DCS Montessori Charter School

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Programs and Tuition for 2024-2025  (these rates are subject to change)

Preschool (3 year olds):

• Five days per week – we do not offer programs with fewer days per week
• Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 am-11: 30 am.
• Tuition is $5,850 annually per child (payment plan of $585 per month for 10 months).
• Upon your acceptance of enrollment, we will collect an annual Registration Fee of $300.
• Students must be at least 3 years of age to attend our school.

Preschool (for students who will be 4 years of age on October 1st of their enrollment year):

• Five days per week – we do not offer programs with fewer days per week
• Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 am-11: 30 am.
• We are participating in the UPK program; therefore, there may not be a tuition charge for Preschool. However, you must apply directly to our school and upon acceptance of enrollment, you must visit the UPK site and list your child as enrolled in our school. Failure to do this could mean losing your spot at our school. Otherwise the Tuition is $5,850.00 for the school year (payment plan of $585 per month for 10 months).
• Upon your acceptance of enrollment, we will collect an annual Registration Fee of $300.

Kindergarten – 6th Grades:

We follow the Douglas County District guidelines for age entry into Kindergarten.  Students must turn five on or before October 1st the year they enroll.

• There is no tuition; however, there are additional costs (see below) and we ask parents to participate in fundraisers during the school year.
• Hours:  Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 3:20 pm.

7th – 8th Grades:

• There is no tuition; however, there are substantial activity costs and trip costs (see below).  These trips are a mandatory part of our curriculum.  We also ask parents to participate in fundraisers during the school year.
• Hours:  Monday – Friday, 8:10 am – 3:40 pm. 

Before Care:

• DCS Montessori students may enroll in this program, enrollment is limited
• Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:00 am – 8:10 am.
• Tuition is $1,600 annually per child (payment plan of $160 per month for 10 months).
• Upon your acceptance of enrollment, we will collect an annual Registration Fee of $75.

Cougar Care for Preschoolers:

• DCS Montessori preschool students may enroll in this preschool afternoon care program, enrollment is limited.
• Hours:  Monday through Friday, 11:30am – 3:20pm.
• Tuition is $4,750 annually per child (payment plan of $475 per month for 10 months).
• Upon your acceptance of enrollment, we will collect an annual Registration Fee of $200.

After Care:

• DCS Montessori students may enroll in this program, enrollment is limited.
• Hours: Monday through Friday, 3:20pm – 6:00pm.
• Tuition is $3,450 annually per child (payment plan of $345 per month for 10 months).
• Upon your acceptance of enrollment, we will collect an annual Registration Fee of $150.

Note about Before, Cougar and After Care:  We only offer these programs on a full-time basis.  Since they are child care programs rather than school, you may feel free to send your child as you wish; however, you must enroll and pay the full tuition for each program.  For example – you only need Before Care Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays – you must pay the full amount for Before Care, but you certainly don’t have to send your child on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Fees for the 2023-2034  and 2024-2025 school years (these fees are subject to change)

Classroom Activity Fund:   Classroom Activity Funds include all school supplies.  Parents will not need to buy school supplies, teachers will buy what is needed as the items are needed.  This will cut down on costs for parents, give parents that extra time – rather than visiting 4 different stores to buy the correct items, and it will alleviate classroom storage problems (imagine finding storage space for 30 boxes of facial tissues!).

• For Preschool Students, the fee is $65 – this covers (but is not limited to) all general classroom supplies such as pencils, paper, erasers, facial tissues, cleaning supplies, and individual Montessori materials.
• For Kindergarten and Lower Elementary Students the fee is $140 – this covers (but is not limited to) all general classroom supplies such as pencils, paper, erasers, facial tissues, cleaning supplies, calculators, rulers, composition books, binders, and individual Montessori materials as well as all field trips for the school year.
• For Upper Elementary Students, the fee is $200 – this covers (but is not limited to) all general classroom supplies such as pencils, paper, erasers, facial tissues, cleaning supplies, calculators, rulers, composition books, binders, and individual Montessori materials as well as field trips for the school year with the exception of the 6th grade Outdoor Education trip.
• For Middle School, the fee is $200 which covers (but is not limited to) all general classroom supplies such as pencils, paper, erasers, facial tissues, cleaning supplies, calculators, rulers, composition books, binders, and individual Montessori materials as well as most day field trips for the school year, but not overnight field trips.

Technology Fund:  In order to continue to develop and grow our school’s technology access and programming, we need your help.  Students in 1st and 2nd grade will pay a $25 each school year and students in 3rd – 8th will pay a $50 annually.  These funds are used, in part, to pay for the purchase of computers and electronics, network related hardware and software.  We will post this to each student’s account and parents can view their balance online through www.myschoolbucks.com.

Library & Specials Fund:  Schools  nationwide struggle with budgets.  Some schools are even cancelling PE and Art classes.  At DCS Montessori, we know that our Library and Specials classes provide needed instruction for the whole child.  This $5 fee will help fund these programs so that we can continue to provide our students with Art, Physical Education, and Music classes.  Of the $5.00 fee, $2 goes to our Library to help fund the purchase of library books so that our Library can continue it’s mission of encouraging strong readers.  One dollar goes to each our Art Department. Music Department and Physical Education Departments so they may purchase needed supplies such as clay, paints, pastels, sheet music, instruments, balls, rackets, etc.

Music Fee: 4th Graders will charged a $10 fee for a recorder which they will learn to play during the school year. If your child already has a recorder, please email us at admin@dcsmontessori.org to have this fee removed.

Other 6th Grade Fees:  Our sixth graders take an overnight trip early in the school year.  The cost for this trip is generally $380.

Other Middle School Fees:  There will be fees in addition to the Classroom Fee.  Middle School teachers will email parents with a listing of additional fees (such as trip costs and athletics fees) for the school year.  Expect your trip fees to run around $1,300 for 7th graders and up to $2,500 for 8th graders.

These mandatory funds, trips and fees are charged annually and are non-refundable and non-transferable.  Every year, parents are asked to pay towards the Class Activity Fund. We also charge an annual Technology Fee, Library/Specials Fee and (for some students) a Music Fee. These fees help offset the cost of student supplies and materials in your child’s classroom and also cover the cost of most field trips for those students in Kindergarten and Lower and Upper Elementary (this does not include the 6th Grade overnight trip).  Failure to pay all other fees may result in denial of participation in the corresponding activity for which it is charged, withholding of school privileges or other actions.  All Activity Funds, fess and Trip Payments are non-refundable and non-transferrable.  All fees will be posted to each child’s account and you can view your balance at www.myschoolbucks.com.

Waiver from Fees: To apply to receive a partial or full waiver to fees at DCS Montessori, please complete the Free/Reduced Lunch Application (you’ll find the information on this page).  If you are approved please send a copy of your approval letter to us at admin@dcsmontessori.org as soon as possible.

Are Scholarships Offered for Preschool?

We offer a limited number of scholarships annually for Preschool tuition. Scholarship funds are not offered for our child care programs (Before, Extended and After Care). To apply for a scholarship, complete this Preschool Scholarship Application AFTER July 1st. Submit your completed application to admin@dcsmontessori.org prior to July 20th.  We will notify you as to the status of your application soon after July 20th. Remember, there is no tuition for Kindergarten and higher grades at DCS Montessori School.

Are Scholarships Offered for Before Care, Cougar Care, After Care, or After School Programs?

We do not offer scholarships for these programs.

Are Scholarships Offered for Overnight Trips?

We do offer a limited number of scholarships annually.  We ask, whenever possible, that parents work out a payment plan for as much of the trip expenses they feel they can assume.  Please complete the Application form and submit it to our Head of School by the deadline to return trip paperwork.

Scholarship and/or Payment Plan for Overnight Trips

Pay your Tuition and Fees Online

Pay for your child’s Lunch Account Online