Forest Bluff School Admissions Process

Enrollment is full at most ages for the 2023-24 school year. If you would like your child to be considered for the waitlist, please complete a Family Information Form. 

The first step in the Forest Bluff School admissions process is to contact our Admissions Director, Lynn Lillard Jessen, at (847) 295-8338, or fill out the Schedule a Visit form on our website. Lynn will answer your questions and schedule a visit of Forest Bluff School for both parents. For the safety and security of our students and staff, any person wishing to visit Forest Bluff School when school is in session must first complete a Family Information Form (see below). We thank you for your understanding. 

The purpose of this initial visit is for you to learn more about our school, see our children and teachers in action, and experience the peaceful and enthusiastic atmosphere of our classrooms at all age levels. You will receive an information packet with descriptions of our programs and tuition information for your child’s age level. (Please allow 90 minutes in order to have time for your follow-up questions.)

The second step is to arrange with our admissions director a time for your child to meet with one of our teachers for a brief visit and acquaintance to the school. Parents of children under age three are invited to remain in the classroom with their young child. Visits for the youngest children may last 15 to 20 minutes and for older children, approximately 20 to 30 minutes. For children ages four and older, we request to speak to the child's current teacher. Additionally, we request prior school records for all elementary age children.

If you would like to request enrollment for your child, the third step is to call our admissions director to discuss your desired date for entry to Forest Bluff School. If we are able to accept your child for the start date you request, you will receive a formal letter of acceptance to Forest Bluff School and a deposit invoice to hold your child’s space. Otherwise, you are welcome to request placement in the waiting pool of applicants until a space becomes available. 

I want to thank you for all of your time on the phone and in person discussing Forest Bluff and Montessori in general. We are so excited for the boys to start in January and the whole move feels on track now that we know they have a soft place to land. Thom and I were both so impressed with the spirit of the school and every single person’s commitment to fostering a Montessori environment for your students. Watching them work with so much focus, determination, and curiosity at every age level makes it clear that our children are very lucky to have the same opportunity.

What a pleasure it was to tour your school this morning! What a remarkable education these young children are receiving! To see students at every age so thoroughly engaged in such a calm, self-directed environment was both inspiring and impressive. It's clear how thoughtfully the curriculum embeds movement and tactile ways in which to understand concepts, as well establish a context and purpose for learning. Perhaps this is one reason for why I didn't witness the same restlessness more common in traditional education; the built in movement throughout the day makes a notable difference. Also impressive was the intention behind developing executive functioning skills that would help any students who transition to a traditional school setting with respect to their journals that incorporate goal-setting and time management. What you and your colleagues offer these children is invaluable.