Admissions

We are a community that places the learning of each individual child at the center. We admit children to the whole school, not just a classroom or grade level. Our goal is to create an environment where students are engaged in authentic learning and filled with questions, curiosity and joy.

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Our suggested process is (see more details in the tabs below):

• Visit multiple schools to see how each differs and what draws you to one or the other.  Know what’s out there.
• Include one of our Admissions Coffee presentations to the mix where you will have a presentation covering our organization and a tour of our space. These require an RSVP to admissions@prairiepaideia.org . See our Calendar for dates.
• If you feel like we could be a match, you can submit an Admissions Inquiry and schedule a Shadow Day for your child.  We like to be sure that when a decision to proceed with joining us, we are all in agreement that it’s a good fit.
  • Shadow Days are only available while classes are in session through the week of April 21st.
  • Please leave room for the potential need for a second Shadow Day if your child is sick or has an “off” day.
• At this point, Prairie Paideia would decide to offer you an invitation to join our community or let you know that we do not feel we can serve your needs.  We operate on a rolling basis but try to have our cohorts done and set by May 1st for the Fall semester.
  • While we do try to have our Fall cohorts set by May 1st, for our first year we will have some flexibility of timing.  Please reach out to us for more information if this applies to you.

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[rara_tab title=”Inquire”]Our admissions team looks forward to getting to know your family as you explore what Prairie Paideia has to offer. We encourage you to attend events that help highlight what makes our community special and how you can become part of it.

To get started, please fill out an Admissions Inquiry Form below:

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[rara_tab title=”Visit Our School”][rara_call_to_action title=”Visit Our School” button_text=”Check Dates” button_url=”/events” target=”_self” button_align=”right”] Would you like to learn more about our school?  Please join us at one of our Admissions Coffees held the first Sunday of each month where we give an overview of our organization and open to questions from attendees.  These are held in-person in the morning and via Zoom in the afternoon.  Check dates for details and information.

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[rara_tab title=”Important Dates”]For the 2024-25 school year, Prairie Paideia is on a rolling admissions basis for the founding families until we have a full cohort (15 students) for each level (elementary, middle and high school).[/rara_tab]

[rara_tab title=”Admissions FAQs”][rara_toggle title=”How do families get to know Prairie Paideia?” status=”close”]We have several informational meetings each year for prospective parents, and we make sure that families have the opportunity to visit our school. You can attend an Admissions Coffee or submit an inquiry (in the Inquire tab) to start the process.  Students will be required to attend at least one Shadow Day with our existing programs, so be mindful of our Important Dates for the part-time classes for 2024-25. Also, join our mailing list to remain apprised of new programming and gain access to the event registration process.[/rara_toggle]

[rara_toggle title=”How will the admissions process work this year?” status=”close”]We will offer a variety of experiences, both in-person and virtual, to provide information about Prairie Paideia’s academic programs and extracurricular opportunities.  You can attend an Admissions Coffee or submit an inquiry (in the Inquire tab) to start the process. Please join our mailing list so you may be apprised of new programming and have access to event registration.

While we do try to have our Fall cohorts set by May 1st, for our first year we will have some flexibility of timing.  Please reach out to us for more information if this applies to you.[/rara_toggle]

[rara_toggle title=”What is the level of parent involvement?” status=”close”]Parent involvement is really important to us. We believe that home and learning are deeply intertwined and we are building an intentional learning community – not a school.  We now that parent involvement – that energy and commitment – will ensure that our community flourishes. Parent involvement attracts people; parents want the opportunity to be involved, and the school needs that involvement. [/rara_toggle]

[rara_toggle title=”What factors are considered in admissions decisions?” status=”close”]Apart from assessing the individual children who are applying to ensure we have the best opportunity to serve them, there are a number of other factors that we have to take into consideration. In no particular order, they are gender and age balance, parent involvement, diversity, and maintaining a variety of student talents and learning styles. We also have to consider siblings of students already here, as well as children of faculty and alumni. Of course, it’s important to us to accept children who will use this school well and strengthen the Prairie Paideia community, but we believe many would also benefit in some ways we have no way of predicting, and also add to the community.[/rara_toggle]

[rara_toggle title=”What do you mean by “strengthen the Prairie Paideia community”?” status=”close”]We could fill the school with any one of several categories of students – those who are strong in math and science, those who are skilled in languages or the arts, those who are gifted athletically. We believe it creates a healthier school if admissions decisions reflect the variety of backgrounds and interests and talents that we want represented in the community. We don’t just look for children who have already demonstrated unusual talents; some kids’ traits are not particularly unusual, but they bring to the school and bring to life strong character and great promise. There are many ways people can make a difference: sometimes by their achievements and sometimes by their presence. [/rara_toggle]

[rara_toggle title=”What role does diversity play in admissions decisions?” status=”close”]We actively seek racial, ethnic and socioeconomic diversity. Respect for diversity is a core tenant of Prairie Paideia’s mission. Every aspect of our admission effort includes attention and sustained work to build a school community that is as diverse as we can reasonably cultivate.[/rara_toggle]

[rara_toggle title=”Can you describe the process of making a decision on admitting a student?” status=”close”]The information we gather in consideration of a student is in the context of admissions decisions for the school, not a comprehensive evaluation of a child – his or her past, present, or future work. When we don’t make an offer of admission, it’s more than likely because we feel the child would not do well here given our structure and available resources. It’s human nature to read more into an admissions decision than exists. Serving the needs of the whole child is the single greatest determinant.  If we know that we will not be the best place for a student to thrive, we know that admitting them will result in an unhappy family and a poor reputation for the organization. It’s lose-lose. We would rather help you find a place that will better support your family.  We are not willing to grow the organization “at all costs”.[/rara_toggle]

[rara_toggle title=”Does Prairie Paideia give preference to siblings of students already here?” status=”close”]This is not an easy issue. Some preference is given to siblings, but we are ultimately most concerned about meeting the needs of the child.[/rara_toggle]

[rara_toggle title=”How do mixed age classes work when students may be functioning at different levels?” status=”close”]We love children and want them to not just handle school, but to thrive here at Prairie Paideia. Some schools advance children when they need a more rigorous academic program. At Prairie Paideia we’re able to meet the academic needs of almost any student by differentiating their work from their classmates’ while still allowing them to develop socially and emotionally with their peers. Just because a 3rd grader might be two years ahead in math, for example, doesn’t mean that they play and think like someone 2 years older. Prairie Paideia has managed to have the best of both worlds.

Ultimately, students will be placed where they operate best and we cultivate a community that does not see age as an indicator of hierarchy. We stand by the motto “It won’t be a thing if you don’t make it a thing” when it comes to how students regard someone in their class that is much older, much younger, or differs in some other way.  In a community that sees each person as a person more than their demographics and learns to respect diverse viewpoints, these issues become less relevant.[/rara_toggle]

[rara_toggle title=”When will I be notified about a decision?” status=”close”]Generally you will receive a decision no more than 2 weeks after all required steps in the process are complete. The exception to this guideline is if we request additional records or information.[/rara_toggle]

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