We all want what is best for our children. There are many educational choices available - take the time to carefully investigate the options and honestly reflect on what is important to you, and then decide which approach is best for you and your family. 

How do you decide if Montessori is right for your family?

Montessori education should not be chosen just because parents are seeking an alternative to the traditional classroom.  Parents should choose Montessori because they believe in this approach.  It is important that the Montessori approach fits your child's needs, as well as your family's values, beliefs and expectations about how you want your child to experience education.

Some questions to consider when deciding if Montessori is right for your family:

• Am I as a parent ready to support a teacher and my child in a non-traditional approach to learning?
• Is my child an independent worker?
• Am I willing to be active in my child's education?
• Is my child able to accept responsibility?
• Does my child follow directions?
• Is my child able to focus on tasks for a period of time and not be occupied with things going on around him/her?
• Do I encourage my child to make choices and to take responsibility at home?
• Do I support the emphasis on cooperation rather than competition?
• Do I support the Montessori belief in fostering children's self-reliance, responsibility and independence?
• Is my approach to discipline based upon natural and logical consequences rather than "rewards and punishments?"
• Do I believe that my child would benefit from having the responsibility for choosing appropriate learning activities and materials?
• Do I support the Montessori classroom organization that includes multi-age groupings (typically three "grades" of students)?
• Am I prepared to learn more about Montessori principles at school and at home?
• Do I believe in using anecdotal notes and Montessori checklists, rather than traditional, graded report cards?

If you answered "no" to some of the questions, it is recommended that you carefully consider Montessori.  If it is not a good fit for your family, then your child may experience confusion and unhappiness if home and school are incongruent.

If you answered "yes" to the majority of the questions, your child may be a good candidate for Montessori.  Your beliefs are similar to the underlying principles of Montessori education and your child is likely to be well suited to a Montessori setting.

Admissions Policy

Sherwood Montessori offers an education based on the Montessori philosophy to any TK-8 child who wishes to be educated in this manner without fear of discrimination or financial difficulty.  The Montessori method was originally developed around fostering students of all abilities to achieve high academic goals.  For over one hundred years, schools around the world employing this method have shown great success with a diverse student population.  The Board of Directors at Sherwood Montessori has striven to implement procedures that result in a school that attracts a diverse population of students from the greater Chico area.

To fulfill this mission, Sherwood Montessori is non-sectarian in its programs, admission policies, employment practices, and all other operations.  The school shall not charge tuition, and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, home language, ability, or disability.  Admission shall be open to any resident of the State of California.  No test or assessment shall be administered to students prior to acceptance and enrollment into the school.  It is expected that students wishing to attend Sherwood Montessori will be amenable to the use of the Montessori philosophy in the teaching of the curriculum.

Age Policy

In order to be eligible for Kindergarten, a child must be five-years old on or before September 1 of that school year.  The September 1 date will be used for determining subsequent grade levels for admission purposes. Children who will turn 5 between September 2 and February 2 are eligible for Transitional Kindergarten.  For the  2023-2024 school year, children who will turn 5 by April 2 may enroll in Transitional Kindergarten. For the 2024-2025 school year, children who turn 5 between September 2 and June 2 may enroll in Transitional Kindergarten. See more about Kindergarten enrollment at the California Department of Education website.

Admissions Process

1. Each child requires a separate Admissions Application.

All forms of submission are considered equal.  Upon acceptance, verification of date of birth is required: a birth certificate, passport, court document or armed forces dependent's card for the application to be considered complete.

1. The completed forms must be submitted on line before the date of the public drawing (to be announced, usually in January of each year).  The forms will be sorted by projected class and randomly shuffled.  Should the number of applicants exceed the projected amount of openings in each class, a public drawing will be held.  Parents will be notified by the next day if their child has been accepted for enrollment or placed on a waiting list.
2. If enrollment is offered, the parent/guardian must accept or decline within two (2) business days.  If enrollment is accepted, the parent/guardian will receive a link to complete.
3. If enrollment is offered to someone on the waiting list, the parent/guardian must accept or decline within two (2) business days of notification.
   1. The waiting list will not carry over to the following school year.
   2. Children of the Founding Board of Directors will be exempt from the public random drawing as long as those children do not exceed ten percent of all admissions in any one year, as required by federal law.
   3. Siblings of enrolled students will be given priority as per accepted public school policy and federal law.
   4. Children residing within the boundaries of Chico Unified School District will be given priority in the public drawing.
4. Following the initial draw, admissions will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

Application for Admission

If you are interested in applying for admission, please click on the link above to complete the online application