Admission & Financial Assistance FAQs

HCMS has open enrollment and accepts students throughout the year. Space is limited, so parents are encouraged to apply early.

Students ages 18 months through 4th grade without prior Montessori experience are welcome to apply to our program.  Students applying for 5th through 8th grade must be currently enrolled in and transferring from another Montessori school.

• Step 1: The first step in our admission process is to schedule an informational meeting and tour of the school. To set up your tour, call us at 830-229-5377 or submit a form request
• Step 2: If you believe HCMS is a good fit for your child, complete the Admission Application that you received in your informational meeting, and return it to HCMS with the non-refundable $75.00 application fee.
• Step 3: ​In addition to the application, students in grades 2nd – 8th are required to submit 1.) Transcripts and 2.) a Letter of Recommendation from the previous school administration and teacher.
• Step 4: Upon receipt of the school Admission Application, HCMS will contact you to schedule a student observation, as well as a parent/guardian interview with the Head of School.
• Step 5: Student Observation – Toddler (18 months-3 years) and Primary candidates (3-6 years) participate in a thirty-minute to one-half day-long visit in the applicable classroom. Elementary (6-12 years) and Middle School (12-14 years) candidates spend one to two full days in an Elementary or Middle School classroom.
• Step 6: ​The parent/guardian interview is a time to meet one-on-one with the Head of School. At the interview, you will spend time getting to know one another, and discuss why you believe a Montessori education is right for your child.
• Step 7: Following the completed observations, all applicable paperwork is submitted to the HCMS Admissions Committee for the acceptance decision.
• Step 8: Families may apply for financial assistance after receiving notice of acceptance of their child. Please see our Financial Assistance page for more information.
• Step 9: Along with the notice of acceptance, the enrollment contract is presented for signature. Upon receipt of the signed contract and non-refundable enrollment deposit, the child is considered enrolled.

The HCMS school tour enables parents/guardians to discover “who we are” and to learn more about our values, philosophy, and practices in educating children. A classroom visit allows parents to further observe the Montessori classroom in progress, giving visitors an up-close look at our unique environment.

A student classroom visit allows both the family and school to determine if HCMS is the right fit for each child.

Yes. Applicants applying for second grade and above are required to submit a Confidential School Report and Teacher Recommendation from their current school, as well as current transcripts.

Once all forms have been submitted and all visits and interviews are complete, most admission decisions are conveyed to the parent/guardian within 5 business days.

Applicants must complete the admissions process and be accepted to the school under admission guidelines. Eligibility for admission is not based upon a family’s financial circumstances. All financial assistant applicants must complete the financial assistance process. HCMS will review each application as it is received and dispense funds, as available. Awards are based on need and do not reflect academic skills or other talents. For families who do qualify for assistance, HCMS can fund up to 60% of the annual tuition fee for a limited number of families. Additional programs, such as extended care or after school activities, are not considered for financial assistance. Families must reapply each year and the amount awarded may vary from year to year depending on the family’s financial circumstances and the school’s availability of funds. Information and documents related to a family’s financial assistance application and award are strictly confidential.

Any student offered admission to HCMS for the upcoming academic year or any current students enrolling in HCMS for the following academic year and are in good financial standing with HCMS.

HCMS uses FAST (Financial Aid for Student Tuition) to collect basic financial information. To ensure a fair and accurate assessment is made, it is important for applicants to address all financial assistance documents with total disclosure and candor. FAST then prepares a needs analysis from the information provided and suggests the amount a family can contribute to educational costs. Families can apply for school financial assistance online here: http://www.ismfast.com.

Yes, the FAST (Financial Aid for Student Tuition) app charges a non-refundable fee for their services. Information regarding fees and instructions for filling out the appropriate forms can be found on the FAST website.

Form 1040 (Statement of Federal Income Tax) All W-2s (Wage & Tax Statements) All 1099s (Miscellaneous Income Forms) All applicable tax schedules Student applicant’s tax return, if he or she is required to file

Applications for each school year can be submitted online beginning February 1 of that year. Applications received after April 1 of that year will be reviewed based upon the availability of funds.

Yes, however funds are limited. HCMS will review each application as it is received and dispense funds as long as they are available.

If you qualify for the full amount of financial assistance available, you may receive a maximum of 60% of the annual Hill Country Montessori School tuition. Smaller awards may be offered based on the availability of funds and how many students may be served.

Each family situation is unique and many factors are considered when assessing school financial needs. Therefore, we are unable to make any determinations for eligibility until all documents have been reviewed.

Financial assistance received from HCMS is not a loan; it does not need to be repaid. However, due to the limited funds available for financial assistance, we always like to inform families of the educational loans available to qualified families through private institutions. HCMS encourages eligible families to pursue outside funding opportunities.