How do I get started?

The first step for everyone is the online application. All students on the waitlist must complete a new application for each school year, the waitlist does not carry over from year to year.

Where do I fill out an enrollment application?

The enrollment application can be found on our website. An application does not guarantee enrollment, that will be determined by the lottery.

Do I have to pay for my child to attend this school?

All students K5-8th grade attend for free. K4 students attend half day for free and K3 is a fully paid program. To see pricing for K4 Extended Day care and K3 programming, please visit our Tuition tab

Do siblings of students already enrolled have to apply?

All students must apply individually. All siblings get priority placement, but it is not guaranteed; please submit an application as soon as possible for consideration.

What is the lottery?

Consistent with our Charter contract:

The Grantee acknowledges and agrees that if the capacity of the School is insufficient to accept all pupils who apply, state law requires that the School accept pupils at random, in which case the Grantee agrees to hold a lottery or other random selection method no later than 30 days prior to the start of each academic year. The following exceptions apply to this requirement:

1. The Grantee is required to give preference in enrollment to all grade-eligible pupils who were enrolled in the School in the previous school year and all siblings of pupils who are enrolled in the School; and

2. The Grantee may give preference in enrollment to children of the School’s founders, governing board members, and full-time employees, but must limit the number of such children given such preference to no more than 10% of the School’s total enrollment.

All returning students to CMS Charter School hold their places each year, thus avoiding the lottery, but must complete the enrollment contract via Transparent Classroom by the deadline in order to determine the number of openings in the lottery.

The following applicants will receive enrollment preference and will be exempt from the lottery, provided an application is submitted by the well advertised deadline for the next school year*. Any application received after this date will be treated like any other applicant and will be placed on the waiting list in the order it was received. If there are more priority applicants than open seats, a lottery will be held for each respective priority group in accordance with lottery protocols below:

1st Priority lottery:

• Siblings of students enrolled at AMS at the time of the lottery

2nd priority lottery:

• Children of founders 1

• Children of AMS staff members at the time of the lottery 1

• Children of current Governing Board Members 1

1 (not to exceed 10% of the student population)

*February 9, 2024 for the 24-25 school year

Any remaining open seats will be selected by lottery conducted in the presence of a representative of the AMS Board, the AMS Administration and AMS faculty.

Lottery Protocols:

• All applicants of the same family will be assigned one “Family Number.” Duplicate numbers will be placed in a drum or similar container.

• A Board representative who does not have a child in the lottery will draw numbers from the drum or similar container.

• Open seats will be filled beginning with Middle School and moving down to Primary.

• Siblings in the same grade will be given concurrent priority.

• Once given a seat, accepted students must accept or decline by the date stated in the acceptance letter. Declined seats are given to students on the waiting list in the order determined by the lottery.

• Waiting lists are held open for 5 school days from the start of the new school year. At that time, new students will not be enrolled to AMS unless transferring directly from a Montessori school, following an orientation interview with the principal and/or classroom teacher.

Non-discrimination Policy:

Enrollment will NOT be limited in any way on the basis of sex; age to the extent such age is consistent with the charter contract; race; religion; color; national origin; ancestry; creed; pregnancy; marital status; parental status; homelessness; sexual orientation; gender identity; gender expression; gender nonconformity; physical, mental, emotional or learning disability/handicap; or any other legally-protected status or classification.

What happens if a spot opens up mid-year?

If a student leaves, CMS staff will contact the next family on the waitlist and parents will receive a Letter of Commitment and deadline. Once a Letter of Commitment is received, the child has a confirmed spot at CMS. Often times, students in grades 1-8 will be invited for a shadow day, prior to acceptance.

I’ve got more questions, who can I talk to?

Any other enrollment questions can be directed to our Enrollment Coordinator, Dani Merar at dmerar@collectivemont.org