Where curiosity leads

The Bells of Freedom March is a part of The Common School’s social justice curriculum, Change Makers. Social justice is woven into the daily life of our early childhood classrooms.

At The Common School, experiences like weaving reflect our mission to honor the whole child through hands-on, meaningful work rooted in curiosity, culture, and care.

The puppet play is rigorous and interdisciplinary, weaving literacy, history, engineering, and the arts into one sustained act of meaning making.

Untold Stories, an E1 lesson rooted in place and perspective. At a progressive school like The Common School, we focus on telling the untold stories in our histories.

At The Common School, art isn’t boxed into a single hour—art is how we feel our way into the world, how small hands learn to question, to see, to make meaning out of color and line and collaboration.

APPLYING TO THE COMMON SCHOOL

campus tour

inquire

apply

child visit

decision

Learn More and Apply Today

Application Overview

Inquire

We’re so excited to welcome you to The Common School! You may submit an inquiry at any time for the upcoming school year.

Filling out the form below doesn’t commit you to applying—it simply lets us know you’re interested and allows us to share more information, answer your questions, and help you get to know our school better.

Submit an inquiry

Campus Tour

Join a tour of our campus, learning spaces, and experience our community and culture. The tour is followed by a conversation where we can learn more about your child and family, share insights into our educational philosophy, and answer any questions you may have.

These visits are designed for caregivers only and typically last about one hour.

Book a Tour

Application

If you family makes the decision to attend The Common School, the next step in the admissions process is to complete our application. Submissions encouraged by January 31st along with a $50 application fee.

If you need extra time to decide, please reach out to Ale Alcaraz, Director of Enrollment, at admissions@commonschool.org — we’re happy to support you.

apply now

Child Visit

More than just a formal step, this is a chance to build a genuine connection. We want your child to feel at home as we get to know their unique spark, ensuring your family feels the heart and spirit of The Common School from the very start.

The admission office will reach out to schedule your child’s visit.

Decision

Admissions decisions are shared beginning in mid-February each year. If we are able to accept your student, we will also send you a contract at this time and deposit. Contracts are due back two weeks from the date they were sent.

FAQs

We’re here to support you every step of the way. Please reach out to Ale Alcaraz, Director of Enrollment and Programs, at admissions@commonschool.org or 413-256-8989 with any questions

Does The Common School offer financial aid or tuition assistance?

1

At The Common School, we provide tuition assistance to over 60% of our current families based on financial need, because we believe in accessibility and making the opportunities afforded by our school possible for families. We encourage anyone interested in applying to The Common School, but hesitant due to financial circumstances to apply for assistance. We make a special effort in our tuition assistance process and our payment options to welcome families from a broad economic spectrum.

What’s the student-to-teacher ratio at The Common School

2

At The Common School, we believe that learning is a deeply relational journey. To ensure every child is seen, heard, and understood, in our Primary and Elementary classes, we maintain a low student-to-teacher ratio of approximately 7:1. In our Nurseries, 3 teachers for every 18 students to allow our youngest learners to feel secure as they begin their educational journey.

What grades does The Common School Serve.

3

The Common School serves children from Nursery through 6th grade. Children stay in each classroom for two years, allowing them to form deep relationships with their teachers and peers and to experience the growth of being both a younger and older member of the community.

When can I visit the campus?

4

Campus tours are offered starting in October by appointment only. Dates may vary, but these appointments are offered on weekdays.

Over the summer, our admission office provides limited tours for students applying for the upcoming fall.

Do you admit midyear applicants?

5 How do you determine if it’s a right fit?

6

We welcome midyear applications at The Common School whenever we have space available in our classrooms.

We know that life can sometimes throw curveballs—whether it’s a sudden move, a change in family circumstances, or simply realizing that your child needs a different kind of learning environment to truly thrive. If you’re considering a move partway through the year, please reach out to our Admission Office so we can talk about your family's needs and see if there is a spot where your child can grow with us

We carefully review each application to ensure that The Common School is well-suited to meet the needs of each applicant.

For children with special needs, careful consideration is given on an individual basis to determine if the School has the resources to support the applicant.

To enter our programs, children must be three years old by September 1 for Nursery and five years old by September 1 for Primary 1.

We are excited to meet your family and look forward to the possibility of welcoming your child into our joyful, curious, and caring community!