Inquire Online

Thank you for your interest in a Montessori education for your child at The Children’s House and Compass Junior High. 

The first step toward applying is to submit an inquiry. You will recieve an email with a link to schedule a tour of our school.

Tours are offered October 15 through January 31, leading up to our annual February 1 application deadline. Tours resume April 15 through August 15.

Please contact us with your questions at any time throughout the admissions process.

Renee Hintz (she, her)
Director of Advancement
renee@traversechildrenshouse.org
(231) 929-9325 ext 114

Submit an Inquiry

Admission Process

  1. Complete the online inquiry form.

  2. Tour the school with Renee. (Look for an auto-response email from Renee to schedule your tour after you've completed the inquiry form.)

  3. Observe for 30 minutes in a classroom.

  4. After touring and observing, apply online by February 1 to be in the applicant pool for the upcoming school year. For mid-year enrollment, please note the requested start date on your application.

  5. Parents of students applying to enter kindergarten through 8th grade are required to meet with the Head of School and have their child spend a day as a visiting student.

  6. The admissions office will notify you of acceptance and then the business office will provide a tuition agreement.

  7. To enroll, make a non-refundable $500 enrollment deposit (applied toward total tuition), provide proof of up-to-date immunizations to comply with our immunization policy (non-medical waivers are not accepted), and then e-sign the tuition agreement. 

  8. If your child is placed in the applicant pool, you will be notified when a space becomes available.

Tuition Assistance

Tuition assistance awards are available for the Primary, Elementary, and Junior High educational programs only. To be considered for aid, a minimum schedule of 5 mornings is required for Primary students. Assistance is not available for the Nido-YCC program, summer session, early care, or after care.

The website will be open for application starting February 1.

Learn more

Admission Policy

Each year, we receive more applications than available placements. Our policy helps guide admission decisions in support of our school’s mission to prepare a Montessori learning environment that supports and respects the development of each unique child and nurtures them to become independent, curious, confident, lifelong learners who strive to contribute to their communities and the greater world.

The Children’s House and Compass Junior High admission process operates from an applicant pool of prospective students which allows the school to offer balanced, mixed-age Montessori classrooms.

Acceptance is based on available space in the program and a family’s:

  • Intentional choice for Montessori education

  • Willingness to partner with our school by being informed, involved, and invested

  • Alignment with the values and mission of The Children’s House and Compass Junior High, including a commitment to long-term enrollment

Additional considerations:

For children entering Kindergarten, Elementary, or Junior High, current academic reports, classroom visits, and parent interviews are a part of the admission process.

To comply with our immunization policy, only students who are up-to-date on all required vaccines are admitted. Non-medical waivers are not accepted. 

Admission preference is given to siblings of returning students, children or siblings of alumni, students transferring from another Montessori school, and children of staff members. 

Children who start at any point during the First Plane of Development (Birth to Age 6) are expected to remain enrolled through the Kindergarten year. If a family withdraws a child before completing kindergarten, enrollment for other children in the same family will not be guaranteed. Rather, they will be part of the applicant pool and considered for enrollment on a case-by-case basis.

The Children’s House and Compass Junior High does not discriminate in admissions or classroom placement based on gender, race, religion, national or ethnic origin (or any other legally protected status).

Frequently Asked Questions

  • We are a Montessori school for children from infancy through 8th grade. The curriculum presented in classroom communities is organized in developmental cycles. Nido: 3 months to 16 months; Young Children’s Community: 16 months to 3 years; Primary: 3 to 6 years; Lower Elementary: 1st to 3rd grade; Upper Elementary: 4th to 6th grade; and Compass Montessori Junior High: 7th and 8th grade. The most important factor in program placement is developmental readiness.

  • We are an independent school that follows the teaching philosophy and methodology developed by Dr. Maria Montessori. Learn more about our approach on our About page.

  • Our faculty have attained professional Montessori certification at well respected AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) and AMS (American Montessori Society) teacher training centers. Learn more about Our People.

  • Classroom visiting days, conferences, adult learning workshops, and volunteer opportunities are among the many ways families connect to the life of the school. In addition, families receive Waypoints, our weekly newsletter.

    Partnering with families to raise exceptional learners is what The Children’s House is about. We create a social fabric for families and value meaningful communication between school and your home. The Children’s House Parent Association (CHiPA) welcomes parents to be involved in the life of our school by attending monthly meetings and events throughout the school year.

  • Our school is an independent, non-profit, tax-exempt educational institution governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. A 3.8 million dollar annual operating budget relies on income from tuition, fees, grants, and gifts.

  • Our academic year begins in early September and ends in mid-June. Our summer program begins one week after the close of the academic year. The school day schedule for Kindergarten through sixth grade is 8:30-3:30 and Junior High students attend 8:00-3:00 Monday through Friday. Extended hours are available from 7:30-5:30. A calendar overview is included in the tuition details after inquiry.

  • Yes. Tuition assistance is available to qualifying families for children in Primary through Junior High. For the 2022-2023 school year, 24% of students ages three and older, received tuition assistance. Please see the Tuition Assistance page.

  • The Children’s House and Compass Junior High is an independent Montessori school. Our independence allows us to fully implement the Montessori methodology by prioritizing the key components of the philosophy: balanced, mixed age classrooms where children learn skills of collaboration and community; authentic assessment based on ongoing observation by well-trained teachers; uninterrupted time for children to work in the prepared classroom environments with hands-on materials; and a commitment to making decisions based on students.