Kindergarten Admissions

Acceptances into the Santa Fe Waldorf School Kindergarten and Preschool are based on the school's ability to meet children's needs, as well as on factors such as age ratios. SFWS welcomes families in which the parents will be partners in providing an environment that supports the understanding of child development reflected in Waldorf education.

Kindergarten/Preschool Ages
Waldorf Kindergarten and Preschool classes are mixed-age groups. A child is eligible for Pre-K/Kindergarten enrollment upon celebrating his/her fourth birthday by June 1 of the admitting year.  A child is eligible for the Preschool if s/he has turned three by September 1 of the admitting year.

Admissions Procedures
Prospective applicant parents should read the SFWS brochure and supporting documentation in order to familiarize themselves thoroughly with the Waldorf approach to education. Then, those who think the school may be right for their children are asked to do the following, in this order:

1. Attend a Visitor Morning or arrange for a private tour. Visitor mornings are scheduled monthly throughout the school year.

2. Submit a Kindergarten Enrollment Application or a Preschool Enrollment Application with a non-refundable $50 application fee to The Santa Fe Waldorf School Office.  (Call or visit the school for a Preschool Enrollment Application.)

3. For Kindergarten, attend a Kindergarten Information Morning, usually scheduled in December, March, and April. If applying after the last scheduled Information Session, please contact the Enrollment Director regarding other arrangements.

4. Participate in an interview between the parents and early childhood teacher with the young child also present. The Enrollment Director or the Early Childhood Faculty will contact parents to arrange these interviews according to dates the applications are received and the different ages for which there are openings in the classes. Interviews begin in February for those applications received before early January.

5. If your child is offered a place in our Preschool or Kindergarten before the SFWS year begins and you choose NOT to accept it, you will need to re-apply and pay all applicable fees if you are interested in your child being considered for a future date. If, however, your child is offered a place during the current school year and you choose not to accept it, you will not be asked to re-apply, and your original date of application will be retained.

Registration
Upon the successful conclusion of a mutually satisfying interview, parents reserve their child's space in the class once registration fees are returned to the office and the Student Contract and Tuition Agreement is signed.

For Preschool information or for more Kinder information:
Cita Riley
Enrollment/Outreach Coordinator
505-983-9727, Ext. 18
criley@santafewaldorf.org