Enrollment Admissions Process for New Families for 2026-2027
The Children’s Garden Preschool is pleased to offer enrollment opportunities for the 2026-2027 year to new families. Following the school’s in-house enrollment period for currently enrolled and alumni families, any remaining spaces for the coming year will be made available for new applicants. Please read over the contents of this information thoroughly. It is important to us that every family fully understands the enrollment process and financial commitment required and we encourage you to ask any questions that you may have about this information. Please contact us via email for any needs. Open House Day information about reservations is below.
Enrollment Admissions Process for New Families
All enrollment information in this document has been revised as of January 1, 2026 and is relevant to the coming school year. Please become familiar with the process detailed here and about the school’s Learning Philosophy before starting enrollment inquiries. Here are the steps, in order, for new families ready to begin the process:
1) Visit
Meeting you and your child at our school is a required first step for enrollment. This is via open house day in March or an individual family visit (if unable to attend the open house day): We offer an in-person family visit to our indoor/outdoor Open House Day – Saturday, February 28th, with two visit times offered to make a family reservation – 9:30am to 11am OR 11:30am to 1pm. The visit is a warm and engaging experience for prospective families exploring Waldorf-inspired education, designed to share insights about our nature-based, living arts approach to new families for next year. This helps ensure The Children’s Garden feels like a good fit for your child and your family. You will meet and interact with our teachers, while seeing our play garden, classrooms and some short classroom demonstrations that give you a little glimpse into part of the week’s activities. Reservations are required for the Open House Day and made by emailing the school. Note: If you are unable to attend the Open House Day, a limited number of individual family visit times are available before the Application Deadline on March 9th. If any space remains for the coming year after April 3rd, 2026, a prospective family can still schedule an in-person visit and apply later in April or as late as summer.
2) Apply
Submit your child’s enrollment application form with the one-time application fee. Please take your time and be thorough with your application. What you share gives us more opportunity to get to know your child and your family. Applications may be completed and submitted after your family visit to the school. You are welcome to obtain an application packet from us on Open House Day or print from the link below. All open enrollment applications for 2026-2027 are due by March 9th.
3) Parent Information Session
Attending a parent information session is a requirement of the admissions process. The evening will be led by TCG director, Sally Hansen. Parents may attend a session either before or after their parent interview. Parent Information Sessions are scheduled for March 2nd, 9th and 16th (Monday evenings), from 7pm to 8:15pm. We will meet in the large classroom. One or both parents are welcome to attend.
4) Parent Interview
A parent interview (by phone) with the director and senior teacher, Sally, is scheduled after the completed application and application fee are submitted. The interview covers some brief questions we have for parents as a follow up to the application. Any remaining questions parents may have can be answered during the parent interview.
5) Decision Letters
Following the parent interview, our teaching staff review and discuss each application. We send decision letters to parents via email, on March 30th or before.
2026-2027 School Year Enrollment Timeline for New Families
- Open House Day Family Visit FEBRUARY 28th
- Application & Application Fee Deadline for New Families (open house visit or individual family visit complete before application may be submitted) MARCH 9th
- Individual Family Visit Options (only for those who are unable to attend the Open House Day) dates for Tuesday or Wednesday morning visits – March 3rd, 4th, 10th & 11th by appointment only and as space permits
- Parent Information Sessions (parents may choose from the following dates: March 2nd, 9th or 16th; all sessions are held on Monday evenings, from 7-8:15pm at the school)
- Enrollment for 2026-2027 Finalized (with placement offered to new families) by MARCH 30th
- Enrollment Fee and Parent Financial Contract Deadline by APRIL 3rd
- Child Enrollment Forms and Parent Forms Deadline by APRIL 28th
2026-2027 Open Enrollment Application (new families)
In-Person Family Visit
A family reservation is required (and is limited in size to – one or both parents and your child). We have a good number of spaces for family reservations on Open House Day – with two times to attend. We wish to create as much opportunity for new families to visit and spend some time with us. If the family reservation spots fill up, we’ll start a waitlist. Should there be any reservation cancellations for the open house day, we will contact waitlist folks quickly. Please contact us here to make a reservation and confirm we have space for you and your child to join us. NOTE: We kindly request your child’s name and date of birth and preferred time on February 28th (9:30am to 11am or 11:30am to 1pm) when reserving your space, along with and parent names of who will be attending with your child.
Rolling Enrollment (after April 3rd)
If the school has space remaining after April 3rd, placement for new families will be offered during rolling enrollment, up to January of each school year. Contact us here to inquire about later enrollment opportunities and to set up an initial call with the director. The in-person family visit can be scheduled soon after the initial phone call.
Waitlist Option
Following Open Enrollment if the school is full, a waitlist option is available to new families who have visited the school and submitted their application and application fee. The enrollment fee is not paid at this time, if this option is selected; the waitlist does not guarantee placement. The list is maintained and families are contacted in the order their child’s name is listed, if a space opens up. Should the school be able to offer placement, the family will be expected to pay their non-refundable enrollment fee (deposit) and turn in their completed Parent Financial Contract. The waitlist is limited to just three spots per class, due to the small size of our school. If this waitlist is full, family visits aren’t scheduled; nor are applications accepted.
Cancellation of Enrollment Policy
TCGP requires that any cancellation of enrollment be received in writing to the school, a minimum of 30 days before the planned final day. Tuition will continue to be due for this notice period; and any partial months of attendance are required to be paid in full. TCG imposes a withdrawal fee equal to one month’s tuition. Additionally, a withdrawal forfeits ALL of the non-refundable fees (enrollment and annual program supply fee). In regard to any pre-paid annual tuition refunds due, a check is sent by mail, less the annual tuition discount (in addition to the withdrawal fee and any tuition or other fees due). Failure to notify TCG as required will result in the family’s account being invoiced for an additional month of tuition.
Admission to The Children’s Garden Preschool is open to children regardless of race, creed, color or national origin.