Admissions Process.
Get Ready for the 2025 - 2026 School Year: Applications Now Open!
The Dahlia Schools of San Francisco are authentic Montessori, Spanish immersion, culturally-rich schools currently serving children 18 months to 12 years of age. Our adolescent program for middle and high school children is slated to open between 2026 - 2028.
We know that choosing the right school for your child is a significant decision, and we are committed to providing you with all the information and resources you need to make an informed choice. Here's what you need to know:
1. Complete an Application (Required)
Our applications are free, and we encourage you to apply early and within the General Admissions deadline of our extended deadline of January 10th, 2025.
For 2025 - 2026: Every new student must submit an application for 2025-2026 regardless of if you have applied before. Currently enrolled families do not need to re-apply, as they will be provided the opportunity to re-enroll in the Winter.
For 2024 - 2025: We encourage families to complete a 2025 - 2026 application and indicate the earliest date you would like to begin in your student’s application so that you will not need to complete a new application for next year if there is no available space. Please note for this current school year, 2024 - 2025, that our toddler community program is fully enrolled, there is currently one space in our primary program, and limited space remains in our new elementary program. Furthermore, availability is subject to change.
2. View our Online Info Session (Recommended)
To help you learn more about The Dahlia Schools and what sets us apart, view our online information session. This sessions will provide you with insights into our curriculum, teaching philosophy, extracurricular activities, and the exceptional learning environment we offer.
3. School Tours (Recommended)
We understand that visiting our school campuses is an important part of the decision-making process. We are pleased to offer school tours to provide you with a firsthand experience of our facilities and the warm atmosphere at The Dahlia Schools.
Tours are 8:15 - 10:15am a Friday morning every month, excluding August and September.
October 11th
November 8th
December 6th
December 6th - Elementary Open House
January 17th
February 7th
March 14th
April 4th
May 9th
June 13th
July 11th
5. Interviews (Required)
All families must complete a new admissions interview for each new student to complete the application process for the coming year. Interview invitations will be sent once applications are received. Interview spaces may not be available or may not be available right away for some applicants. Availability can vary based on age of the student, strength of application, relationship with the school, and general availability.
Children are also welcome to attend interviews, and we ask that primary families do bring their child to the interview. We look forward to learning more about your family!
Please note: Elementary Applicant Families that accept rolling / early offers of admissions would then receive sibling admissions priority for younger siblings to the The Dahlia School Early Childhood program and are able to interview and receive offers sooner than standard General Admissions timeline. (depending on the same factors listed above.)
6. A Day at Dahlia (Required for Elementary)
New applicants must visit for a Day at Dahlia after they have applied. Current Dahlia primary students who will be age five and up should also sign up for a Day at Dahlia.
Students will make friends, receive Montessori lessons, participate in French class and other extracurricular activities. This requirement is a way for the school, student and family to have a shared language-immersion Montessori experience!
Elementary applicants may be picked up at any time and will then be notified of their visit summary and admission decision shortly after their visit. Current Dahlia Primary students will only need to reenroll by the January 10, 2025 deadline for space to be held. Admitted applicants will receive an enrollment agreement, forms and a tuition deposit invoice that will remain available to them until our program is full.
7. Customized Tuition:
We believe educational opportunities should be available to families in our community regardless of financial means. It is our goal that at least two-thirds of our families receive some form of financial support and we recommend families with household incomes of $356K or less and/or extenuating circumstances to apply for financial aid. Requests for customized tuition are due no later than February for our first round of applicants. Note: The first round of admissions is when most financial aid may be allocated.
ELS Scholarship for children four and younger: The Dahlia School is a member of the San Francisco Early Learning Scholars (ELS) program that sponsors children four and younger, that live in San Francisco, and whose household make less than approximately $152K per year in annual household income for a family of five. This income number increases with the number of members per household. Families that meet this criteria must receive their scholarship via ELS.
Dahlia Scholars: The Dahlia Schools also offer tuition assistance through our Dahlia Scholars program for students older than four years old, and families making between approximately $152K for a family of four and $356K and/or that don’t live in the city of San Francisco. Tax returns will be required by February 15, 2024 for all Dahlia Scholars applicants including those already enrolled.
7. Application Deadlines
We encourage all applicants to submit applications by January 5, 2024.
General Admissions Decisions will then be sent by March.
Please note the following:
Most customized tuition budget is allocated during this time.
Furthermore, elementary applicants may complete the application process and receive admissions decisions as early as this Fall.
8. Reach Out to Us:
Should you have any questions about the application process, information sessions, or anything else related to The Dahlia Schools, please don't hesitate to reach out to our Admissions Team at hello@thedahliaschoolsf.org or (415) 851 - 5024. We are here to assist you and provide any assistance you may need.
We look forward to welcoming new and returning families to The Dahlia Schools for the 2024 - 2025 school year. Together, we will continue to foster a nurturing and enriching environment for our students, where they can thrive academically and personally.
Thank you for being a part of our wonderful community. We can't wait to embark on this exciting journey with you.
“We’ve been involved with the school since the inception, so we have had a significant amount of experience. To say our experience has been amazing would be an understatement.”
