thanks for the response!

No. They just encourage it. Some schools are more understanding than others.

Do most montessori schools require that you commit to three years?

Thanks, I need to check these out !

Thanks, I need to check these out !

My impression (based on last year's admissions cycle) is that it's somewhat first-come, first-serve. So if you got your application in last fall you will probably be accepted right away (or at least asked to move on to next steps). It's a big school with big classrooms so they can take more kids than other schools.

I didn't want to submit my application until after the open house so we were later than most. But they did call that there was an opening for DS. We ultimately decided not to go with Montessori because we didn't want to commit to three years (definitely something to consider).

You should also check out Chesterbrook Montessori just to have another good option. Skip Children's House.

We were quite impressed by the open house at Full Circle Montessori in Ballston. The session was packed with clearly high-income, young professional parents, as we perhaps are as well, giving us the sense that there will be a pretty stiff competition for slots. Actually, much of the same crowd showed up at the Open House the next day at the "Hippo House" montessori.

Anyone have a sense of how competitive admission to Full Circle is? Apart from what we're officially told (gender, age etc.), are there other factors at play to decide who proceeds to the next round of playdate/interview?

It seems high-quality Montessoris are in high demand in the Rosslyn to Ballston corridor- why are there are not more to meet the demand?! There are enough people willing to pay the 10k tuitions, I never quite understand why supply does not match up with demand for these things!