Enrollment Process A nationally accredited school, Arbor Montessori has been at the Heart of the Sammamish Community, delivering authentic Montessori Education for toddlers through elementary for over 30 years.
It All Begins With A Tour
This is the first stop on your enrollment journey here at Arbor. Our Admissions Director, Melissa, will be there for you every step of the way through the enrollment process.
All Arbor Tours Include-
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- Personalized tours catered to each individual’s family needs and questions
- A sit-down chat in our welcoming Lobby with our Admissions Director, who shares information related to Montessori, Programming (including our extensive specialist and auxiliary programs), logistical information, transitions, and more
- A stroll around our 2-acre campus to explore our classrooms in action and our outdoor environments, including our playgrounds, gardens, undercover gym, and farm
- A tour packet to take with you that includes everything you need to know moving forward
- Clear guidance for next steps in our Admissions Process, including availability and how to submit an application along with the $150 application fee to join our wait pool
For more information, specifically on availability and to request a tour, please visit our “schedule a tour” tab.
To find more information about Arbor Montessori, our Programming, and our Enrollment Timeline for the 2026-2027 school year, please check out our Lookbook below.
Arbor Wait Pool
Wait Pool vs. Wait List… What’s the Difference?
Arbor Montessori operates with a wait pool rather than a wait list. That means our wait pool is not first come first served. To support our dedication to authentic Montessori practice, our Admissions Team works diligently to ensure our classrooms remain balanced in nature. When a space opens, the entire wait pool is considered to find the right fit for each space.
What considerations go into ensuring the “right fit” for admission to Arbor Programs?
Primarily, the varying demographics of each applicant are the biggest factors for placement. This includes age, gender, and schedule.
What other information is considered for placement within Arbor’s Programs?
Priority Placement is offered to current families, alumni families, and those transferring from either of our sister schools (Issaquah Montessori or Mt. Si Arbor Montessori). Other considerations will include transferring from other Accredited Montessori Schools, long-term Montessori commitment, and families with multiple siblings.
Does turning in my application earlier mean I will get a space first?
The only time submitting your application early will be considered is if everything within the above demographics is equal; the deciding factor will be the date the application was submitted.
Student Visit Days
All elementary children will participate in a visit day and provide their current student academic records prior to acceptance. All potential elementary students will join an elementary classroom for a full school day, 8:15-3:30.
What to expect during a student visit?
Prospective students have the opportunity to experience life here at Arbor. Families arrive early, where they are greeted by a friendly face- our Admissions Director, who walks them to their classrooms, introduces them to their teacher, and hands them off to settle their belongings. Parents will say goodbye and head back to the lobby, where Melissa will answer any last-minute questions about the visit.
The student will head to the playground where their teacher will introduce them to other students, and pair them up with a buddy for the day who will show them the ropes! They can see the animals, grab a snack from our Breakfast Grab and Go Cart, and meet new friends as they arrive. This is a gentle way to begin their day.
Throughout the day, their teacher will ensure they have many opportunities to participate in the classroom community’s daily routine, including lessons. Parents arrive at 3:30 and will have a brief conversation with the lead teacher to learn about their day.
Once everyone feels like Arbor is the right fit for your family and records have been received, an offer of acceptance is extended.
Priority Enrollment and Rolling Admissions... What you need to know
Arbor operates on a school-year calendar for both Elementary and Primary Programs, meaning school starts in September and runs through June, with the option to join our Summer Camp Programs in July and August. Our Toddler Program runs for 12 full months.
Priority Enrollment Window
For our Elementary and Primary Programs, the Priority Enrollment Window opens with our annual Preview Event in January. Acceptance letters and contracts are sent to new Arbor families in early March. Toddler priority enrollment happens three times per year- September, January, and July. Acceptance for both July and September is sent with our other programs in March. January acceptance is sent in November.
Rolling Admissions
Should Arbor have spaces open throughout the school year, our Admissions Team will draw from our active wait pool to fill mid-year openings. While this can happen, it is rare, and availability changes from year to year.
Will I be guaranteed a space if I submit an application?
Arbor generally receives more applications during our Priority Enrollment window than we have spaces. Submitting an application does not guarantee placement within the Arbor Community. If a space is not identified for your family, you will remain in the waitpool for rolling admissions mid year.
Will I ever be removed from the wait pool?
Families in the wait pool are asked each December to resubmit an updated application to ensure our Admissions Team has current information. You will not have to submit a new application fee. If a new application is not received by the deadline, your file will be archived, and you will be removed from our active wait pool.
Acceptance- Welcome To Arbor!
When will I know if my student has been accepted to Arbor?
For the 2026-2027 school year, families who have participated in our Priority Enrollment Window will be notified by March 2nd regarding the status of their acceptance to Arbor Montessori School. Placement is secured upon completion of the Enrollment Contract and receipt of the tuition deposit, due March 13th.
How can we start connecting with the Arbor Community as a new family?
All of our new families for the following school year are added in March to our weekly all-school newsletter, The Arbor-Read-Em Leaflet, and invited to our all-school events, such as our Spring Sing Along. This allows new families to start building connections with their child’s teachers and other families within their new classroom community.
My child is moving to the next program. Is there a chance there won’t be a space for them?
No. Once you are accepted to Arbor, you will never have to worry about a space for your child within any of our programs. With a firm commitment to authentic Montessori practice, we follow each child’s needs and hold spaces for our January toddlers moving up to Primary, ensuring there is a space for them when they are ready to transition.
Are there volunteer requirements for families?
At Arbor, we love our parent volunteers and provide many different opportunities for parents to support our classrooms and school events! There are, however, no requirements for families to volunteer on or off campus.
Other Enrollment Questions-
If you have questions about our application or enrollment process, or have other questions related to admissions, please contact our Admissions Director, Melissa, at (425)392-3866 or at melissa@arborschools.com
