Admissions
Process
You may notice that the admissions process follows necessary steps in order to ensure that we will be a good match for each applicant and their family. We look for children and parents of diverse talents, backgrounds, experiences, and cultures who will benefit from a cooperative, nurturing environment where students are challenged to reach their full potential.
The admissions procedure is an easy process designed to give families an opportunity to learn about our school, our philosophy, and our policies, and to meet our staff. It also gives us an opportunity to assess each child’s personality and determine whether we are able to meet the needs and expectations of the parent(s)/guardian(s).
Children are accepted on the basis of readiness for the environment and potential for success in a Montessori classroom. It is equally important to determine whether the parents’ educational philosophy is compatible with that of Navarre Montessori Academy. Our goal is to enroll families who will both benefit from and contribute to our unique environment.
“To assist a child we must provide him with an environment which will enable him to develop freely.” Maria Montessori
Prerequisites
Casa de Niños
2.5 - 6 years old
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Be at least 2.5 years old
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Fully potty trained
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Has basic independence skills such as cleaning up small messes and being able to separate from his/her parent(s) fairly easily.
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Displays a readiness and willingness to receive instruction and to learn.
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The child is able to ask for help, express needs and wants, and follow directions.
Kindergarten & Elementary
6 - 12 years old
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Be at least 6 years old
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Can read phonetic stories fluently.
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Know some phonograms and sight words
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Must have successfully completed Kindergarten or prior Montessori equivalent
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Must be at or above grade level in reading and math (we may request recent report cards or assessments)
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Must demonstrate emotional maturity, independent work habits, and respect for others
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Is self-directed
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Children who have had at least two consecutive years of Montessori Primary education, one of which is the third year (the Kindergarten year), or are transferring from another accredited or IMC or AMS school member Montessori school have priority during the enrollment / wait list process.
Steps to follow
Step 1
Add your child to our Wait Pool Enrollment
We have established a Wait Pool to give parents the opportunity to enroll their children in our quality program. We will notify you by email or phone when an opening becomes available. You will have 24 hours to respond in order to proceed to Step 2. If we do not receive a response within 24 hours, your child will be removed from the Wait Pool and we will continue with the next applicant.
Step 2
Tour Our School
When a space becomes available, families in the Wait Pool will be contacted and invited to complete the next step in the enrollment process, which includes a school tour and classroom observation. This visit allows parents to experience our Montessori environment firsthand and ask any questions they may have.
Although we are intentional in our admissions decisions to maintain the integrity of our Montessori environments, available spaces are not assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Instead, placement decisions are based on readiness, classroom dynamics, and alignment with our educational philosophy.
Please note: A School Tour must be completed before an enrollment offer can be made.
Step 3
Trial & Parent Interview
Casa de Niños Trial – 5 Days
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Trial period is five consecutive school days
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Designed to evaluate the child’s readiness and comfort within a Montessori setting
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At the end of the trial, parents, the lead teacher, and the Head of School meet to determine the next step
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Trial fee: $222
This amount is non-refundable but will be applied toward tuition if the child is officially enrolled
Child must be at least 2.5 years old and fully potty-trained to begin a trial.
Elementary Trial – 4 weeks
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Trial period is 1 month (approx. 4 weeks)
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Allows time to observe the child’s adjustment, academic engagement, and social integration
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Families are expected to partner with us in supporting the child both academically and emotionally
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After the trial, a formal evaluation meeting with the teacher and Head of School will be held to determine placement
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Trial fee: $1,200 or free with scholarship.
This fee is non-refundable, but will be applied toward tuition if enrollment proceeds
Families must provide proof of grade-level progress (e.g., report cards), and if transferring from another school or center, a feedback form will be requested.
Step 4
Enrollment Notification & Final Steps
Upon completion of Steps 1–3 of the admission process, including the wait pool form, school tour, and trial period, prospective families will receive notification of our enrollment decision within 1–2 business days.
If the child is accepted, families will receive an Enrollment Packet that must be completed prior to the child’s start date.
Required documents include:
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A copy of the child’s Birth Certificate
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Proof of a physical exam within the past year
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Vaccination record or a State of Florida exemption form issued by the Department of Health
A student is formally enrolled once the following have been submitted:
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Signed Enrollment Contract
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Completed enrollment forms
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All required documents
Payment of the following non-refundable / non-transferable fees:
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$150 annual registration fee
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$300 material fee
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$350 tuition deposit (applied to the first month’s tuition)
Please note: Enrollment is not finalized until all items are received and approved by the Head of School.
Acceptance
We accept students of varying academic ability and diverse learning styles. However, we do not accept students who potentially may be disruptive to the class or who will require excessive individual attention from our teachers. New students are admitted with a 30-day probationary status. At the sole discretion of Navarre Montessori Academy, the enrollment of a student may be denied if it is determined that the school cannot adequately serve the needs of the child. Be advised also that the number of children who can be accommodated is dependent upon Montessori guidelines and Florida state regulations. A student who has been expelled from another school, who has not met the academic requirements of his former school, or who, in the view of the Navarre Montessori Academy, has a history of serious academic or behavior problems, will not be admitted. Navarre Montessori Academy reserves the right to ask a parent to withdraw his/her child if the parent becomes abusive to the staff or to other children, as determined by the School’s sole discretion.
We consider enrollment in Navarre Montessori Academy to include the family as a whole, not just the child. We seek families who wish to work in partnership with the school on an ongoing basis and who will be committed to supporting the Montessori philosophy at home as well as at school. As such, we reserve the right to deny enrollment to those who do not demonstrate acceptance and support of our mission.
Consider the Commitment
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Your child will likely have a phase-in process to smoothly acclimate to the routine of their new environment. This may be as short as one day, or as long as two weeks of gradual acclimation. Phasing in depends entirely on your child's comfort level and previous experience in a school setting. During this time we ask that parents stay flexible. The Navarre Montessori Academy community asks that parents prioritize attendance at our parent education events.
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Attendance in a Montessori school awards students a new experience that builds entirely upon the prior year and culminates in the mastery of the academic and social topics first introduced in year one.
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We ask parents to encourage their child’s independence at home. This may mean incorporating new ways for their child to contribute to the family by helping with daily chores and more. While typical programs may not ask as much of their parents, we aren't a typical program! We know that the relationship between a school and its children thrives on the collective contributions of each family.
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We encourage all parents to read and familiarize themselves with the policies and procedures written in the Parents Handbook and the Partnership Agreement.