Montessori Foundations Of Chgo

Montessori Foundations of Chicago describes its teaching approach as an authentic, individualized Montessori education that follows each child’s natural interests and development, using hands-on materials and a carefully prepared environment to build independence, curiosity, and real-world skills. The school emphasizes joyful self-discovery, critical thinking, and self-motivation over rote memorization, grades, or test-driven learning, with teachers observing closely and presenting lessons when each child is ready. (montessorifoundations.com)

Montessori Foundations of Chicago uses rolling admissions, but to avoid disrupting classrooms it enrolls new students only three times per year: September, January, and June. (montessorifoundations.com) To apply, families complete the online application to place their child on the waitlist, and the school encourages prospective parents to schedule a parent-only tour held during the school day; the admissions page says to begin about 4 months before the desired start date, while the 2025 handbook advises joining the waitlist at least 6 months ahead. (montessorifoundations.com) When a space opens, families are notified by email and must complete enrollment paperwork, after which the school reviews policies, financial responsibility, family commitment, and sets a classroom orientation with the child’s teacher. (montessorifoundations.com) Required enrollment materials listed in the handbook include an admission form, parental consent forms, medication authorization if needed, developmental history, CACFP forms, a birth certificate, acknowledgment of licensing standards, medical forms dated within 6 months of enrollment including immunization history, vision and hearing screening results, and a dental exam form. (montessorifoundations.com) Waitlist and admission priority are based first on siblings of currently enrolled students (unless a sibling left before completing the full three-year cycle), then classroom age/gender balance, and then the date of application plus student evaluation; returning students who meet announced re-enrollment deadlines also receive priority consideration. (montessorifoundations.com)