Frequently Asked Questions

Please visit our Admissions Welcome page to learn more about our unique approach to preschool admissions, and check out our Application Process page for a step-by-step breakdown of our application process.

At The Washington Market School, it is important for parents to get to know our school and our community. As such, we require parents to participate in a school visit, which includes a group interview for parents only. During the school visit, parents will have opportunities to meet with different members of The Washington Market School team and community. Parents will also have the opportunity to observe the rich, thoughtful teaching and learning in our beautiful classrooms.

We believe that formally interviewing and assessing children at this age is not informative. Our curriculum is thoughtfully designed and our teachers are highly trained to skillfully meet children where they are, which means our children are considered “ready” simply by virtue of joining our community. 

There are countless benefits to focusing on conversation and connection rather than formal interviews and testing. To us, the most important benefit is that prospective parents gain an authentic understanding of The Washington Market School experience and how truly special it is to be a part of our community.

During the admissions season, we offer multiple admissions events for those who have submitted an application. Once your application is complete, our team will be in touch with dates and details of upcoming events. We often host a number of expert speakers during the school year to help parents create more conscious, emotionally healthy, and justice-oriented cultures at school and home. Your attendance at any of these events will undoubtedly bolster your understanding of who we are and what we stand for. All applicant families are invited to attend so as to gain a deeper understanding about The Washington Market School community. 

In past years, we have offered expert sessions on:

• Raising Resilient and Emotionally Healthy Children
• Talking about Tricky Topics
• “Is This Normal?” Understanding Perfectionism and Pressure in Parenting

We value all forms of diversity in our community, and believe finances should not be a barrier to attending school. As a non-profit school, we have the privilege of being able to raise funds every year for our Tuition Assistance program. You can find out more about our Tuition Assistance program here.

We do our best to accommodate every sibling after placing our returning students. We may not always be able to offer your first choice of session.

Every family with a child who is eligible to apply and submits a completed application form by the deadline will be invited for a school visit and considered for admission. Admission to the school is not dependent on when you submit an application or when you visit, as long as both are completed within the deadlines.

The Washington Market School does not require either of these items. However, any additional information sent to the Enrollment Office will be added to your file.

2024-2025 school year:

For our Half Day Program (AM or PM) and for our Full Day 2s Program, children must be 2 years old by September 9th, 2024.

For our Full Day Program for 3-5s, children must be 3 years old by September 9th, 2024. All children with birthdays from 9/9/2021 - 6/1/2019 are eligible to apply to our Full Day program. 

Unfortunately, we cannot make exceptions with this age cut off. To apply, your child must be 2 years old by the first day of school (September 9th for the 2024-25 school year). If your child’s birthdate does not align with our cut-off date requirements, we look forward to receiving your application the following year!

Yes, you will be required to complete a new application form as well as a school visit. We look forward to getting to know your family better. 

You can find our most up to date tuition information here. Tuition rates are subject to change from year to year.

Please contact our Enrollment Office by email at admissions@wms-nyc.org or by phone at 212-233-2176. Due to the large number of inquiries we receive during the admissions season, please allow us a few days to respond. We look forward to hearing from you.

Please visit our Programs Page.

If your child is starting in either the half-day program or the Full Day 2’s program, they do not need to be potty trained. If your child is starting in our Full Day program for 3-5 year olds, they are required to be potty trained before the first day of school.

Check out our Curriculum Page, which includes example daily schedules.
 

Families starting with us in the afternoon often adjust their child’s nap to accommodate the school schedule. We are partners with you in this process and have helped our parents/caregivers and children make these adjustments thoughtfully and positively for decades. There are a variety of ways to approach this adjustment period. Some shift to an earlier wake-up to allow for a morning nap, while others encourage a later wake up with a brief nap after school. As we move through the school year, many children drop their nap. Some families need a more flexible start to the school year while their child transitions the nap. Our teachers and Site Director are here to support what your individual child needs. Learn more about how we support your child's transition to school.

The Afternoon Session is a mirror of our Morning Session. Children who are enrolled in the afternoon will have the very same experience as children who are enrolled in the morning, including time in our beautiful studio classes, the playful gym and our interactive lab room. Learn more about our Afternoon Session here.

Your child’s session in all years following the first is your choice. Sometimes, families who choose a half day program for their child’s second year will select the Afternoon Session again, because they found such meaning and value in that session for their family’s schedule. Families will also select a morning half day session or a full day for their children’s next year with us. We will ask you to make this selection in January each year.