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Admissions Process

2024-2025 School Year

  • The first step in the admissions process is to complete our online Inquiry Form. The Admissions Director will respond and work with you to schedule a Group Tour of the CMS Main Campus (18 months – 12 years) or Upper Campus (12 years – 14 years).

  • The second step in the admissions process is a Group Tour! After submission of the inquiry form, the Admissions Director will contact you to schedule a weekday tour. Alternatively, you may register to attend our weekend Open House Tour on Sunday, November 5. 

    Tours are required prior to submission of an application for admission (out-of-state families should contact the Admissions Director for alternative plans). Tours are for adults only (babes in arms are welcome!) and offer the opportunity to learn about Montessori in general and about the authentic Montessori principles that we practice each day at CMS. We look forward to meeting you.

  • At the conclusion of a Group Tour, the admissions office will email with the link to our online admissions application via MyChesapeake. There is a non-refundable $55 fee due at the time of submission.

    If you are submitting an application for the Young Children’s Community (YCC) there is no additional documentation required with the application. 

    If you are submitting an application for the Primary Community please submit all previous school records (if applicable). 

    If you are submitting an application for the Elementary Community or to the Adolescent Program, we require submission of 1) the most recent progress report, 2) the previous year’s progress reports, and 3) a teacher recommendation form. You may download the teacher recommendation form and a records request form (to submit to the current school) from MyChesapeake.   

    ALL applications should also please include any recent developmental evaluations and/or assessments.

    In order to be considered in the first round of admissions decisions, applications must be received by January 16. Applications received after January 16 will be reviewed based on enrollment availability per level. 

  • If you submit an application to the Young Child Community, Primary, or Elementary Programs, the Admissions Director may contact parents to schedule classroom observations. Classroom observations help parents to understand if your family is well-matched with our program. Parent(s) will observe classrooms in at least two different levels. This will be followed by time to ask questions of the Admissions Director. Please schedule one hour for observations. Observations are for parents only.

  • Applicants, ages 4 years and older, to our Primary Program may be requested to attend for a classroom visit. The admissions director will be in touch to arrange these visits, which last approximately 1 hour. These visits allow CMS staff to observe your child’s disposition. 

    Applications to our Elementary and Adolescent Programs will be reviewed and applicants may be invited to shadow a current student for a day. Generally, applicant shadows are scheduled in late January. Shadows are required for admittance to our Elementary and Adolescent Programs. 

  • The first round of admissions notifications for the 2024-2025 academic year will be communicated via MyChesapeake on or about February 16, 2024 (according to AIMS guidelines). 

    CMS will continue to accept applications and make offers of enrollment until spaces are full at all levels. If we are full, your child’s application will be placed in our waiting pool and you will be contacted if a space opens.

    If your child is offered enrollment to our program you will receive an electronic enrollment letter and contract. Your child’s enrollment will be confirmed upon return of the signed electronic enrollment contract and non-refundable, $1,500 tuition deposit. 

    Admission to CMS is offered with the understanding that our AMI trained teachers will educate all children within the bounds of the Montessori pedagogy.

    Chesapeake Montessori School admits students of any race, color, national, or ethnic origin to all of the rights, priveleges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at CMS. CMS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in the administration of our education policies, admission policies, tuition assistance policies, and other school-administered program. 

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