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ADMISSIONS Process
Year-round applications and transfers accepted.
Dear Prospective Parents/Guardians,
Thank you for your interest in The Children's School and our progressive education program for students in grades K-8. Our mission is to nurture students' innate curiosity and love of learning through democratic practice, emergent curriculum, and hands-on projects. Together, we help students become lifelong problem-solvers and engaged citizens.
We are excited about the opportunity to partner with you in your child’s education. Below, you’ll find the steps for our application process:
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Explore Our School:
Visit our website to learn more about our history, facilities, academic programming, approach to special needs, and examples of student projects. Then schedule a time to join a "Get to Know TCS" Coffee Talk & Tour.
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Submit the Application:
Complete the application through the TADs platform and submit it with the $75 fee. This helps us learn about your family’s priorities and expectations for a school setting. We ask families to share any Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), 504 Plans, or formal diagnoses to help us create the most supportive and inclusive learning environment for your child. Failure to disclose this information may impact our ability to meet your child’s needs. All documentation will be reviewed by our Admissions Team.
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Teacher Insight Form:
Complete the Teacher Insight Form. As part of our application process, we ask each child’s current teacher/caregiver to share their insights on that child as a learner and as a member of the classroom community.
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Schedule a Family Conversation:
After receiving your application, a member of our Admissions Team will contact you to schedule a conversation. This is a valuable opportunity to ask questions, share your child’s needs, and discuss how our school can support your family’s goals.
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Plan a Visit for Your Child:
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For Grades 2-8: Your child will spend a full day with us, experiencing both their current grade level classroom and the grade level they are applying for (if different).
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For Kindergarten and Grade 1: We invite you and your child for a short, after-school visit to explore the classroom and meet our teachers.
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Summer Visits: By appointment only.
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Receive Your Admissions Decision:
After completing these steps, we will notify you of our decision.
We also ask families to inform us of any allergies, medical conditions, or other health-related needs that may affect their child’s experience at school. While The Children’s School strives to accommodate all students’ needs, there may be limitations to what we can provide within our capacity.
As part of our community-centered approach, the Family Council welcomes new families to The Children’s School. This outreach helps build strong connections and supports our shared commitment to collaboration and inclusion. Please indicate your preference for Family Council outreach during the application process.
If you have questions about the admissions process, please feel free to contact us at 708-484-8033 or admissions@tcsconnect.org..
We look forward to supporting you and your family as you get to know the TCS school community!
Michelle Candelaria-Dunstan
Head of School
The Children’s School
Quick Links
The Children's School admits students of any race, color, and national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, and activities accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, hiring policies, admissions policies, financial aid program, or any other school-administered programs.
(Pronouns: In keeping with our non-discrimination policy, The Children's School has elected to use the pronouns "them" and "they" rather than "he" or "she" in the contents of this website.)
