Applications for the 2024-2025 school year preschool programs are now closed, but we are still accepting applications for next year’s Kindergarten. To request a Kindergarten application or inquire about joining the waiting pool for preschool programs, please email admissions@bethlehemchildrensschool.org.
The admissions season for the 2024-2025 school year begins with applications available starting September 6, 2023 and accepted through December 15, 2023. However, if space is available, enrollment may continue through the rest of the year.
Our admissions process is designed to allow you and your child multiple opportunities to learn about our school and mission.
We look forward to getting to know your family!
A Note about the Acorns (2s/3s)…
Children must be 2 years old by December 1. Our regulations require that students be fully potty-trained to attend BCS.
BCS Admissions Process
- Attend an optional open house (application for admission not required) to visit our school and learn more about our classrooms and approach to education. Date: Saturday, November 18, 2023.
- Submit application with $50 non-refundable processing fee, due by December 15 for the 2024-2025 school year. This puts your application in our wait pool and does not guarantee enrollment. Please note, the wait pool does not operate on a first come/first served basis. Current and former families receive first preference and then after we fill spots with new families. Applications must be received by December 15 in order to participate in our required child visit (see below). Applications received after December 15 will be considered depending on availability of space.
- Family 1-on-1 tour: After you submit an application, we will reach out to arrange a visit for you to tour and learn about the school, as well as ask questions and have time in the classrooms to observe. We want to give you ample opportunity to determine if the environment and experiences offered at The Bethlehem Children’s School will be a good fit for your family. Visits by prospective families are usually planned during the morning, though we are happy to work around your family’s schedule. Children are welcome to accompany their grown-ups on this tour, but may also visit later during the child visit.
- Child visit: The next step is for your child to spend time with our faculty. Meeting children allows us to get to know your child so we can create balanced classroom communities. These visits occur individually for incoming 4s/5s (Saplings) and K-1, or on a group visit day for 2s/3s (Acorns) and 3s/4s (Sprouts). Individual visits for Saplings and K-1 are scheduled with the child’s family and the group visit day for Acorns and Sprouts will be held on Saturday, January 6, 2024.
- Acceptance: At the end of the admissions season or if a spot becomes available, all applications in the wait pool are reviewed collectively. If Bethlehem Children’s School determines your child would be a good fit for our program, you will receive an acceptance letter and a contract Friday, February 16, 2024. To hold your child’s spot in our program, you must submit your signed contract by Friday, March 1, 2024 and a $300 deposit or your first tuition payment, depending on the time of year. Check with our administrative staff to determine which payment is appropriate for your family. After signing your contract, we cannot guarantee that the schedule you select for your child can be modified. We carefully create classrooms based on space availability and teacher/student ratios.
Admissions Timeline
Please note, applications are closed during the summer months and will reopen in the fall when school reopens.
September 6, 2023: Applications open
November 18, 2023: Open house (optional)
December 15, 2023: Applications due for new families and siblings of BCS students
January 6, 2024: Visit day for incoming Acorns and Sprouts (required for new and sibling families)
February 16, 2024: Families notified about admissions decisions
March 1, 2024: Signed contracts returned to BCS with deposit
Financial Aid
Currently, and as our budget allows, the BCS Board of Directors allocates a set amount of funding annually for financial aid. Any family that would like to apply for financial assistance may do so by following the process outlined below:
2024-2025 Financial Aid Applications (Opened March 11):
- Click here (takes you to a separate website) to complete an application for Financial Aid.
- Enter our complete school name, Bethlehem Children’s School, and/or school code: 201045
- Complete and submit the Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) through the online application portal, where we’ll be able to view them upon submission.
- Upload your 2022 (or 2023, if they’re available) tax returns (state and federal, with all attachments) and 2022/2023 W2s to the SSS Portal.
- In the case of a two-household family (including divorced, separated or unmarried parents), each parent must complete a separate PFS and submit his or her documents.
- If you would like to add any comments to accompany your file, please send them directly to our Admissions Committee (admissions@bethlehemchildrensschool.org).
The final deadline for financial aid applications is Friday, April 19, and the Financial Aid Committee will contact each applicant family in May with a determination based on the information provided.
Students with IEPs
Bethlehem Children’s School prioritizes being an inclusive environment. We work to ensure all of our students receive the necessary support to meet their full potential. Each year, we have many students who receive related services in our building. Bethlehem Children’s School does not have therapists or Special Education teachers as hired staff members; however, we work with families to navigate any necessary evaluation to determine eligibility for these services. Should a child qualify, we work with chosen providers to ensure student goals are not fragmented and that we are offering our students continuity of appropriate support throughout the day. During the admissions process, please indicate if your child has educational needs that will require additional attention. We are always happy to discuss questions related to individual education plans.
Tuition Schedule, 2024-2025
Please note, the tuition schedule below reflects the 2024-2025 school year and is subject to change.
| Days Attending/Week | Annual Tuition (Standard / 2- to 3-Year-Olds) |
| 5 Full Days | $15,505 / $15,957 |
| 3 Full Days (M/W/F) | $10,855 / $11,171 |
| 2 Full Days (Tu/Th) | $7,753 / $7,972 |
| 5 Half-Days (2s/3s and 3s/4s only) | $11,629 / $11,990 |
| 3 Half-Days (2s/3s and 3s/4s only) | $8,527 / $8,779 |
| 2 Half Days (2s/3s and 3s/4s only) | $6,978 / $7,223 |
Please note, Saplings (4s/5s) and Kindergarten are offered for 5 full days only. Full days are 8:15am-3pm. Half-days are 8:15am-12:30pm. Listed above are standard tuition rates, including all academics and activities offered to all students or to an entire classroom program. Afternoon School and Summer Camp are not included in this charge, nor is the $125 Annual Activity Fee, which covers all field trips, as well as other special programming.
Tuition can be paid:
- In one lump sum; or
- In two installments: 50% upon acceptance/July 1, 2024 and 50% by January 1, 2025; or
- In 10 monthly installments, due by the first of each month, with the final installment due by May 1, 2025
The Bethlehem Children’s School admits students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin.