Enrollment
Stay tuned for changes to this process due to the outbreak of COVID-19
Our open houses have been cancelled to protect the public, but we are enrolling students for 2020-2021! Please e-mail us with your serious interest or follow us on facebook and join our mailing list if you'd like to get receive an update on how to enroll when we have one!
Enrollment Process
Solid Ground School offers a unique educational experience and is guided by a distinct educational philosophy. Our goal with enrollment is to attract families that appreciate and support our approach to education, value outdoor engagement, and are committed to joining our school community.
To help ensure a good fit, our enrollment process begins with a guided tour of the school and a discussion of our philosophy and values. To begin this process, attend an open house or, if necessary, schedule a tour by emailing westonlombard@gmail.com.
Enrollment Steps
Note: steps 1 & 2 can be completed in either order (open house/tour first or application first)
1. Attend an open house or, if necessary, schedule a tour by e-mailing westonlombard@gmail.com.
2. Submit an application form with a non-refundable $60 application fee. When your application, fee, and income verification information have been submitted AND you have attended a tour or open house, your application will be considered complete. Your child will then be added to our pool of applicants and/or be placed on our waiting list.
3. An interview with your family will be scheduled to help us both decided if we have a good fit.
4. Expectation an invitation to join our school community no later than April 30. We collect applications and consider them as a group so that we can create the best possible classroom fit for children and families. Applications are not considered on a first come, first served basis.
5. Finalize your enrollment by paying a refundable deposit equal to one month’s tuition by the deadline. This payment will be applied to your child’s final monthly tuition payment.
6. Prepare for the adventure to come!
Tuition
Solid Ground School is currently entirely funded through tuition payments. Our Board of Directors is working to develop alternative funding methods in order to create a more accessible program, and welcome donations towards our scholarship fund, grant recommendations, and other creative solutions. To this end, we currently offer our tuition fees on a sliding scale. To determine your annual or monthly tuition refer to the table below. We also offer a 5% discount from the listed annual rate if families pay the entire annual tuition upfront.
In order to ensure the sustainability of our program, we can only offer a limited number of slots at the lowest income levels. In the case that spots at the lower rates are unavailable, applicants will have the option to remain on a wait list until a spot becomes available, or they may elect to pay an available higher rate to help ensure a spot.
The table below delineates the tuition rates at each income level and gives an example of how higher rates offset lower rates. By asking those who are able to do so to pay a little more, we are able to increase the accessibility and the diversity of our school, which we believe benefits all of the families in our community.
Waiting List
For families who are interested in applying in advance for future school years (beyond the upcoming school year), or for families who have missed our enrollment deadlines, we will maintain a waiting list. In order to secure your spot on the waiting list, you must attend an open house or a tour and submit an application with an application fee.
*Solid Ground School is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, gender, or sexual orientation in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship, or other programs.