We do offer a limited number of scholarships annually to our Primary (preschool and Kindergarten) students.  Kindergarten students will receive scholarships first, then preschoolers will share any remaining funds. To apply for a scholarship, you first need to complete a Free and Reduced Lunch Application (typically available in mid-July).  Even though preschoolers are not eligible for our school hot lunch program, you will still complete and submit this form to the District to see if you are a candidate.  If you qualify, you will be sent an acceptance letter which you should copy and give to our Office Manager.   Remember, there is no tuition for 1st grade and higher at DCS Montessori School. Also, we will have forms available for those who need health insurance for their children.  Health insurance forms will be available at the Front Office in early August.   

You will still download and complete the Lottery Application for the appropriate school year.  Applications received after the lottery deadline will be added to the bottom of the waitlist in the order received.

We have fewer students per teacher than the traditional Douglas County Public Schools.  For a class of 29 students, Primary rooms (ages 3-6) will have a Montessori Certified teacher and two trained assistants, for a student/teacher ratio of  10:1.  Lower and Upper Elementary classes of approximately 28 will have a Montessori certified teacher and one trained assistant for a ratio of approximately 14:1.

A Charter School is a public school and is therefore required to meet all standards set by the school District. What sets Charter Schools apart from the traditional public schools is:

It is operated under a contract between the School District and the Charter School Board of Directors. The Board is comprised of parents and community members.

Certain state and county guidelines can be waived to accommodate the differences in curriculum, teaching philosophies, and governance.

The Montessori Method is a non-religious philosophy and approach to education. It was developed in 1907 by Dr. Maria Montessori after detailed observations of how children approach learning at her school named "Casa dei Bambini." Her methods are based in the belief that children are natural learners and that the right environment and educational materials will spontaneously arouse interest, curiosity and learning.

Montessori classes are made up of children in three-year age ranges. Primary classes have children ages 3 - 6; Lower Elementary classes have first, second and third graders; and Upper Elementary classes have fourth, fifth, and sixth graders. Emphasis is placed on the relationships between the students, teacher and the classroom environment. Montessori classes promote an attitude of cooperation rather than competition. It is common for students to ask each other for help.

The classrooms are set up in accordance with the "prepared environment" as defined by Montessori in order to maximize independent learning and exploration. Each material has a specific purpose and students are instructed as to its use. With these materials, children master a set progression of skills and learning objectives. Montessori materials are a road from the concrete to the abstract.

Today, the Montessori method is an internationally recognized philosophy of education. Teacher certification, classroom operation and appropriate curriculum are well established. The successful academic outcome of a complete elementary program is well documented around the world.

Our school uses an annual lottery system for accepting new students. We collect all applications until the due date listed on the Application Form. We then randomly sequence the applications. Our next step is to survey our current students to ascertain who will be returning so that we may fill the vacancies left by those students who are not returning.

Our vacancies will be filled using the following priority system:   All students will be admitted through a lottery process. Lottery information can be found on our website. All current DCSM students maintain their enrollment. The lottery process fills vacancies. For students in the lottery, preference will be given in the following situations and order: 1. Siblings will be given preference if a space is available in a particular grade. Siblings of in-district students will be accepted first, followed by siblings of out-of-district students. If a sibling space is offered, and accepted, and later declined by the parent, or the student is withdrawn, the student is no longer considered a sibling for future years. 2. Students entering 1st grade and higher who send proof of prior Montessori education will be given preference depending on the number of years of Montessori experience.  3. Staff member children will be given preference not to exceed 10% of the population of the school, with in-district accepted first, followed by those out-of-district. 4. Students who do not meet any of the above criteria will be accepted based on space availability in a particular grade level with in-district students being accepted first and out-of-district students being accepted second. Our school does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, sex or disability.

*Please note that if you move to Douglas County after you apply to our lottery, even after the lottery is conducted, you simply need to provide us with your new proof of residency and we will move you into the “in county” list.

We will post all lottery information on our website within a week after the lottery deadline. We will email offers to those for whom we have space.

We send offers as we find out about vacancies. It’s likely you will receive an offer for one child but not the others. Call us at that time and we can tell you where your other children are on the waitlist. Once you enroll one child, others will receive sibling priority; however, we will not move siblings who applied after the Lottery above any student who applied prior to the Lottery deadline.

We will call or mail you a letter to notify you that there is a position available for your child. You will then have a minimum of 24 hours to respond. If you do not respond to our offer within the allotted time, or if you decline our offer, your child’s name will be removed from our waitlist and your application packet will be shredded. If you want to be placed back on the waitlist, you must re-apply and your child’s name will be added to the bottom of the waitlist.

Please visit our website – the waitlist is posted under the Admissions tab. Waitlists will be posted about one week after the Lottery Deadline.

We have many great teachers.  Please trust our staff to properly place your child in a classroom.

We do not roll our lists over from year to year; therefore, you’ll need to complete an application and add necessary attachments and submit them to us.

No.  We continue to place students from our Lottery list as we have vacancies thorough the school year.

Once your child is a student here, they will have continuous enrollment here. Once a child leaves DCS Montessori, they must re-apply.

We do not have bus service to our school. Parents will need to provide transportation to the school for their children. Therefore, we strongly encourage carpooling to diminish traffic congestion.