Montessori Program Admissions

This year's Montessori Awareness week begins December 8, 2008. Interested parents are encouraged to tour the campus and Montessori classrooms during this time and pick up a New-Parent Packet, available in both Spanish and English that includes an application as well as information about Montessori Education, our program, and Garden Oaks Elementary School.

Montessori education at GOES is based on a family-centered approach to learning, and your participation is integral to the success of your child.

Two Parent Orientation meetings are scheduled for all prospective families. The first is on Saturday, February 7th at 9:30 a.m. during the 15th Annual Community Pancake Breakfast. The second is on Thursday, February 12th at 6:30 p.m. Both will be held in the cafeteria of Garden Oaks Elementary School, 901 Sue Barnett. The purpose of these meetings is to help you understand the expectations of the program and to learn more about the Montessori method. Parent Orientation is mandatory, and your application will be removed from the process if you do not attend one of these meetings.

Some general requirements are:

   1. Children must be 3 years old by September 1, 2009 for Pre-Primary and 6 years old by September 1, 2009 for Lower Elementary.

   2. Applications will be accepted starting December 8, 2008 and should be postmarked on or before January 9, 2009. Applications received after these deadlines will be considered if space is still available. Parent involvement is an integral piece of Montessori philosophy at Garden Oaks Elementary. Acceptance is based on a lottery system and the attendance of an orientation session Saturday, February 7th or Thursday, February 12th.

   3. If all spaces are filled, a waiting list will be established.

   4. Students on the waiting list and not accepted by September 1, 2009 may be listed on the Priority Waiting List for the following school year. Parents must notify the school registrar, Ms. Luna, (713-696-2930) no later than November 10, 2008 of this request. An updated application will be required.

   5. Priority is given to siblings of currently enrolled Montessori students and those who have graduated from the Garden Oaks Montessori Program.

   6. Priority is also given to children zoned to Garden Oaks Elementary School.

   7. Transfers into the program are accepted, as space is available. Please complete the HISD Transfer Agreement.

   8. Notification of acceptance into the program will be mailed no later than March 13, 2009.

   9. Parents must notify the school by April 7, 2009 with intent to attend. At this time, a non-refundable deposit of $425.00 will be due. This will be the first of the 10 payments due throughout the school year. If you choose not to notify the school by this date, your name will be removed from the acceptance list.

Tuition for 3 and 4 year old students:

The Montessori Program at Garden Oaks is tuition-based for pre-kindergarten students age 3 and 4. Friends of Montessori makes limited scholarships available for 3- and 4-year-old students who would qualify for state-funded pre-kindergarten classes. Please complete the Scholarship Application if you feel that you may qualify for this opportunity.

All district-wide, tuition-based programs are charged the same fee, which is set by HISD, and is payable in ten equal installments throughout the school year. For example, the annual tuition for the 2008-2009 school year was $4,250.

Thank you for your interest in our program. For further inquiries about admissions, please feel free to call the Garden Oaks Elementary School Registrar, Ms. Luna at 713-696-2930.kluna@houstonisd.org

Upon completion of the full application, please hand deliver or mail it to the office of Garden Oaks Elementary School, 901 Sue Barnett, Houston, TX 77018.

Please complete and include the following in your Application:

    * Application Form

    * Parent Evaluation Form

    * HISD Pre-Kindergarten Application Form

    * HISD Transfer Agreement, (if applicable)

    * Teacher Recommendation Form, (if applicable)

    * Scholarship Application Form, (if applicable)

Click here to download an Application.    (Spanish)

It is the policy of the Houston Independent School District not to discriminate on the basis of age, color, handicap or disability, ancestry, national origin, marital status, race, religion, sex, veteran status, or political affiliation in its educational or employment programs and activities.