The Admissions ProcessLearn about our school and the Montessori approach
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Acceptance
Required Documents (once accepted)
Classroom Placement
Admission and Placement PoliciesSince Ronald Knox Montessori School has a rolling admission process, applications for new students are always accepted. Ronald Knox accepts students of any race, sex, color, and national, ethnic, and religious origin. Ronald Knox guarantees the confidentiality of and access to student records in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. The age of entry begins at three months for the Infant/Toddler Program, two years for the Two's Program, and three years for the Primary Program. Once children are placed in a classroom, as a Primary student, they typically stay with that room through their Kindergarten year. We align with the State of Illinois and use the September 1st cut-off date for all of our programs. Should your child need an exception, that would be determined between the Lead Guide, the Admissions Director, and the final determination is made by the Head of School. RKMS is committed to educating each child in accordance with the Montessori philosophy and that most children thrive at the school. Occasionally, children are best served by a different educational environment. In such cases, RKMS reserves the right to excuse a student after a reasonable period, either in his/her own interest or in the interest of the rest of the class. New students are admitted on a 6-week probationary basis that begins on their first day of school or camp, after which the child will either be successfully integrated or it will be determined by the administration that RKMS is not the best placement. Under certain circumstances, tuition will be refunded on a prorated basis. Students with diagnosed special needs follow the same 6-week probationary period. The Montessori classroom is appropriate and beneficial for children. Some children need additional services or support outside of our standard best practices. We will work with any family and their child(ren) to make appropriate accommodations or arrangements to the best of our ability. Ronald Knox strongly believes Montessori prepares children for their next educational journey and life outside the classroom. The full RKMS Montessori experience will take your child through their Kindergarten year. The final year is of the utmost importance. This is the year that completes the cycle of learning and development that began at Ronald Knox. Being one of the oldest in the room, the child experiences a year of tremendous growth in self-confidence and self-esteem. It is important for parents to have a thorough understanding of the program in order to determine whether Ronald Knox will be the best environment for their child. For all of our programs, we use information gained from observations, input from guides, and Summer Program experiences to gather information about each child. Occasionally, additional work and reports from specialists will be required to place the child properly. Decisions include factors which take into account the best interests of your child and of the other children in the classroom environment. Our aim is to create classrooms that are balanced in various aspects: age, gender, learning style, etc. The professionally trained Montessori faculty and the administration make the final determination and placement within our programs. Special Status ApplicantsAll qualifying special status applications will be processed in the order they are received. Special status will be granted in the following order:
The administration of Ronald Knox reserves the right to make the final determination for session program placement. Additionally, many factors are considered in making admissions decisions, including:
New Students
• Current state of IL Health form (within 2 years) • Copy of birth certificate • Records from previous school, if applicable
Tuition Payments and Family Entrance Fee A one-time per family entrance fee of $1,000 is collected:
Tuition payment(s) are due in January and in September of the calendar year of enrollment,
Tuition alone does not cover the cost of educating a student at Ronald Knox. Like all independent schools, Ronald Knox conducts an annual fund programs that contributes to the direct funding of our education initiatives. The Ronald Knox Montessori Annual Fund, called the Drive to Thrive, is an opportunity to raise funds to support and enhance the educational resources of the school. All parents are encouraged to participate in this important initiative each year. Tuition AssistanceResources are available to offer financial aid to a limited number of families who otherwise might be unable to benefit from our educational programs, scholarship grants are based on need. Acknowledging that family circumstances change and that the financial resources of our school vary, an annual applications required. Parents may contact the Business manager regarding financial aid. Late Tuition Payment Prompt payment of all tuition and fees is necessary to ensure the smooth operation of the school. All financial obligations must be paid on or before the date they are due. Failure to do so may jeopardize a child’s enrollment. A late fee of $50 may apply for unpaid tuition 30 days after the due date. Requests to enroll for the upcoming school year may not be processed unless tuition and fees are current. Requests to forward records or write recommendations for other schools cannot be honored until all financial obligations are satisfied. If at any time you are unable to meet your financial obligations to Ronald Knox, please contact the Business Manager to discuss other arrangements. Forms of Payment Accepted Preferred payment of tuition is through an electronic bank transfer. Paper checks are also accepted. Credit cards may be used however a 2.5% convenience fee will be added to the invoice amount. Click below for the tuition schedule: |
2031 Elmwood Avenue Wilmette IL 60091 847-256-2922 | We are fully accredited by the American Montessori Society.
| ©2018 Ronald Knox Montessori School |
