Admissions at Parkside

Steps in the Admissions Process


Our goal in this process is to provide you with the details you need to make an informed decision if we are able to offer your child a place in our community. Thank you for your interest in Parkside!

Attend a Campus Tour and Information Session.

We host weekly campus tours and information sessions where you will learn more about our culture, programs, and “Montessori from the Heart” approach to educating the whole child. We cover both our Primary and Elementary programs in all sessions, followed by a quick peek into each of our classrooms. These are adults-only events, so we appreciate you making childcare arrangements, and we are limiting each session to 8 guests to better facilitate conversation. We will meet in the Joe and Claire Bruno Community Room on Tuesdays from 9-10:30am, October through April, with the first hour being the information session and the last 30 minutes being a tour of our classrooms.

Schedule a Tour

Attend our 2024 Open House.
Wednesday, January 24th, 6-7:30pm

This evening event is for current and prospective parents to meet the staff, see the classrooms, and learn more about our programs and what makes Parkside such a special school. It's a wonderful opportunity to get information straight from the source and help prepare your child for their possible future here.


We will meet on campus in the Joe and Claire Bruno Community Room for general introductions and program information before opening the classrooms for tours and specific questions for the guides. This is an adults-only event, so we appreciate you making childcare arrangements.


RSVP HERE to attend

Submit a Waiting Pool Application.

If you haven’t already done so, we invite you to submit an application and the $100 non-refundable fee at any time during the admissions process, and your child will then be added to the Waiting Pool. Submission of an application does not guarantee enrollment as Parkside follows a multi-step process for engaging with prospective families, and space availability varies from year to year. When we begin enrollment in earnest, calls to prospective families in the Waiting Pool will be made based in part on the threshold requirements of space availability, age, and gender and in order of the date of application.

Observe a Classroom and Complete a Questionnaire.

We require a classroom observation so prospective families can see how a Montessori classroom works and experience Parkside’s learning environments in particular. After we receive your application, we will also share observation videos with you, and we ask that you watch them and make note of any questions. Along with the classroom and video observations, we ask you to submit a family questionnaire specific to the program you are interested in.


For prospective students applying to our Elementary program, we also require families to submit our recommendation form to your current and/or previous schools. The requested records and recommendation are due before your required administration meeting.

Meet the Administration Team.

Once the above steps are complete, we will schedule a follow-up meeting with Maya Castillo, our Director of Education, to discuss your observations, questions, and the admissions and enrollment process, including tuition and strategies for success here at Parkside. Finally, we want to offer the all-important opportunity to visit our beautiful campus as part of your and our consideration of your child’s enrollment. Prospective families will be invited to private in-person tours with Courtney Moore, our Head of School, to see our home, ask questions, and further discuss our potential partnership in your child’s education.

Next Steps.

We’ll be in touch periodically to keep you updated on next steps in the admissions process and to share Montessori information and tips. January through March is enrollment time at Parkside, and once we have decisions from our returning families, we will turn to the Waiting Pool to fill the remaining spots with families who have completed the steps above.

Stay in Touch.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if there are any changes in your contact information or school choices for your family. We are always available to answer questions and assist you through this process, so we look forward to talking with you soon. Thank you!





Parkside Community School does not discriminate on the basis of race/ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, age, or disability in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship program, or other school-administered programs.


"Both our children spent 5+ years at Parkside. Community, responsibility and citizenship were just a few of the wonderful foundations provided for them. Our family especially enjoyed the extra attention to nature and music that is the heart of Parkside. Our children left with hefty academic knowledge and more importantly, a true love of learning!"


- Michelle Weston

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