How to Apply
Interested in applying for the 2025/26 school year?
Fill out the interest form | RSVP for our Open House
Thank you for your interest in applying to the Manitou School! We are looking forward to meeting you and your family. Our admissions process is designed to help our faculty understand your family’s specific needs and interests and get a better picture of how these needs align with our values at Manitou.
During the process, you will have the opportunity to explore our dynamic learning environment, meet our exceptional faculty, and learn about Manitou’s unique approach to education.
1. Parent Visit & Tour
The application process begins with a required guided tour of our campus. During the tour, you’ll have the chance to explore our school grounds, view the classrooms, meet our faculty, and observe the basics of our educational philosophy first-hand.
Tours last 30 minutes to an hour and are typically scheduled on Wednesday and Thursday mornings. Please submit the interest form, and we will reach out in October when tours are available!
We are also hosting an open house and playground party on October 19th from 10:30 AM to 12 PM. You can RSVP for our open house here.
2. Online Application
Applications for the 2025-2026 school year open on December 15th, 2024 and close on February 15th, 2025. We will send out the application on this day to all families who have toured the school or attended an open house.
There are two parts to the application: a profile section and a questionnaire section to help us get to know your child. Our application fee is $100.
Note: Please keep in mind that we typically receive many more applicants than spaces available. If there is still space after the February 15th deadline, we will accept rolling admissions on a case-by-case basis.
3. Teacher Recommendation & Student Records
For students currently enrolled in Elementary or Middle School, we also require a teacher recommendation and release of records form. This provides us with valuable insight into your child’s social-emotional development, learning style, and strengths, allowing us to better understand their needs and how we can support them in their educational journey.
4. Classroom Visit (Current Grade Level) & Guardian Meeting
The next step in the application process is to schedule a classroom visit for your child. Children visit the classroom of their current grade level (i.e. a rising fifth grader would visit the fourth grade classroom).
For Stepping Stones, the classroom visit lasts 30 minutes. For Bridge through 2nd grade, classroom visits are half-days. All other students will spend a full day with their classroom, participating in the daily routine and getting to know their peers. Teachers will also informally assess each child as a part of the application process.
Additionally, parents or guardians will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with the director of the school for a short informal interview.
5. Admissions Decisions
All applicants will be notified of admission decisions via email between March 15th and April 1st. Admissions on a rolling basis will depend on space available after this date.
6. Enrollment Contract & Tuition Deposit
If your child is accepted, an Enrollment Contract will be sent out along with an invoice for a $3,000 tuition deposit. The tuition deposit is nonrefundable and will be applied to your last tuition installment(s).
7. Waitlist
If the school has full enrollment for a particular classroom, a waiting list is established from applications on file. As space becomes available, the admissions team will notify parents and proceed to the next step of the enrollment process.
Please note that if your child is placed on the waitlist and is not offered a spot, you must re-apply the following year.
Interested in applying for the 2025/26 school year?
Fill out the interest form | RSVP for our Open House
Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy:
The Manitou School admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of color, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity in administration of its admission policies, financial aid programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. See our Diversity & Equity Statement for more detail.