Early Childhood Program Admissions
The Mi Escuela Montessori Early Childhood Program is a tuition-based, private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit program serving children from one to five years old (toddler, preschool and prekindergarten). The program operates under the direction of the same governing board, administration and staff as the K-8 charter school program.
An Early Start
The Montessori approach works best when children receive the social emotional and academic foundation laid in the Casita (Toddler) and Children's House (Preschool 3-Kindergarten) program.
The majority of students participate in our program full time (school hours), but half day programs may be available if full-time spots are not filled. After care is offered for an additional fee.
Application Overview
While our K – 8 school program is a free public charter school program, our Early Childhood program is a tuition-based program. Students whose siblings already attend Mi Escuela Montessori and children of governing board members or staff receive priority preschool admission.
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Mi Escuela Montessori is committed to providing a high-quality two-way, dual-language Montessori program to children of all income levels and to upholding equitable enrollment practices. To unleash and support our students’ potential, we must remove barriers and increase opportunities for all students. Our tuition scholarships act as a cultural and economic equalizer by making it possible for families to pay tuition based on their individual means. This model has been successfully used to promote opportunity in schools around the world. Discounted tuition is dependent upon funds available. Priority is given to students who meet the federal criteria for National Free or Reduced School Lunch (NSLP).
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The demand for our dual-language Montessori preschool program is very high. Please complete all the following steps to ensure you understand the differences between our program and other programs and that you feel we are a good fit for your family.
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Students in the Children’s House Program must turn 3 years old before they enter our program and must be able to handle bathroom needs independently.
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We aim to enroll families who are committed to being a long-term part of our school community through their children's elementary education. There is no deadline for Children's House applicants. However, we prefer to receive applications as early as possible, preferably before February 21st Applications received after February 21st will be reviewed on a first come, first served basis.
Application process:
1. Review information on the Casita and Children's House Programs on our website and application materials.
2. Sign up HERE to attend a tour.
3. Join our mailing list so that you receive a reminder when our application opens the first week of November.
4. Apply online when our application opens on January 8. Be prepared to submit a $60 non-refundable application fee with your application. (Students who are applying only for the Spring VPK program will have this fee waived.) This fee is charged to cover the cost of our application platform.
5. Review our tuition fee schedule (below). Financial aid is awarded on a first come, first serve basis and is not guaranteed based on acceptance. If funds are unavailable, your family may be offered a spot under the Full Pay Tuition Rate, even though your income qualifies for Income A, B, or C. If your family is applying for scholarship funds, please be prepared to submit supporting income documentation. You will be required to complete an interview prior to being awarded the scholarship. Parents may opt to enroll as Full Pay with no requirement to verify income.
Disclaimer for Parents:
Please be advised that if you falsify any information during registration or enrollment, your child’s application will be null and void, and admittance will be revoked. Any applications found to be falsified will be placed at the bottom of the waitlist.
Tuition Scholarships
*** Income refers to combined household income. *** Mi Escuela Montessori uses the [Florida Income Eligibility Guidelines for Free and Reduced Lunch] (Income A or Income B) as a guide for determining if students qualify for scholarships, however it may consider additional factors in awarding financial aid. ​Priority scholarships are given to students who have qualified for the School Readiness Program.
School Readiness and Voluntary
Pre-Kindergarten Program
Children who qualify as Income A and B may qualify for federally subsidized preschool through the School Readiness Program which may cover a portion of the cost of the tuition estimated below. The school requests that you apply for the federally subsidized School Readiness program through Polk Early Learning Coalition HERE.
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Mi Escuela Montessori runs a 540 hour VPK program during the second (spring) semester of its school year. Children who turn four years of age by September 1 are eligible to participate in Florida's free Voluntary Pre-kindergarten (VPK) education program. The school requests that you apply for your VPK voucher on the Early Learning Center of Polk County HERE by October 1st if you are accepted into the Spring VPK program. Students in the Spring VPK program only will not be charged any fees for participation in the VPK program or be required to participate in supplementary programs or services. Students enrolled in our Fall semester have enrollment preference for our VPK program, and spots to Spring are only offered when a student leaves our Fall program.
Estimated Fee Schedules
Value
Enrollment Fee
Semester 1
August - December
Semester 2
January - May
3-Year-Old School Day​8:00am-2:45pm
$500
$4475/semester
​$895/month
$4475/semester
​$895/month
4-Year-Old School Day​8:00am-2:45pm
$500
$4475/semester
​$895/month
Free with VPK Voucher
4-Year-Old Spring
VPK Only
No Enrollment Fee
N/A
Free with VPK Voucher
After Care Toddler
and Preschool
2:45pm-5:30pm
$60
$252/month
$252/month
1 and 2-Year Old
School Day
7:30am-3:00pm
$500
$4475/semester
​$895/month
$4475/semester
​$895/month
Acceptance or Waitlist Placement
1. You will be notified by May 9 of your child’s acceptance or placement on the waitlist. At that time, you can accept or decline your student’s enrollment at Mi Escuela Montessori.
2. If your child is offered enrollment, if applicable, pay the non-refundable enrollment deposit, sign the enrollment contract and provide all enrollment documentation within five days of offer. (Failure to confirm acceptance and provide all enrollment requirements within five days of offer of enrollment may result in spot being offered to the next child on the waitlist.)
Payment Plans
Upon acceptance of enrollment, families are offered a year contract for enrollment. For all programs except the Spring VPK program, a non-refundable enrollment deposit is due with this signed agreement on or before the close of business within 5 days of the offer of enrollment. This deposit assures the student a place in the appropriate class in August 2025. The annual tuition may be paid in a lump sum, split into two payments, or paid on a monthly basis. Tuition payments are paid electronically via automatic bank withdrawal.
