Admissions Calendar

For Kindergarten/Elementary applicants only

(For children younger than Kindergarten age, enrollment is year around)

Important Admissions Events and Dates:

• Application Deadline: January 28, 2011
• Supplemental Materials Deadline to TRS: February 11, 2011 (Teacher Recommendation Forms / Student's Records)
• Decision Letters Mailed: March 10, 2011
• Quiet Week: March 11-18, 2011
• Commitment Deadline: March 18, 2011
  
  

Application and Admission Process

Admissions Philosophy

Obviously, no school can be all things to all people, nor can it be right for every child. The goal of our admissions process is to ensure a good match between your family's values and objectives for your children and those of our school.

The Renaissance School is a school community that holds values rare in today's world. We are looking for families with similar goals who are seeking a school that reflects their values and philosophy. We work closely with parents as an extension of the home.

We invite you to visit and see our students working. We hold Open Houses throughout the year as an introduction and we offer classroom tours almost every week. This is the first step in the process. School tours are usually held in groups of parents (no children, please), at 9:30am different days of the week. Plan to spend at least two hours at the school. At this time, you will have an opportunity to hear about the philosophy and curriculum, observe the classrooms as well as ask any questions about our program. After the school tour, you will be given an application for enrollment. Parents are welcome to return to observe a second time if desired. Just call our office to schedule an appointment.

If, after the school tour, you would like to apply for enrollment, please complete the application form and return it to the school, with the application fee stated at the bottom of the form. We cannot process an application without the fee and we cannot accept faxed applications. For preschool-aged children, please be specific on the form about the date you would like your child to start attendance at the Renaissance School. We will let you know if that date is available or which would be the next available starting date. Your child must be two years old prior to transitioning into the program. Please mail the application to us or bring it by and drop it in the mailbox.

Students applying to our Kindergarten , Elementary or Middle School programs will need to spend two days in the classroom for testing and placement purposes. The visits must take place prior to the admissions appointment with the Head of School, which is the next step. Upon receipt of your application, our office will call you to arrange a time to meet with the Head of School, Leslie Hites. This appointment will take about two hours. Ms. Hites will be interested in hearing about what makes your child unique, what your dreams are for your child, and how you feel s/he will thrive in our program. She will be happy to answer any further questions you have at that time.

For children coming from another school or center, we request that the child's current or past teacher(s) complete a form telling us about their student. For children applying to our elementary program, we will also need a copy of the student's full transcript and any test scores available.

We receive most applications between October and February. After all the information is gathered from the parents and schools (if applicable), the Head of School will meet with your child's prospective teacher(s) to evaluate the application packet. Notifications are mailed out in March. We consider each application as it is received, and develop a waiting list when all spaces have been filled for the particular year. Late applications and applications for mid-year admission are considered as space is available.

After the admissions appointment, upon acceptance, you will receive a forms packet and a confirmation of your child's starting date. In order to secure placement for you child, the signed parent agreement and one month's tuition deposit must be returned immediately. We will be unable to proceed with enrollment without these items.

The Primary & Pre Primary Admission Process

The goal of our admission process it to ensure a good match between the Families' Values and objectives

for their children and those of the school.

Feel free to contact us by email or by telephoneStu­dents from Oak­land, Berke­ley, San Lean­dro, Alameda and other San Fran­cisco East Bay cities attend The Renais­sance Inter­na­tional School, a Montessori school, located in Oakland’s Dimond district.