In December, families within the school are invited to re-enroll their children and enroll new siblings. Our student enrollment then opens to the public in January at our Open House. At this time, prospective parents are invited to come to the school for an informational tour where enrollment applications are available.

Please follow the instructions below to ensure the successful completion of the admissions process for your child.

• Attend an Open House.

Open House is held the first Tuesday of each month at 9:15 a.m.This is an opportunity for adults to visit the school while classes are in session in order to see Tidewater at every grade level. There will be a brief introduction to the school before a tour of the classrooms and a chance to ask questions at the close of the morning. You may request an application at this time. Please call our office at (410) 257-0533 to reserve a space at an upcoming Open House.

• Visit the School with your child.

Please call or e-mail our office to schedule an appointment with a teacher for a meeting at the school outside of classroom hours. This is a chance for both you and a member of our professional staff to see how your child interacts with Tidewater's learning environment and to answer any questions you may have about the program.

• Return the application with the non-refundable annual enrollment fee.

Applications must be signed by both parents and returned to:

The Tidewater School

P.O. Box 755

Huntingtown, MD  20639

Please note: If space is not available, the enrollment fee will be returned.

• Acceptance letter and contract.

You will receive written notice regarding your child's acceptance into The Tidewater School along with a contract for enrollment. Your child's space in the class is guaranteed when the signed contract is returned. The first tuition installment is due in June.

• Return health forms and other required documents the summer before enrollment.

During the summer you will be sent a packet of information and forms. The State of Maryland requires all health forms to be on file with the school prior to entrance. Please return all required documents to the Tidewater School no later than August 15th of the enrollment year.

Click here for a 2009 - 2010 application.

The Tidewater School does not believe in academic cleansing. We believe that individuals possess many gifts, some of which are not validly assessed nor accurately measured in young children. We also do not believe in labeling children whereby self-fulfilling prophecies become a curse upon a child's future. We believe in focusing on the gifts of each individual child. We do not test children for entrance. We enjoy observing and interacting with a child to formulate a baseline of developmental skills in fine motor, gross motor, pragmatic language, pre or academic knowledge and attention span.

Specific Entrance Requirements

Enrollment is offered on a first come, first served basis to all children who meet the following criteria:

Pre-Kindergarten:

1. Must be age 3 on or before September 1st of the year of entrance.
2. Must be toilet trained.
3. Must be able to communicate needs, understand and follow simple directions, and be socially skilled to be in a community of friends. We want the child to be able to be safe and to grow in his/her ability to trust, play, and learn with joy!

Kindergarten:

1. The child must be age 5 on or before September 1st of the year of entrance.
2. The child must have a sustained focus of attention for the individual and group learning tasks of a kindergarten program.

Elementary:

1. The majority of children in elementary matriculate from Tidewater's kindergarten.  There are limited spaces each year available for new students. 
   

For all Applicants:

The parents have visited with the Director and/or Teacher of the class for entry and have demonstrated a sincere and compatible interest in the total growth of the child, recognizing that this program is committed to the well-being of the whole child.

The child will visit with the Director and/or the Teacher of the entry class and demonstrate adequate attention skills and comprehension of language.

The child will be able to socially adhere to safety regulations that protect her/himself and others.

The appropriate health forms for immunizations have been completed PRIOR to the date of enrollment.

No child will be denied entrance on the basis of developmental or perceptual disabilities as long as the child demonstrates communication skills to express intentions and offers reciprocity to others. Following a complete review of all available diagnostic information, a child with a developmental delay may be admitted upon recommendation of the Director. Communication skills must be compatible for comprehension and expression levels of the class of entry.

Evaluation, services, and therapy by specialists such as a Speech-Language Pathologist, Occupational Therapist, Psychologist, or Physical Therapist are NOT covered by the school's tuition agreement.

Children whose learning needs differ from those of the general student population as a whole will be required to have a tri annual re-evaluation provided by the parents.