Admissions Process
Step 1. Attend an Information Session
We encourage parents to attend one of our Meet GSMS! information sessions. During these sessions you will receive an overview of our program, an introduction to the Montessori Method, and a brief tour of the school. Registration is required. We offer three different sessions: 1) Why 3? – for parents of children who will be 3 by the start of the school year; 2) Primary Information Sessions for children who will be 4 or 5 years old; and 3) Elementary and Junior High Information sessions for children in grades 1–8. For families who may be applying for one than one child, we recommend you attend the Information Session geared toward your youngest child. If you are not able to attend any of our scheduled info sessions please contact us at admissions@gsms.org.
Step 2. Observe in a Classroom
After attending an information session, parents will be invited to schedule an observation in one of our classrooms. Observation sessions last approximately 15–20 minutes and are a great way for parents to see Montessori education in action.
Step 3. Submit an Application for Admission
The initial application deadline for the 2025–2026 school year is February 15th. Please note that both the application for enrollment (one per child) and the application for financial aid (one per family, if applicable) should be completed by that date for the best chances of acceptance and tuition assistance. This includes submission of the required fees and supplementary documentation for financial aid if applying. Later applications for enrollment and financial aid will be considered only if space and funding remain.
Step 4. Schedule Your Child's First Visit
This visit is an opportunity for us to introduce Good Shepherd to your child and for our guides to get to know them. Applicants to the primary program will schedule a short 20-minute First Visit with a staff member. The child will be accompanied by a parent. Applicants to grades 1–8 will schedule a full morning visit (approximately 8:15–11:30 a.m.) to experience the Montessori classroom environment while school is in session.
Step 5. Receive admission decision
Great care is given to building classroom environments that are balanced according to age, sex, special needs, socio-economic diversity, and racial diversity. Given this commitment, along with our desire to maintain an authentic Montessori environment, enrollment decisions and waitlist positions are not determined strictly on a “first come, first served” basis. Enrollment decisions are made after the overall application deadline has passed.