an Independent Montessori School on the North Coast
Where children from TK to eighth grade experience a transformative education in a prepared environment tailored to individual student needs while being part of a cohesive and nurturing community grounded in Montessori principles such as environmental stewardship, humanitarianism, global citizenship, and peace education.
Fall 2025 ENROLLMENT IS OPEN
Montessori del Mar Community School is the only independent Montessori elementary and middle school in Mendocino County. Our school is a nonprofit organization and tuition is collected from enrolled families. We strive to keep tuition accessible to offer a Montessori education to as many families as possible.MdMCS has three classrooms: a Primary, Lower Elementary, and Upper Elementary and serves students in grades TK to 8. Maria Montessori believed that a “more just and charitable approach toward the child would be to create an “adaptive” environment…”. Our classrooms are designed to meet the needs of different learners, ages, and learning styles and modifications and accommodations are fundamental to teaching and learning at MdMCS. The adaptive classroom is one example of how Montessori’s work foreshadowed what later neuroscientists and researchers came to recognize as best practice for education.
At MdMCS, we look upon each child as unique and requiring an individualized approach for learning.
We would love to welcome your child to our learning community!
mdmcs Enrollment Process
Enrollment begins April 1 for the following fall. Applications are accepted on a first come first serve basis.
Admissions into the program is based on available openings, as well as, the ability of the school to match the needs and values of prospective families and students. See Enrollment Timeline here and Frequently Asked Questions.
Priority for enrollment and reduced tuition is given to current families and previously enrolled or returning students. All returning and new families must attend Fall Parent Orientation session.
The Enrollment Process is:
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Review our website and program description
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Submit completed application and application fee of $100
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Attend an open house, campus tour or meet with the Director for an enrollment conference
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Read and accept MdMCS policies and practices
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Submit completed enrollment packet and nonrefundable one-month deposit by stated deadlines. Completed packets can be mailed or submitted online.
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Parents requesting reduced tuition will be notified of space availability within two weeks of the stated application deadlines.
Dates for campus visits for prospective families are listed below. All applying families must sign up for a visit and enrollment conference at least one week prior to the visit date.
2025 Campus Visit Dates are as follows:
Tuesday, March 18, 9:00-9:30am
Wednesday, April 16, 2:00-2:30pm
Tuesday, April 22, 9:00-9:30am
Tuesday, May 6, 9:00-9:30am
Wednesday, May 14, 2:00-2:30pm.
Please register for a campus visit by emailing chloedirector@montessoridelmar.org. Pre-registration for campus visits is required.
Campus visits are open to prospective families only. We have many community events on campus that are open to the public. You can find information on upcoming events in our latest Directors Updates: