Welcome from the Charlottesville Waldorf School Admissions Office!

We are delighted that you are considering Charlottesville Waldorf School for your family. Applications for our Early Childhood, Elementary, and Middle School programs are accepted on a rolling basis through the year. Please review the Admissions Process below and contact our Enrollment Coordinator if you have any questions.

Parent and Child Program

Our Parent and Child Programs are for children ages 18 months through 6 years, and are weekly morning classes attended with an adult caregiver. Registration is by session, with several sessions throughout the school year. Please click here to register for upcoming sessions.

Early Childhood Program (drop-off classes for children before 1st Grade):

  • Playgarden – 2-3 year olds (child must have turned 2 by August 31 of the year they are enrolling)
  • Kindergarten – 3-6 year olds (child must turn 4 by December 31 of this school year)

Requirements for 1st Grade Entrance:

  • Child must turn 6 before June 1.
  • Child completes a play-based First Grade Readiness Assessment conducted by our Education Specialist.
  • Rising first grade applicants will visit for a single 1/2 day in the Kindergarten. Mid-year applicants will complete a 2-3 day Student Visit in the First Grade classroom as detailed below.

CWS Admissions Process:

  • Complete the candidate’s online Inquiry Form > 
  • Complete the candidate’s Admission File (see below for full details).
  • EARLY CHILDHOOD CANDIDATES
    • Kindergarten Candidates who have previously been enrolled in a drop-off school/daycare will have a drop-off Student Visit
      • Visits will be 8:30-10am
      • Students will join one of our Kindergarten classes and take part in all activities
    • Playgarden Candidates and Kindergarten Candidates who have not been previously enrolled in a drop-off program will complete a 30-45 minute Student Visit with parent(s)/guardian, student, and teacher.
      • Student Visits take place outdoors on one of our Early Childhood playgrounds.
    • Student Visits will be scheduled after the Admissions File is complete.
    • You will receive a Student Visit Invitation directly from our Enrollment Coordinator.
  • GRADE SCHOOL CANDIDATES Complete a 2-3 day Student Visit at CWS.
    • Student Visits will be scheduled after the Admissions File is complete. 
    • You will receive a Student Visit Invitation directly from our Enrollment Coordinator.
    • Student Visits involve attending school for 2-3 days. Your child will take part in all class activities to the best of their ability.  
    • Parents will meet with the Class Teacher and our Enrollment Coordinator, typically on the final day of the Student Visit, to discuss their child’s experience.
  • Families will be notified within 5 business days after the Student Visit ends.
  • If accepted, the CWS School Director will extend an Enrollment Contract to the family and you will then complete enrollment and a tuition contract.
  • Final acceptance to our Early Childhood Programs is dependent on space availability in each class.
    • If accepted to CWS, you will receive notification of your preliminary acceptance after the Student Visit. 
    • When Priority Registration is complete, enrollment contracts will be offered to those with preliminary acceptance.
    • If all classes have filled, your child will move to current academic year Waiting Pool and will be offered a contract if space becomes available.
  • The Registration Checklist will be assigned shortly before the beginning of the academic year (or upon completing enrollment for families starting mid-year).
    • These required forms will include verifying your child’s identity in the school office, providing a copy of the Virginia School Entrance Health Form from your child’s doctor, adding non-parent/guardian emergency contacts to your child’s profile, and verifying additional information to complete your child’s school file.

Admissions File

Parent Responsibilities:

  • Complete the online Inquiry Form.
  • Complete the online CWS Application.
    • A link to our online application will be sent when your Inquiry Form has been submitted.
  • Return a signed Permission to Contact and Records Release form to CWS.
    • This form is required for all children entering our Grade School.
  • The student’s Transcript must be received from current or previous school
    • The CWS Admissions Office will request the transcript and files will be sent directly, but it is often helpful if parents encourage this process by contacting their child’s former school.
  • Request and confirm that a Teacher Recommendation letter has been sent.
    • This letter needs to be from a current or recent teacher and should outline where the child is developmentally, socially and academically. This information is quite helpful to our teachers and is an integral part of the admissions process. The letter should be emailed directly to the CWS Admissions Office (enrollment@cwaldorf.org) from the teacher. 
    • If your child has been homeschooled, this letter should come from a coach, lesson instructor, or other adult outside the family, who has been involved with your child and can comment on your child developmentally, socially &/or academically.  
  • Email a digital photo of your child to the Admissions Office.
    • This can be a casual photo from your phone and will be used for identification purposes and kept in the child’s file.