Many parents chose to leave their children at Barat for their kindergarten year in order to maximize their Montessori experience. This important year allows the child to complete the language and math curricula at which point their skills will likely far exceed the academic expectations set for kindergartens by their local public schools. At this point, they are well prepared to enter first grade assuming they meet the age requirements set by their local school district.

Because most public schools now require children to reach the age of five by August 31 st prior to the beginning of their kindergarten year, your child may be required by law to enter your public school at the kindergarten level. If so, we will work with you in advance on strategies for making this transition as smooth and successful as possible.

It is ideal to enter a Montessori preschool by age three. (We accept children as young as two years, nine months.) At this age, the child is most easily introduced to the Montessori materials and learning processes. Children who spend a full three years in the program garner the most benefits in terms of acquired knowledge, an internal sense of order, and a love of learning.

For these reasons, some Montessori schools do not offer spots to children over the age of four who have not had prior Montessori experience. At Barat, we have no specific rules with regard to this issue. We recognize that three full years of Montessori preschool, while ideal, is not always an option for some children. We are willing to consider children age four and older who have not had prior Montessori experience when space allows. Children who will turn 5 during the school year, however, are not eligible for the 3-day program. (They are eligible for the 5-day program only.)