Admissions
We are honored that you are interested in Sea Pines Montessori Academy for your child. We are confident that you will be satisfied as your child receives the appropriate guidance at SPMA to cultivate his or her full potential.
SPMA Admissions Policy and Procedures
Application
A completed application form, including the non-refundable Application Fee of $100.00, must be submitted to the office. Checks should be made payable to Sea Pines Montessori Academy (SPMA).
Applications are accepted year round, and it is to the student’s advantage to apply as soon as possible. The school has an open enrollment policy whereby students may enroll during the year if space is available. If space is not available, applications are kept on file.
Three Step Admissions Process
Once an application has been received, there is a three- step process the family must complete before acceptance is considered to Sea Pines Montessori Academy.
1. Parents/guardian complete a campus tour
2. A student visit with the appropriate grade level teacher
3. Parents/guardian meet with the Head of School
Once all three steps have been completed the family will then be considered for acceptance. Notification of acceptance to the school will be sent to the family. If the student is accepted and space is not available, the student will be placed in a “waiting pool” until space becomes available.
Age Requirements
Age groupings are based on a child’s age on September 1, which is the South Carolina required cut-off date. Applicants to the Preprimary Program must be 18 months of age on their first day of school.
Parent Campus Tour / Observation Experience
Tours of the school campus are by appointment. Please call (843) 785-2534 to schedule your campus tour. During the tour, information is provided about the history of the school and the Montessori Method. While on the tour, there is an opportunity for questions and answers. If parents visit the school prior to applying for admission, the forms you need to apply will be given to you at the end of the tour (if not obtained online).
If you would like to further your experience with Sea Pines Montessori Academy, you may also observe a classroom. This experience must be made by appointment only.
When parents experience a tour and or observe in a classroom, it helps determine if Sea Pines Montessori Academy is a good match for their child and family.
Student Visit
Each child will have the opportunity to tour the school as part of the admission process. The child has a “visit” as part of his or her familiarization with the school and our familiarization with the child. In addition, this is a time for school personnel to assess the child’s readiness for school.
Notification
Families will be notified of student acceptance at the end of the admission process, or shortly thereafter. If accepted, the family will receive the necessary papers to complete the enrollment process. In February, re-enrollment forms are sent to currently enrolled students, and by mid-March vacancies for the next school year are filled from applicants in the waiting pool ready to be admitted.
Enrollment
An applicant is formally admitted after the office receives the signed enrollment contract and fees. There is a non-refundable Enrollment Fee and Student Fee that must accompany the enrollment contract. Additional papers are required as detailed in the enrollment forms.
Orientation
Each child will attend an orientation program to become familiar with the routines of the classroom.
Scholarship
We continue to offer scholarships to those who would not otherwise be able to attend Sea Pines Montessori Academy. The scholarship awards vary from year to year based on the SPMA Booster Club’s fundraising efforts and the number of applicants. Our goal is to continue financial assistance for the child’s subsequent years to follow at SPMA.
If you are interested in applying for financial assistance, contact the SPMA office to obtain a School Scholarship Service application.
• Once completed, this form is sent to the School Scholarship Service in New Jersey, where it is processed and returned to SPMA. This process takes approximately four to six weeks.
• The application for financial assistance needs to be mailed to the School Scholarship Service (SSS) by the middle of April in order for the forms to be returned to SPMA by June.
• The SPMA Scholarship Committee reviews applications and awards scholarships based on SSS reports.
• Applications are accepted for financial assistance year round, although most awards are made the first week of June.
The Sea Pines Montessori Academy is a private, non-profit school. Sea Pines Montessori Academy admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to the 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, and other school administered programs.
