Admissions Policy

Applications to Ronald Knox Montessori School ("RKMS") are handled on a first-come, first-served basis. Exceptions are detailed below in the section entitled Special Status Applicants. RKMS accepts students of any race, sex, color, and national, ethnic, and religious origin. 

Placement Policy

The placement of RKMS applicants and continuing students is based on their level of social, emotional and cognitive development; RKMS staff and administration determine which program will best meet their needs. In practice, this means that while the chronological age of a child is a guideline, we do not have firm cut-off dates for the Early Childhood program.  

Special Status Applicants

Priority for admission to all programs is given to applicants applying on or before November 1st in the following order:

1. Currently enrolled students
2. Siblings of currently enrolled students
3. Children of RKMS alumni (legacies)
4. Children of current RKMS employees
5. Montessori transfers

The special status applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Sibling Status is granted to prospective students whose siblings have completed the third year of the Early Childhood Program at RKMS or whose siblings are current students at RKMS and pre-registered for enrollment. Legacy Status is granted to prospective students whose parent completed the third year of the Early Childhood Program at RKMS. A Montessori Transfer is given priority to enter the first year of the Early Childhood Program only after the academic year begins and spaces become available. Second and third year Montessori transfers are given priority status. 

Session Placement

RKMS makes every effort to place students in the Toddler and Early Childhood Programs in the same session, morning or afternoon, as any simultaneously enrolled siblings. If there are more requests for a particular session than there are spaces available, RKMS may determine session placement by lottery. Consideration is also given to classroom balance according to age, sex and previous Montessori experience, if applicable. Final decisions regarding session and program placement are at the discretion of the RKMS administration. 

Classroom Continuity

An integral part of our Early Childhood Program is the placement of children ages 3-6 in each classroom. These students remain together for the full three years. Upon acceptance to the Early Childhood Program, a family is asked to commit to enroll their child for the full three-year program, thus enabling continuity. The third year culminates the learning from the first two years of the Montessori program.