Frequently Asked Questions - Admissions

Our admissions season for 2-3 year-olds has concluded for the 2024-25 academic year. If you are interested in enrolling a child who will be four or five years old by 9/1/24, please contact the admissions office by email for more information.

How do I apply to The Little School?
Get started here.

How do I sign up for a tour?
Get started here.

Do I have to sign up for both a school tour and an open house?
No. You do not need to attend both an open house and a school tour. Due to capacity we ask you to please attend only one admissions event per family. These are adult-only events (infants welcome).

Some tours and open houses are age-specific, please check the tour sign-up page and choose appropriately for your family.

How many openings do you have?
Our openings vary year to year. We generally have the largest number of openings in our 4-5 year old programs.

I have an infant - can I apply for them already?
We prefer that families do not submit an application for their child until the fall prior to their admissions year. This gives us the most updated information as possible on each child, their preferences, and their personality so that we can make an informed decision regarding admissions.

Is preference given to applications received earlier?
No. We do not review applications until after the December due date.

What should I put on the application?

It is most helpful when you share specific details about your family and why you think your child would thrive at The Little School. Please do not leave your application blank!

Are letters of recommendation required as part of my application?

Additional letters of recommendation in support of your child's application are neither expected nor required.

What are the chances of getting in?
We are committed to making our admission decisions reflect our mission to meet the needs of individual children and families, and to allow children to learn in the context of a vivid and varied social community. Each year, our classes have unique needs. There is no way to predict an applicant’s chances for admission. We encourage interested families to be patient. Many children are admitted in the 4-year-old year and still have two years of preschool remaining. Please read through our admission section to learn more.

How does the wait pool work?
The wait pool is used to fill openings during the school year, as well as for future year openings. We do not rank potential applicants, as we seek to balance the needs of existing classes of children with children who would be complements to those classrooms. If you are in the wait pool, you do not need to apply for future enrollment years. You will be asked to confirm your continuing interest each year and will also be able to send us an updated message.

How do I apply for Discounted Tuition?
For any families who feel tuition is a barrier to your attendance in our program, we encourage you to apply for Discounted Tuition. The Little School uses School and Student Services (SSS), a tool used by many Bay Area schools. Families fill out their financial information online. If you check the box on our application, we will automatically send you a link to the SSS form to complete and the application fee will be waived. To increase the chances of receiving discounted tuition, complete the form and send to SSS with your tax returns by February 15 of the year they enroll. Learn more about our Discounted Tuition program here.

What is your siblings admissions policy?
Read about siblings admissions here.

When are acceptance letters sent?
Admissions decisions are emailed in mid-March for the 2-3 year-old programs. Admissions decisions for TK and 4-year-old programs can be mailed anytime during the month of March.

What kind of child/family thrives at The Little School?
A wide range of children and families have found The Little School to be a good fit. The children are a diverse group of personalities, learners, and developmental profiles. They tend to find satisfying peer relationships within their class and benefit from mixed-age opportunities. The strong relationships with teachers, an environment that invites many kinds of enticing play and physical activities, and a supportive atmosphere provide a firm, happy foundation for most children.

From a family standpoint, families who share our general philosophy and approach, are interested in partnering with us about their child’s growth and development, and want to build connections with other families and the school tend to have a positive experience. The families and staff make up a truly diverse community. People build the strongest connections within their class, but also enjoy building connections across affinities such as language or parenting experience as well as shared interests and volunteer activities. Because there is an emphasis on mutual respect, dialogue, and sharing our strengths, challenges and life experiences, people share many sides of themselves and have multiple avenues to get to know each other.

I have more questions - who can I ask?
For the fastest response, direct questions to our Admissions Team. Because our Admissions Team is comprised of teachers, please note that it may be several days before you receive a response. All emails are answered, so we thank you for your patience!

The Little School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.