Frequently Asked Questions
- How old do children have to be in order to enter your school?
Children must be 3 or older, and toilet trained, to enroll at MCH. The majority of children enter in September but a few may enter later fall if they turn three in September or October.
- What is your enrollment process?
When your child is close to two years old, call MCH to schedule an orientation tour. Tours are held from late September through mid- January. At the tour you may pick up an application. Completed applications with the application fee of $40 are due by mid-January. MCH will notify you of our admission decision by early March.
- Can I enroll my child for 3 days per week?
All MCH programs are 5 days per week.
- On what basis do you accept children?
A number of factors play a role in offering a placement to a family. These include age and gender together with the requested program. Additionally, we are looking for families that are committed to Montessori education and who want to be active members in the MCH community. Diversity is also an important criterion for admissions, which may include cultural and economic diversity, as well as family structure. MCH’s goal is to create a well-rounded community that reflects the diversity of San Francisco.
- Does MCH maintain a waitlist?
MCH keeps a “wait pool”. We do not rank applications. As long as a family applies by the deadline, all families receive equal consideration.
- Is MCH affiliated with other Montessori schools?
MCH is not affiliated with any other Montessori schools. Montessori schools generally operate independently and implement the Montessori philosophy and methodology in a variety of forms.
- Is MCH accredited?
MCH has both AMI and AMS certified teachers. However, we are not accredited through AMI or AMS. MCH belongs to the North American Montessori Teachers’ Association, NAMTA, and is accredited through the National Association for the Education of Young Children, NAEYC.
- What is the average tenure for an MCH teacher?
On average most teachers have been here 10 years. Our teachers are multi-cultural and come from a variety of ethnic backgrounds: Italian, Polish, Japanese, Swedish and Indian. Our staff is reflective of the diverse community of San Francisco.
- Does MCH offer scholarships?
Yes, MCH offers a tuition assistance program (TAP). Families can apply for TAP after they have been admitted to the school. For a more detailed description of the program see “Financial Assistance” under the Admissions section.
- What is the school’s student teacher ratio?
During the morning classroom activity time, the student teacher ratio is 9:1. At other times in the day, especially during Park Play, it is 6:1. In Montessori classrooms, the number of adults is limited in order to promote self-reliance and independence. Montessori classrooms are specifically designed to allow children to do things by themselves. We are always concerned about safety and extra adults are always on hand to assist and help in case of an emergency.
- Does the school offer a hot lunch program?
Many children bring a lunch from home but we do provide a service through a local organization where parents can order and pay for hot lunches on line. Those lunches are delivered daily to the school.
- How much parent involvement occurs in your school?
MCH actively encourages parent involvement in the school. It is the basis of our strong and vibrant school community. Families are required to give the school 18 hours of involvement, but most donate more because it is so enjoyable. We try to give families many opportunities to involve themselves using their specific skills, talents and time. Volunteer jobs might include support work that can be done at school or home, social events, fundraising, teacher appreciation events, or volunteer coordination, among many other tasks. Parents are not, however, asked to work in the classroom because of the training required to direct the Montessori curriculum. They may occasionally give special presentations to the children, especially if it relates to a cultural holiday or event.
