application process

HOW TO APPLY

Following a school tour, interested parents are encouraged to begin the application process and then schedule a direct meeting with their child's prospective teacher. To begin this process, all families are asked to register with our easy-to-use online TADS system (Tuition Aid Data Services). Please see all details below!

BEGIN YOUR APPLICATION

Please begin the application process by creating your new account in our easy-to-use online TADS system (Tuition Aid Data Services). TADS is the management system our school and all prospective families use to apply and register, and all current families use to enroll and for tuition and billing.

NEXT STEPS

Please review and follow the instructions below, paying special attention to the program you are enrolling your child in, as there are differences

REFERENCES

Early Childhood Program:

  • Please complete the Teacher Evaluation Form.

  • *If your child has not attended formal schooling, please have a primary caretaker complete the form.

Elementary and Middle-School Grades:

Please email ALL forms to office@ithacawaldorf.org

ACADEMIC ASSESSMENT & CLASSROOM VISIT

Once all application materials have been received and reviewed, the teacher may request that the prospective student spend two to three days in the classroom. At this time another teacher may also interview or observe the child. 

Students are expected to arrive promptly at 8:30 am (unless otherwise arranged with the Enrollment Coordinator) and be prepared for a full day of school. Dismissal is at 3:00 pm.

Packing List:

  • Weather Appropriate outdoor apparel- Children spend much of their day outside.

  • Water Bottle

  • Lunch + Snack

  • Change of clothes

  • Indoor shoes

  • Outdoor shoes

Note: While face-to-face interviews are preferred, circumstances may prevent the feasibility of an interview in Ithaca before an acceptance decision needs to be reached.  If this is the case, please contact our office about the possibility of a Zoom interview.  

PARENT/GUARDIAN INTERVIEW

Once all application materials have been received and reviewed, an interview will be arranged so that the class teacher may meet both the child and parents. 

ADMISSIONS DECISIONS

After the parent/guardian interview, you will receive notice of your child’s acceptance decision.

Once you have been notified of your child's acceptance, you will have two weeks to complete the enrollment process on TADS.

The Ithaca Waldorf School has the capacity to meet a wide range of learning abilities and styles. Children who are not doing well in other schools may flourish in our school. However, there are learning and disciplinary needs that are beyond our scope. All new students are accepted with a two-month evaluation period, to ensure the suitability for all involved. If a new child needs extra support in certain areas, recommendations will be made by the class teacher. We aim to have a “healthy constellation” of pupils in each class.

TUITION AGREEMENT/DEPOSIT

When your child is enrolled you will receive a notification from TADS to complete the Tuition Agreement, which allows you to choose your payment plan and agree to the terms of payment.

The first tuition payment is due on July 1 for all payment plans (single payment, two-payment, and monthly plans). For returning students, monthly payments must be completed by May 1 of the current school year to be fully enrolled in the upcoming school year. For NEW mid-year students, one month of tuition AND the Supply Fee is due before they arrive at IWS.

  • Tuition Agreement Terms and Conditions are available for review on the Terms & Policies page.

SUBMIT MEDICAL & VACCINATION RECORDS/EXEMPTION

Our school’s Policy on Vaccination is available for review on the Terms & Policies page.

All FORMS