Admissions Process.

Get Ready for the 2026 - 2027 School Year: Applications Now Open!

The Dahlia Schools of San Francisco are authentic Montessori, Spanish-immersion, and culturally rich learning communities currently serving children from 18 months through 12 years of age. Our adolescent program for middle and high school students is planned to open between 2026 and 2027.

We understand that choosing the right school for your child is an important decision. That’s why we are committed to providing families with the information, guidance, and resources they need to make informed and confident choices. Here’s what you need to know:

1. Complete an Application (Required)

The standard application fee is $100. We also offer discounted rates through financial assistance for families who may need support. Please use the codes on our Ravenna application.

We encourage families to apply early by our General Admissions deadline of January 10, 2026.

When completing your application, please indicate the earliest date you would like your child to begin. This ensures that your application will remain valid for the following school year, even if space is not immediately available.

For the 2026–2027 school year, our Comunidad Infantil (Toddler Community) is fully enrolled. There is currently one space available in the Casa de Niños (Primary program), and limited openings in Taller, our new Elementary program. Please note that availability is subject to change.

2. View our Online Info Session (Recommended)

To learn more about The Dahlia Schools and what makes our community unique, we invite you to view our online information session. These sessions offer valuable insights into our curriculum, Montessori teaching philosophy, extracurricular programs, and the exceptional learning environment we provide.

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, providing you with a firsthand experience of our facilities and the warm atmosphere at The Dahlia Schools.

Tours are held on Friday mornings from 8:15 to 10:00 am every month, from October to May.

  • October 3rd

  • November 7th

  • December 5th

  • January 9th

  • February 6th

  • March 13th

  • April 3rd

  • May 8th

5. Interviews (Required)

All families are required to complete a new admissions interview for each child applying to The Dahlia Schools for the upcoming year. Invitations to interview will be sent once applications are received. Please note that interview times may not always be immediately available and can vary depending on the child’s age, the strength of the application, the family’s relationship with the school, and overall availability.

Children are welcome at admissions interviews, and we kindly ask that Primary families bring their child along. These conversations allow us to learn more about your family and your child’s unique qualities.

Elementary applicant families who accept rolling or early admission offers will receive sibling priority for younger children applying to our Early Childhood program. These families may also have the opportunity to interview and receive admissions decisions ahead of the standard General Admissions timeline, depending on the same factors outlined above.

6. A Day at Dahlia (Required for Elementary)

All new applicants are required to attend a Day at Dahlia after submitting their application. Current Dahlia Primary students who will be five years or older should also sign up for this experience.

During the visit, students will have the opportunity to make friends, receive Montessori lessons, and participate in French class and other extracurricular activities. This visit ensures that the school, student, and family share a meaningful, immersive Montessori experience.

Elementary applicants may be picked up at any time, and families will receive a visit summary and admissions decision shortly after. Current Dahlia Primary students only need to re-enroll by the January 10, 2026, deadline to secure their space.

Admitted applicants will then receive an enrollment agreement, required forms, and a tuition deposit invoice, which will remain available until the program reaches full enrollment.

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.
— Nic B.