We are so glad to welcome you to The Center’s admissions hub. Here you will find information about our admissions process and additional links to learn all about The Center.
ADMISSIONS STEP BY STEP
WELCOME
We are so pleased that you are considering The Center for your child and family.
At The Center, our mission guides everything that we do. We graduate students who are joyful, resilient, lifelong learners, and we focus on the importance of each day of this wonderful journey! Our philosophy combines a nurturing, inclusive learning environment with an increasingly challenging academic program that addresses the developmental needs of each child. We look forward to getting to know your family and to introducing you to our program and community.
“After we began at The Center, we learned that everything that people say about the community being warm, welcoming, and wonderful is true.”
GRADE LEVEL AGE REQUIREMENTS
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TUITION & FEES
2025-2026 TUITION & FEES
TODDLER &
EARLY CHILDHOOD 1
$28,726 (half-day)
$34,536 (full-day)
EARLY CHILDHOOD 2
$34,536 (full-day)
GRADES K-6
$40,900
DEPOSIT (non-refundable, applied to tuition)
$2,100 (Toddler & EC)
$2,600 (Grades K-6)
PARENT ASSOCIATION DUES
$125 (per child, annually)
NEW STUDENT FEE
$2,000 (one-time fee)
Financial aid can reduce your tuition by up to 99%. Click below for more information.
FINANCIAL AID
Financial aid enriches the educational opportunities for all families and is an essential element of our philosophy and culture.
Financial aid supports economic diversity and is available to assist with the payment of tuition, fees, and extra-curricular programs at all grade levels. The small, administrative Financial Aid Committee confidentially reviews all financial aid applications and allocates funding to qualified families. The percentage of a family’s financial aid grant applies to both tuition and fees, and automatically-applied inclusion grants reduce costs for non-tuition costs such as after school and lunch.
65%
Average Reduction in Tuition
$2.8M
Financial Aid Budget
17-99%
Range of Tuition Reduction
CLARITY FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION
We partner with Clarity, a well-respected independent school financial aid software, to help us objectively determine a family’s available funds for tuition. The application is mobile-friendly and typically takes 30 minutes to complete. There is a $60 fee to submit, and you can share your application with additional schools that accept Clarity for no extra charge.
NOV 1, 2025
Financial Aid
Application Opens
DEC 5, 2025
Current/Returning Families
Financial Aid Application Due
JAN 16, 2026
Prospective Families
Financial Aid Application Due
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I start an application for my child?
Please submit the inquiry form first. This allows us to set up your account in the applicant portal. You will receive an email confirming the account setup. You will then be able to access the application through the checklist within the applicant portal.
What is the difference between an inquiry form and an application form?
The inquiry form is the first step in the application process. It allows us to set up your account in the applicant portal. The application form will be in your account and that is where you will answer questions about your child and family. You must submit the application form to continue through the application process.
When is the application due?
Monday, November 17, 2025, is the deadline to submit the application online.
What items do we need to submit for our application?
In addition to the online application form and the application fee (waived for families applying for financial aid) Kindergarten and Elementary applications include additional forms.
Kindergarten applications include a Preschool Evaluation Form.
1st-6th grade applications include an Administrator Recommendation Form, Teacher Recommendation Form, and transcripts/records from the student’s current school. All forms are available through the applicant checklist in the applicant portal.
Please see questions below regarding the required student and parent visits.
When can we visit for a campus tour?
After you have submitted your application we will contact you to schedule the Open House and Campus Tour, which will take place in October, November, or December, 2025. Parent interviews and student assessments are additional separate visits.
What can we expect at the parent interview?
Parent interviews are 30-45 minute individual conversations between the applicant child’s parent(s)/guardian(s) and a member of our Admissions Interview Team, made up of our admissions staff, faculty, and administrators. The conversation centers around the applicant child, family experiences, and education goals. All parents/guardians are expected to attend the interview; children do not attend.
What should we expect at the Kindergarten visit and assessment?
Kindergarten visits include a group assessment for children and a concurrent parent session (one parent/guardian should attend, and all parents/guardians are welcome). Our Kindergarten assessment session includes a story time, mini-PE class, small group activities with CEE faculty and administrators, and a structured choice (play) time. While we understand that these visits are new experiences for young children, the purpose is to learn more about each child within our school setting.
What should we expect at the Elementary (grades 1-6) student visit?
Elementary applicants (1st through 6th grade) are invited to a school visit and academic assessment. Older students visit their current grade level for almost a full day and meet individually with a member of our faculty for a math and reading evaluation. Younger students visit for a group assessment which includes group activities, games, and an academic assessment. Details will be shared with families in advance of their visits.
We recognize that an admissions visit and assessment is a short period out of a child’s life. We consider the visit and assessment in the context of the application, parent interview, the teacher recommendation, the administrator recommendation, and previous school records.
How do I know if I should apply for financial aid?
We hope that every family who would like to attend The Center, but who is unsure of their ability to pay the posted tuition amount, will apply for financial aid. The Center’s financial aid budget supports grants that reduce tuition by up to 99%. If you are unsure of whether you should apply for financial aid, please contact our office so we can discuss it together.
Do you offer virtual tours, interviews, or information sessions?
While we encourage families to visit in person, we understand that sometimes it will not be possible. We offer one virtual information session on January 12, 2026 for families who cannot visit in person. We can arrange virtual parent interviews and assessments if required. For relocating families, we do our best to offer flexibility on scheduling in-person events that align with travel plans.
How will we be notified of the admissions decision?
After 5:00 PM on the admissions notification date, families can log in to their applicant portal and navigate to the “decision” tab where their admissions decision will be communicated. Families who are offered admission will have access to their enrollment materials and additional information at that time, including financial aid grant information.
“I completely fell in love with CEE when I first visited! Immediately it felt like it was our home and the right fit.”
At The Center we are..
Find out more about The Center’s philosophy, mission, and history.
Non-Discrimination Statement
The Center for Early Education is committed to building and sustaining a community that is free from discrimination of any kind. The Center for Early Education admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
The Center for Early Education, a socio-economically and culturally diverse independent school for children, toddlers through grade six, strives to graduate students who are joyful, resilient, lifelong learners. The Center embraces a philosophy of education that combines a nurturing, inclusive learning environment with an increasingly challenging academic program that addresses the developmental needs of each child.