West Side Montessori School

West Side Montessori School describes its approach as Montessori-based while also incorporating modern early childhood best practices, with an emphasis on helping children become resilient, creative, and independent problem solvers in a diverse, collaborative community. The school says children learn through active engagement, self-directed work, and choices to work independently or with peers, while teachers nurture intellectual, social, and emotional development together so children become intrinsically motivated, flexible thinkers, and responsible members of the group. (wsmsnyc.org)

West Side Montessori School says its admissions cycle begins in the fall before the year of entry; for the 2026-27 school year, the online application opened on September 4, 2025, closed on January 8, 2026, and the site currently says it is no longer accepting applications, though families can still email admissions to express interest. (wsmsnyc.org) After submitting the online application, families complete a parent-only admissions meeting/tour, and Multi-Age applicants also attend a group child visit in January or February; the application fee is $90, waived automatically for families applying for financial aid, and optional open houses do not affect decisions. (wsmsnyc.org) Requirements listed for September 2026 enrollment are: Multi-Age applicants born on or before December 1, 2023, Twos applicants born between December 1, 2023 and September 1, 2024, and Infant Toddler applicants at least 3 months old; the FAQ also says letters of recommendation are not required. (wsmsnyc.org) Key dates shown are January 30, 2026 for financial aid, February 26, 2026 for regular admissions decisions, and March 5, 2026 for the parent reply deadline; the school also lists December 5, 2025 early notification and December 12, 2025 early reply for sibling families who choose that option. (wsmsnyc.org) WSMS says it maintains an active waitlist and notifies families as spaces become available, and its stated priority categories are siblings of current or past WSMS students and legacy applicants, who are considered early in the process, with siblings given priority when appropriate. (wsmsnyc.org)