Private Kindergarten Application Process

Families who are interested in applying to our Private Kindergarten program should begin the process one year prior to their desired entry date. Applications are only accepted for the upcoming school year.

For Kindergarten, we have a strict September 1st birthday cutoff. Children must turn five by September 1st of the year they wish to enter.

Step 1: Visit

We invite you to tour our campus, attend our annual Open House and come to a Kindergarten Parent Information Session so that you will have a personal connection to Turtle Rock’s teachers, curriculum and learning environment. We often find that your experience on a tour will help tell our story better than any other form of communication. During your initial visit, our Assistant Director of School will talk with you about your child and your expectations. This informal discussion allows us to understand more about your family, your own educational philosophies and your child’s needs, unique abilities, and personality. You can schedule a tour online, or call our office for assistance.

Inquire Online

Please note that all prospective families are required to tour our campus prior to applying. Exceptions are only made for families relocating from outside of Southern California.

Step 2: Apply

Applications are due by January 19, 2024. For applicants not currently enrolled in our program, we require a Teacher Recommendation Form to be completed by your child’s current teacher. A non-refundable fee of $125 is charged with each application.

Step 3: Child interview and assessment

All kindergarten applicants are evaluated individually. After we have received your application, we will arrange a child interview and assessment. Pre-Kindergarten children currently enrolled at Turtle Rock are assessed during their normal school day, no scheduled appointment is necessary. For new families, we will contact you via phone or email to schedule an appointment. The child interview and assessment will take about 45 minutes, and consists of a series of activities and questions that often proves enjoyable for pre-kindergartners.

After the individual assessment, we may ask your child to return and spend approximately 1.5 hours in one of our classrooms. These two separate sessions will give us an even better opportunity to get to know your child individually as well as in a group setting.

Step 4: Decisions

Members of the administration will meet regularly to review applicants and select students in an effort to craft a socially and academically appropriate kindergarten class. Admission decisions are based on the written application, child interview, assessment, class visit, and teacher recommendation. Notifications will be mailed in March 2024. Once offered admission, families must complete an enrollment packet and submit a deposit of two month’s tuition (applied as the final May and June 2025 payment) to confirm their enrollment. We will consider late applications for open positions on a case-by-case basis.

Step 5: Enroll

If you choose to accept placement, you must sign and return an Admission Agreement, with payment, by the date specified in order to reserve your child’s space at Turtle Rock.