Admissions Process

List of 5 items.

• Step 1 — Review our Website

  Please take some time to review our website prior to making an inquiry to determine whether our programs meet your family’s needs. We highly encourage you to visit our Programs page and our DEI & ABAR page, and request that you review our Tuition and Fees to learn more about our financial expectations.

• Step 2 — Schedule a Parent Tour

  We strongly recommend that all prospective parents attend a Parent Tour at Athena. You may sign up for a tour by clicking on "Schedule A Parent Tour” at the top of any page. Athena is a unique community, and we strive to ensure goodness-of-fit for both the children and the families in our community. Visiting will help you determine whether our community feels like the best fit for you and your child. Likewise, we are looking for families who share our values and are committed to community, growth, and respect for self, others, and the environment.

• Step 3 — Submit an Application for Admission

  To be considered for enrollment at Athena, you must complete an Application for Admission, which includes a one-time application fee of $100. Athena currently maintains one waiting pool, which includes children that are not quite eligible for enrollment as well as those eligible for Movers & Shakers (3-18 months), Tots (18 months-3 years), or Primary (3-5 years). 
  
  We strive to maintain a balance of age, gender identity, and temperament in each of our classrooms, as well as continually increase our community's diversity, so children in our waiting pool are considered according to our available spots, their date of birth, the above listed factors, developmental readiness, and date of application. 
  
  Please note that you may submit an Application for Admission at any time during the year. You only have to submit an application one time. Your child will remain active in our waiting pool until a space becomes available. We are not able to guarantee enrollment.

• Step 4 — Stay Connected

  Once you have submitted an application and your child is in our Waiting Pool, you will begin to receive monthly newsletters, which include regular updates about our enrollment process. Newsletters also include information about upcoming community events and parent workshops, which we hope you choose to attend.

• Step 5 — Stay Tuned During Our Enrollment Period

  Our school year runs from mid-August to late-May, and enrollment occurs between December and April for the following school year (detailed schedule below). The enrollment process always begins with re-enrollment of current students; thereafter, siblings of currently enrolled students are given priority. Because we strive to maintain a balance of age, gender identity, and temperament in each of our classrooms, as well as continually increase our community's diversity, children in our waiting pool are then considered according to space availability, those factors, developmental readiness, and date of application. 
  
  Children with specialized needs are furthermore considered according to the ability of our staff to meet those needs and our need to maintain a balance of children with specialized needs in each of our classrooms.
  
  December
  Re-enrollment of currently enrolled students
  
  January
  Enrollment of siblings of currently enrolled students
  
  February – April
  Spots offered to Waiting Pool families
  

  
  Please note, while our goal is to complete enrollment by the end of April, it is not uncommon for rolling admissions to occur up to August.