Now accepting applications for grades pre-K to 8 for the 24/25 school year.
Forest-k Admissions Process
We have designed our admissions process with the intent of getting to know your family and your child(ren), and for you to get to know the philosophy of our school. The school director will guide you through the admissions process and all admissions decisions are made by a TCS faculty committee. We look forward to embarking on this journey with you.
The Community School aims to foster an inclusive and diverse community, is non-sectarian, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender identity and expression, disability, sexual orientation, religion, or national or ethnic origin in its admissions or educational policies.
The Community School supports children with various academic, social, emotional, and physical needs, however we do not have a special education program. We are happy to meet with families to discuss any special concerns or requirements to determine if we can best serve your child.
Step #1: Submit Application
Please see link to online application at the end of this page. A complete application includes the application form and the $50 application fee, which can be paid online or via check. The application fee is non-refundable.
Financial Aid Application (optional)
The Community School is committed to an equitable and inclusive admissions process, and supporting families with a wide range of financial needs in our community.
If you are applying for Financial Aid, please do so no later than 10 days after your admissions application and supporting materials have been submitted. TCS partners with a third party auditor, TADS, to process all financial aid applications. The financial aid application process takes at least 2 weeks after you have submitted all requested documents to the auditor.
The Community School financial aid information and all TADS forms are located on our website, here. All forms can be completed online. You will set up a username and password with TADS and they will guide you through the process and report to The Community School when they have processed your award amount.
Note: In the case of families with shared custody of a child, both caregivers must submit a financial aid application before a reward amount is determined.
Step #2 : Family Visit & Screening
When TCS receives your application, the school director will contact you to set up a time for your family to visit the school, after school hours, with the class teacher and director. The visit will take place outside, on the TCS grounds. The goal of the visit is for your family to learn more about the program’s philosophy, structure, and curriculum, to answer any questions you may have at that time, and for the school and family to begin to get to know one another. At this time, teachers may ask applicants to engage in certain readiness tasks and activities.
We request that the child brings a drawing of themself doing something that brings them joy to share with the teacher during the family visit.
Following the visit, class teacher will schedule a phone call with student’s last teacher or caregiver.
Admissions Notification
Once your admissions process is complete, a notification about your child’s admission will be emailed to your family.
Admissions Decisions
Decisions for Kindergarten applicants are based on social, emotional and developmental readiness. We also consider the applicant and their family’s support of the school community, philosophy and values.
There are two rounds of admissions:
Round 1: February 15, 2024 - March 15, 2024
Round 2: March 16, 2024 - April 16, 2024
Space and financial aid are limited, and priority is given to Round 1 applicants. If space is still available, we will accept rolling admissions after April 16, 2024.
Enrollment Deadline and Terms
Families whose children have been admitted and plan to enroll must submit a Community School Enrollment Contract (included with your admittance letter), a deposit ($500/child), and the supplies fee ($400/child) within 10 days of receiving your admittance letter. Enrolling and submitting the deposit secures a space while waiting for the results of your financial aid application. Please note that there are payment plans available for families for whom the deposit and supplies fee pose a financial burden. If your financial aid award makes it infeasible for your family to enroll, your deposit and supplies fee will be returned in full.
Waiting pool
Children who are accepted but cannot be admitted due to lack of space will be placed in a class waiting pool. Spaces sometimes open up over the summer as families change their plans or move from the area. The waiting pool does not have an order, and when a space becomes available, the admissions committee looks at all applicants equally to fill the spot and to best balance the given class. Students who remain in the waiting pool through the opening of the next admissions season must reapply for admissions consideration for the following school year.