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Admissions Policy
Given that one of the core values of the Siskiyou School is embracing cultural and economic diversity, it is our intention and policy to welcome students from a broad range of social, economic, and cultural backgrounds.
While we do not discriminate against any student for admission based on race, creed, religion, gender identity, or national orientation, we do strive to accept children who have needs we can meet and who will be successful in our school. Children are admitted with deliberate intention, through careful assessment and evaluation to ensure a good fit for the child, the family, and the school.
Kindergarten Application Procedure
Our kindergarten enrollment period begins in January. Children applying for kindergarten should turn five by June 1st. This pedagogically inspired cut-off date ensures an opportunity for greater social-emotional health and overall maturity in the children. It is a gift to give them more time in childhood rather than rush them forward into adulthood. We do have limited space available for children to spend two years in kindergarten and enter our program as a 4 year old. These two-year spots are reserved for siblings of current families and/or available based on the number of remaining kindergarten spots available in March.
For current Siskiyou School families:
1. Submit a completed enrollment application, including $100 application fee and two photographs (one of the child and one of the family).
2. Have a child interview/meeting with the kindergarten teacher and an administrator.
For families new to the School:
1. Attend an informational event to learn about the Siskiyou School and Waldorf education.
· Parent Evening/Introduction to Waldorf – This talk, led by our Educational Support Teacher Nina Gallwey, offers a wonderful introduction to Waldorf education, an explanation of the view of child development that underlies our curriculum, and vivid examples of how our developmental curriculum meets the children through the grades. The evening is for parents only.
· Main Lesson Tour – The tour allows prospective parents to get a sense of our program and see the children responding to it. During the tour, parents visit grades KG-8 during main lesson, the heart of each school day at the Siskiyou School.
· Private Tour – If a Main Lesson Tour is not available, schedule a tour and chat about our school at a different time.
2. Submit a completed enrollment application, including $100 application fee and two photographs (one of the child and one of the family).
3. Meet with the kindergarten teacher and an administrator. This meeting is a gentle time for play that allows the kindergarten teacher to learn more about the child and family. Both parents are encouraged to attend this introductory meeting.
Upon an offer of enrollment, parents will be asked to fill and return an Intent to Enroll form and pay the enrollment fee. Further forms will follow during the school’s re-enrollment period.
First Grade Application Procedure
Our first grade enrollment period begins in February. All children applying for first grade must have turned six by June 1st. This pedagogically inspired cut-off date ensures an opportunity for greater social-emotional health and overall maturity in the children. It is a gift to give them more time in childhood rather than rush them forward into adulthood.
For current Siskiyou School families enrolled in our kindergarten:
All kindergarten students are evaluated for first grade readiness by our Educational Support Teacher. Based upon this evaluation and with input from the kindergarten teacher and administration, current kindergarten children will be offered to move up to first grade or stay for another enriching year as a leader in kindergarten.
For current Siskiyou School families not enrolled in our kindergarten:
1. Submit a completed enrollment application, including $100 application fee and two photographs (one of the child and one of the family).
2. Meet with our administrator, if requested.
3. Complete a First Grade Readiness Assessment with our Educational Support Teacher or other qualified evaluator.
For families new to the school:
1. Attend an informational event to learn about the Siskiyou School and Waldorf education.
a. Parent Evening/Introduction to Waldorf – This talk, led by our Educational Support Teacher Nina Gallwey, offers a wonderful introduction to Waldorf education, an explanation of the view of child development that underlies our curriculum, and vivid examples of how our developmental curriculum meets the children through the grades. The evening is for parents only.
b. Main Lesson Tour – The tour allows prospective parents to get a sense of our program and see the children responding to it. During the tour, parents visit grades 1-8 during main lesson, the heart of each school day at the Siskiyou School.
c. Private Tour – If a Main Lesson Tour is not available, schedule a tour and chat about our school at a different time.
2. Submit a completed enrollment application, including $100 application fee and two photographs (one of the child and one of the family).
3. Completion of the First Grade Readiness Assessment with our Educational Support Teacher or other qualified evaluator. The visit allows us to get acquainted with the child and get a sense where they are developmentally. It also gives the child a chance to begin to get to know the school to which they may be coming.
4. Meet with our administrator. This meeting is intended for the administrator to hear about the child, understand what brings the family to our school, and to answer any questions parents may have. Both parents are encouraged to attend this introductory meeting.
Upon an offer of enrollment in first grade, parents will be asked to fill and return an Intent to Enroll form and pay the re-enrollment fee. Further forms will follow during the school’s re-enrollment period.
New Student Application Procedure for Grades 2-8
1. A determination is made about whether there is space in the class. Parents call the front office and an inquiry form is filled out by the Office Manager with relevant information about the child and family. This form is then passed to our assistant administrator, who in turn discusses with the teacher and broader faculty (if applicable) the ability of the current class to welcome another child.
2. Parents submit:
a. a completed application,
b. a copy of the most recent grade report (not required for kindergarten or first grade applications),
c. two photographs (one of the child, one of the family), and
d. a $100 application fee.
3. For grades 2 through 4, the child completes a student interview with our Educational Support Teacher or other qualified evaluator. The visit allows us to get acquainted with the child and get a sense where they are developmentally. It also gives the child a chance to begin to get to know the school to which they may be coming.
For grades 5 through 8, the child completes a student interview with the class teacher. The class teacher meets with the child to conduct an academic assessment. The teacher will get to know the prospective student and will get a sense of them and their ability to integrate into the class and into the school in a healthy way.
4. Parents meet with the administrator. The administrator meets with the parents to give them an overview of the Waldorf philosophy and a general tour of the campus as well as to answer any questions about the Siskiyou School.
5. The prospective student visits the class for two-three consecutive days.
Enrollment Procedure
Once the above steps have been completed, the faculty and administration reviews a child’s application and visiting time. If accepted, an acceptance letter along with an Enrollment Agreement is emailed to the family. Parents must return the completed Enrollment Agreement along with the enrollment fee to confirm their child’s place in the class ($350 for new families, $250 for students with currently enrolled siblings). Upon receipt of the signed Enrollment Agreement, parents receive a final packet of enrollment documents.
Re-enrollment Procedure for Current Families
In March parents receive a re-enrollment packet that includes an announcement of the following year’s tuition and instructions for how to apply for financial aid. Re-enrollment forms and fees are due at the April due date. A $50.00 fee is charged for re-enrollment fees paid after June 1
Admission of Students with Special Needs
Our school is designed to meet the needs of children with an average range of intellectual, emotional, and physical needs. We do not have the resources to address children who have academic and/or behavioral needs that require individualized instruction or assistance. Upon application, our teachers conduct an assessment of the child's abilities. This, along with a review of the child's full previous school records and any relevant medical/ psychological/ developmental/ or educational assessments, help us determine whether or not our school might be a good fit for a particular child. Sometimes the initial assessments do not reveal the full range of a child's needs. Should a child be admitted and it be determined that the needs were greater than originally thought, the class teacher will invite parents to a conference to discuss those needs. Options include parents arranging tutoring outside of school, parents paying for tutorial help to be held during school hours at the school in lieu of another class, or transfer to one of Ashland's public schools where resources are available to accommodate a broader range of needs. (See handbook section devoted to Educational Support at the Siskiyou School.)
ANSWERS TO FAQs
Where can I find more information about your current program?
Please use our website for your reference; https://www.siskiyouschool.org. You will find videos to watch, tuition information, program information, and much more on the website. For other questions, please always feel free to call the office at 541-482-8223. Kristin will be happy to answer your questions.
What will tuition be for the next year and when is the first payment due?
The first tuition payment for each school year will be due July 1st. Tuition rates are set each year by the Siskiyou School Board in the early spring. They will be announced in March during our re-enrollment time. For current tuition information, please go to our website at https://www.siskiyouschool.org/enrollment-fee. Tuition includes all fees with the exception of a $250 enrollment fee for current students/siblings each year and $350 for new students, paid at the time of enrollment.
Is tuition assistance available and when will we know how much we might receive?
Yes, tuition assistance is awarded to all currently enrolled and qualifying families. Applications (conducted online by a private and independent agency) are due in April. Awards are announced in May. During the introductory visit, the administrator will give a picture of how the school’s tuition assistance program works and what new families might expect to receive. If you family is not yet enrolled, please do not submit for tuition assistance.
What happens if there are too many applicants?
Priority admission is given to siblings and to children coming from local Waldorf kindergartens. Then we consider children from other area programs and from out of the area. While we usually start out with more applicants than we can accept, by the time September comes around we have consistently ended up with a healthy class size in the twenties. We have learned to trust the process.
What is the birthday cut-off date for first grade enrollment at the Siskiyou School?
Like most Waldorf Schools, we want incoming first graders to have turned six by June 1st before entering the school in the fall. This cut-off date is firm as we have seen the benefits of social and emotional maturity in our students and the impact that readiness makes on the class as a whole.
What if we are not sure our child is ready for first grade?
Where readiness is a question not related to birthdate, we conduct a readiness assessment, talk with the child’s kindergarten teacher, look at the overall makeup of the incoming class, and have conversations with the parents. The purpose of these steps is to reach clarity and consensus with the parents about how the child will best be served in the long run. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, with each factor weighed carefully, as the decision affects the child’s whole twelve years of school. Our official cut-off date is June 1st.
Do you accept children with remedial or behavioral issues?
We certainly do, but, again, on a case-by-case basis after assessments, observations, and conversations with the child’s previous teachers and parents. Ultimately, the question for us is, can we meet the child’s needs within the context of the whole class? We want each child to experience success, and each class to flow well. If we determine that the child’s needs are beyond what we can support or that the child’s needs may compromise the teacher’s ability to hold the rest of the class, we recommend that parents explore other placements.
Who will be the first-grade teacher next year?
We make teacher announcements in April or May. Parents and children will have a chance to meet the teacher before summer. We trust that the right candidate for this group of children will emerge as has happened year after year for each new Siskiyou School class.
We look forward to meeting you and your child and introducing you to our program!
Katherine Holden
Siskiyou School
Administrator
Application Form
Click Here for 2025-2026 Application for Admission
Enrollment Procedure
Once a child’s application process is completed, the application is reviewed by the faculty.
Acceptance letters are mailed out including a welcome letter from the Administrator and a New Student Enrollment Agreement.
For the child to be enrolled, the office must receive a completed and signed Enrollment Agreement, along with the $350 new family enrollment fee ($250 for students with currently enrolled siblings).
After receiving the Enrollment Agreement, parents will be mailed the remaining Enrollment Documents, or in the spring if applying for the upcoming school year.