year: Volunteer opportunities will be limited to what is safe and appropriate for our community at this time.

Does Children’s House operate on an academic calendar year?

Yes, we are closed the traditional school holidays including two weeks in December and a spring break in March. A summer camp with eight one-week sessions is optional. We are closed for most of August. See our Calendar for more details.

Where do children attend school when they leave Children’s House?

Our students leave Children’s House as confident and competent learners who are well prepared for the next school experience. Many schools, both public and private, look forward to having our alumni in their classrooms. Recent alumni have attended Abintra, Eakin, Ensworth, Franklin Road Academy, Glendale, Harding Academy, Julia Green, Oak Hill, Percy Priest, St. Bernard, St. Paul, University School of Nashville, and Waverly Belmont.

2022-2023 Tuition

Our program is full-day, 5 days a week.

3 & 4 Year Olds

$12,739 per year

Kindergarten & K-Club

$14,399 per year

View our 2022-2023 Tuition and Fee Schedule for all fees.

Tuition Assistance Program

We would like to encourage you to read the following information on our Tuition Assistance Program and consider applying for the 2023-24 Academic Year. We partner with School and Student Services (SSS) in our financial aid process.

To begin your financial aid application, you will complete the SSS Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS). The PFS is a comprehensive application that will take some time to complete. Give yourself the time you need by not waiting until our deadline approaches. You’ll need your most recent tax return before beginning the PFS. We also recommend that you review the wide range of materials that SSS has put together to help families with the financial aid process. They are found at solutionsbysss.com/parents.

The deadline to apply is February 1, 2023. We will communicate our financial aid decision to you. To make our decision, we use the information from the PFS as a starting point and consider our school policies, practices, and available budget. Here are some additional links to guide you in this process:

How to Apply for Financial Aid Flyer

Family Guide to Financial Aid

Children’s House Tuition Assistance Policy