WHO CAN APPLY TO APS MONTESSORI?
Arlington Public Schools offers a Montessori program for children beginning at 3 years of age and going though Elementary and Middle School. To enter APS Montessori, children must be a specific age by September 30 of a new school year, and have parents/guardians who reside in Arlington.
WHO CAN APPLY?
- Any child who will be three years old or older on or before September 30th of that year is eligible for the APS Primary Montessori Program.
- No Primary Montessori student is required to have prior Montessori experience.
- After the 3 year old year, preference is given to students with Montessori experience.
- Good entry points to the program are age 3, Kindergarten and First Grade.
- All APS applicants must have parents/guardians who reside in Arlington.
WHO GETS ACCEPTED?
- In an Arlington Public Schools Preschool Montessori Classroom 2/3rds of the students come from families making about $80,000 a year or less. It is important to check the APS website for the exact income amount because this changes every year based on Arlington County’s guideline for eligibility for tax relief. 1/3 of the students’ families have higher income.
- The Countywide Elementary Program (1st – 5th grade) is located at Drew Model School. There is no financial requirement, though children accepted to Drew’s Preschool Program are guaranteed admission and most often stay in the Montessori program. In 2008 about a dozen spots could be open for first grade students outside of Drew. Spots are often available for students in higher grades on a case by case basis. Children with Montessori experience are given preference.
- Preference is given to younger siblings of current APS enrolled Montessori students - who must apply in order to be considered.
WHAT ARE MY CHANCES OF GETTING IN TO AN APS MONTESSORI PROGRAM?
- The space is limited, but not impossible to achieve. Many people are pleasantly surprised to have been chosen for a spot. Others find out later in the summer that a space becomes available after they have given up hope.
- Since every Arlington family can apply to more than one location the waitlist can seem long, but they can move quickly as some families make other options and move off of the waitlist.
- Be preparened to make a change mid-year. Families who are flexible can jump into an available spot later in the year.
MY CHILD HAS MONTESSORI EXPERIENCE AND I WANT TO START IN AN APS MONTESSORI SCHOOL AT KINDERGARTEN. WHAT DO I DO?
- Spots sometimes do come available for Kindergarten. The best advice is to put your child on a waitlist as soon as possible to maximize your family’s chances. Try to get on the waitlist before the lottery is held in April.
- If you have entered the lottery period,(Only Drew will hold a lottery for five year olds as it is one entry point for the school.) make sure you indicate on your application that your child has prior Montessori experience. That will give your child preference over others who have no experience.
- You will need to visit your home school and the APS Montessori site and get each Principal to sign your application, so plan ahead.
MY CHILD HAS NO MONTESSORI EXPERIENCE AND I WANT TO START AT KINDERGARTEN. CAN I GET IN?
- Some children have entered the Montessori classroom at Kindergarten with no Montessori experience. While this is a more rare case, it can happen. A parent who is interested in this opportunity should apply to get on the waitlist as a four year old to maximize chances of acceptance and get ahead of the lottery students who will be added after April 15th.
- You will need to visit your home school and the APS Montessori site and get each Principal to sign your application. So plan ahead.
I WANT MY CHILD TO HAVE AN APS MONTESSORI EDUCATION BEYOND KINDERGARTEN. WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO?
- APS Elementary Montessori (1st – 5th grade) is located at Drew Model School. If you are interested in Montessori beyond Kindergarten (and many people are), you should apply to Drew’s Preschool Program. Entry at preschool guarantees you continuation in the Montessori program.
- If you missed getting in at preschool, you can add your child to the waitlist at anytime during the year.
- First Grade is considered a new entry point. In 2008 about a dozen spaces are expected to be available for first graders with or without Montessori experience, though students with experience are given preference. Apply for the lottery between February 1st and April 15th, or put your child on the waitlist for his current class grade before the lottery process begins. That move will put you in front of the lottery candidates for the upcoming year.
- Entry after first grade is done on a case by case basis. It depends on available slots, Montessori experience (though it is not required), and Principal and a Montessori Teacher’s input. You should contact Drew School at 703-228-5825 for more details.
HOW DO I MAXIMIZE MY CHANCES OF BEING ACCEPTED?
- Apply for a three-year-old spot. Spots become available only when a child leaves the program after that. Sometimes that happens, but your name will be added to the end of the waitlist, behind others who applied on time.
- Apply to all schools that your child is eligible to attend. It is not uncommon for families to sit on several school waitlists. You must apply to each school individually so you may want to photocopy your applications.
HOW DO I PREPARE FOR A SPOT IF I AM ON THE WAITLIST?
- Be prepared to accept a spot when it becomes available. Sometimes that means two months into the school year or even six months into the school year when a family unexpectedly moves.
- Schools require a relatively quick committment to accept a spot that is offered. If you turn down the space it will push you to the bottom of the list for the rest of the school year.
- Be ready by taking action:
- Enter a private Montessori School to get the same high quality experience
- Complete potty training
- Have a childcare and transportation back up plan
- Maintain an openness to leaving your current preschool, daycare situation
- Make sure your child is open to change without building up hopes or creating anxiety
HOW MANY ARLINGTON CHILDREN ARE IN MONTESSORI CLASSROOMS?
- Approximately 550 children are in APS Montessori Classrooms
- There are 17 Montessori Preschool Classrooms at 9 different sites
- There are 9 Elementary Classrooms at Drew Model School
HOW DO I CHOOSE A LOCATION?
- You can live anywhere in Arlington County and apply to Drew because it is countywide. Bus transportation is provided for all students.
- Bus transportation is also provided for Montessori students at Campbell.
- Eligibility for all other locations is based on where you live in Arlington.
- If spaces exist at other schools after August 15th, principals may offer spots to families who live outside of the attendance zone.
IS THERE AFTERSCHOOL CARE FOR CHILDREN?
- At Drew, four year olds are eligible to apply for extended day care before and after school. Space is limited though and not guaranteed.
- Barrett, Campbell, Claremont, Hoffman-Boston, and Key,offer extended day for four year old Montessori students.
DOES ARLINGTON HAVE A SINGLE LOCATION MONTESSORI SCHOOL?
- Currently Arlington’s Preschool Montessori program is spread out over several sites to provide accessible locations for families. This is important because transportation is limited.
- Drew Model School has the largest number of Montessori students with about 250 students located at the countywide location. There are 5 Preschool, 6 Lower Elementary (1st - 3rd) and 3 Upper Elementary (4th - 5th), and Montessori Middle School(6th - 8th).
- The countywide Elementary Montessori program at shares a building with a Neighborhood first program which focuses on the Arts.
- AMAC advocates for t a stand-alone APS Montessori school.
DOES ARLINGTON HAVE A MONTESSORI MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM?
- Yes! The APS Montessori Middle School program is at Gunston Middle School.
- In the 2007-2008 school year APS piloted a Montessori Middle School program at Drew Model School. In the first year it was only eligible for 6th graders. 2008 the program moved to Gunston Middle School and continues to grow and expand.
- This program is primarily for students with prior Montessori experience though at least 3rd grade, though, in the future once it is established it is expected that a few spaces could accommodate students without Montessori experience.
WHO CAN APPLY TO APS ELEMENTARY MONTESSORI?
Montessori for elementary age children is offered at the Drew Model School. To enter, children must be have parents/guardians who reside in Arlington. The birthday cutoff date for all grades is September 30.
Students who enter the Montessori Program at Drew at the primary level, as well as students who
reside in the Nauck community with previous Montessori experience at places other than Drew,
are guaranteed admission to the Elementary Montessori Program through fifth grade without
having to apply at the first grade entry level.
All entry-level applicants (Grade 1) with previous
Montessori experience who will have older siblings concurrently attending Drew are guaranteed
admission to the Elementary Montessori Program. Other entry-level applicants will be admitted
to the Montessori program in the following order:
- Students enrolled in another APS preschool Montessori program
- Students who live in Arlington County who have had the equivalent of at least one-half of a regular APS school year in a certified Montessori program
- Other students in the Graded Program Kindergarten at Drew
- Other students who reside in the Nauck community
- Other students who live in Arlington County
Students above Grade 1 without Montessori experience will be offered admission on a case-bycase
basis based on the likelihood that the student can adjust to a Montessori program in the
absence of prior Montessori experience.
HOW LONG IS THE APS SCHOOL DAY?
APS Montessori is a full day, five days a week program. Holidays follow the Arlington Public School’s calendar. Different elementary schools have different start and end times. Drew Model School is in session Monday, Tuesday, Thurday and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:41 p.m. Wednesday school is in session 9:00 a.m. to 1:26 p.m. Extended day before and after school care is available.
CAN MY CHILD TAKE THE BUS?
Bus transportation shall be provided for four-year-old and kindergarten APS students who live in the school attendance area where the Montessori program is located.
Campbell Elementary and Drew Model School provide transportation for all students in the Montessori program, ages 3 and up.
Students at Drew Model School ages 3 and up receive free bus transportation from anywhere in Arlington county.
HOW MUCH DOES APS MONTESSORI COST?
Tuition for three-and four-year-old Montessori students is charged on a sliding fee schedule based on family income. Children in their 4-year-old year and whose parents’ income is at or less than the amount specified in the annual income guideline do not pay tuition.
There is no tuition charged for children in the 5-year-old or elementary years. Once a student enters kindergarten (generally all students turning 5 by September 30th), there is no charge.
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