Admissions
Thank you for your interest in Cow Hollow School! Starting in August of 2023, Cow Hollow School is opening its doors to a Full Day, Full Year program for all ages in our new beautiful building in the Presidio Click HERE to learn more!!!
Admissions Process
For entry in Fall 2024 and beyond, once you have reviewed this website and/or talked to members of our community and determined that Cow Hollow School is the right fit for your family, you should:
- Complete an online application for each child and submit your application processing fee via PayPal by February 5, 2024. The application is processed and added to our wait pool by the date PayPal processes your transaction (we request that you wait until your child is born before submitting an application). Please notify us if your email changes, as all of our correspondence is done via email.
- Complete a learning tour by February of the year for which you are applying. You may submit an application prior to touring and add information to it later in the admissions process. Your application will still be considered and should you be offered a spot we will call you to schedule a separate tour.
- After your Learning Tour, you may come to an optional Observation Tour and/or attend a chat to learn more about our school.
- After learning more about Cow Hollow School, please submit a letter with what resonates for you about our program by February 16, 2024.
- In alignment with the San Francisco Preschool Directors Group, Cow Hollow School, along with the majority of preschools in San Francisco and independent schools with pre or transitional kindergartens, will email letters of acceptance on March 5, 2024.
If you are looking for admissions for the 2023/2024 school year, please email [email protected].
Cow Hollow School strives to create a rich, vibrant community in our small school in the Presidio. For admissions, we consider:
- Gender and diversity balance within each class; including family structures, ethnicities, languages, and cultures (for more on the diversity of our school community click HERE)
- Child’s age and current developmental range of the class
- Siblings of current families, who are given preference (but we cannot guarantee their acceptance)
- Completion of learning tour
Cow Hollow School admits students of any race, color, religion, disability, and national or ethnic origin, and accords to them all of the privileges, programs, and activities made available at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, disability, national or ethnic origin, or sexual orientation in administration or its educational policies, admission policies, financial aid and other school-administered programs.
Acceptance and wait pool letters will be emailed March 5, 2024 for August 2024 entry. You will receive either an acceptance letter or a wait pool letter. To accept placement offer(s) for the 2024-2025 school year, families will return the CHS Enrollment Agreement (signed and hard copy) by Monday, March 11, 2024 and $3,262.50 (10 % of total tuition) non-refundable tuition deposit per child.
The March acceptance period is very fluid and families do get moved off the wait pool. Please stay in touch with us if you would like to come out of the wait pool. If your child does not receive an acceptance letter the year that you have requested, he/she will remain in the wait pool, moving to next class level, unless you specify that you want your child removed from the pool or we are unable to get in touch with you for confirmation (note that you do NOT need to submit another application for that child).
Age Cut-Off
If your child is 2 years old by August 1, s/he will be considered for a 2/3-year-old class.
If your child is 3 years old by August 1, s/he will be considered for a 3/4-year-old class.
If your child is 4 years old by August 1, s/he will be considered for a 4/5-year-old class.
Pre-K/ and TK Age Children
Looking for another year of preschool before Kindergarten? Cow Hollow’s approach balances inquiry and anti-biased, social constructivist teaching and learning with structured skill building. During this 4th year of preschool, our inquiry focused curriculum places value on thinking, investigations, relationships and theories of the young learner while amplifying the skills needed for reading, writing and math processes. Through rich, learner centered experiences, it is our goal to cultivate curiosity, critical thinking, stewardship, social responsibility and a lifelong love of learning.
For more information, please consult our FAQ.
Cow Hollow School admits students of any race, color, religion, disability, and national or ethnic origin, and accord to them all the privileges, programs, and activities made available at the school. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, disability, national or ethnic or sexual orientation in administration or its educational policies. admissions, policies, financial aid and other school administered programs.
FAQ
How do I apply?
Click here to complete an application. Cow Hollow School does not have any restrictions as to when an application can be submitted other than your child must have a date of birth. Once your application and processing fee have been received, your application will be added to the wait pool. Please notify us if your email changes, as all of our correspondence is done via email.
Can I come on a tour?
Click here for information on scheduling a learning tour.
What ages do you enroll?
We have seven classes at Cow Hollow School:
- If your child is 2 years old by August 1, s/he will be considered for a 2/3-year-old class.
- If your child is 3 years old by August 1, s/he will be considered for a 3/4-year-old class.
- If your child is 4 years old by August 1, s/he will be considered for a 4/5-year-old class.
How many students are in each class?
For the 2024/2025 school year, there will be 12-16 children in our 2-3 year-old classes, 16-18 in each of our 3-4 year-old classes, and 22-24 in our 4-5-year-old classes.
What are the school hours?
For the 2024/2025 school year, Cow Hollow School will open at 8:00 AM and close at 5:30 PM. The core hours are from 9:00 AM-4:00 PM. Tuition covers from 8:00 AM- 5:30 PM.
I have a younger child and/or twins also. Do I need to fill out a separate application now? Will we be guaranteed a sibling space?
Each child needs a separate application to be added to the wait pool. Please remember that siblings are considered priority, but there is not a guarantee that we will have room and we do work by postmarked application fee date. Siblings of current students attending CHS receive top priority.
Does Cow Hollow serve Pre-K/ and TK Age Children?
If you are looking for another year of preschool before Kindergarten, Cow Hollow’s approach balances inquiry and anti-biased, social constructivist teaching and learning with structured skill building. During this 4th year of preschool, our inquiry focused curriculum places value on thinking, investigations, relationships and theories of the young learner while amplifying the skills needed for reading, writing and math processes. Through rich, learner centered experiences, it is our goal to cultivate curiosity, critical thinking, stewardship, social responsibility and a lifelong love of learning.
I applied to Cow Hollow School previously, where am I on the wait pool?
By mid-February each year we will have a clearer picture of our wait pool for that September after we determine how many students are returning in the fall, and after we know how many siblings need spaces. Please do not contact us to ask where your child is in the wait pool, as we cannot give out that information.
When will we find out if our child has been accepted?
In alignment with the San Francisco Preschool Directors Group, Cow Hollow School, along with the majority of preschools in San Francisco and independent schools with pre or transitional kindergartens, acceptance and wait pool letters will be emailed March 5, 2024 for August 2024 entry. You will receive either an acceptance letter or a wait pool letter. The March acceptance period is very fluid and families do get moved off the wait pool. Please stay in touch with us if you would like to come out of the wait pool. If your child does not receive an acceptance letter the year that you have requested, he/she will remain in the wait pool, moving to next class level, unless you specify that you want your child removed from the pool or we are unable to get in touch with you for confirmation (note that you do NOT need to submit another application for that child).
If you have further questions about our admissions process, email is highly preferred:
If you are unable to email, please call (415) 921.2328
Please add your child’s date of birth to all emails and notes.
Thanks again for your interest in Cow Hollow School!
Tours
Through the admissions process at Cow Hollow School, it is our goal to provide a multitude of windows into our program.
Learning Tours are required for applicants and are given several times a year.
If you have already submitted an application but have not attended a tour, DO NOT WORRY, your application will still be considered and, should you be offered a spot, we will call you to schedule a separate tour. Our information-sharing Learning Tours are in-person.
Learning Tours are offered during the school day and in the evening. Should you attend a Learning Tour during the school day, you will also have the opportunity to walk around on an Observation Tour. Observation Tours will be offered during the day for those attending an evening Learning tour.
During the admissions process, you will have the opportunity to attend virtual “Chats with Darcy” and “Q and A with Leslie” sessions to find out more about our program. These chats are optional and we ask that you attend a Learning Tour and submit an application first. Topics for “Chat’s with Darcy and Leslie” for 2024/2025 admissions will be:
The Five Senses of a Community: Influence, Usefulness, Belonging, Competence and Respect (9:00 AM, November 10, 2023)
This virtual talk will expand upon how, at CHS, the 5 Senses are used as both lens and guide to ensure that each voice is heard, participation and engagement are taught, actualized and learned through authentic and meaningful experiences
Inquiry-based Learning ( 9:00 AM, December 1, 2023)
This virtual talk will illuminate the process, the benefits and the joy within learning and teaching through questions, not knowing and the knots in knowing. This is the MAGIC that is CHS!
Anti-Bias Curriculum at Cow Hollow School ( 9:00 AM, January 19, 2024)
Participation and Engagement and Q & A with Leslie (October 20, 2023 and January 4, 2024)
Come chat with Leslie and a CHS Parents’ Association member about the gifts of participation and engagement. Learn more about the Parents’ Association, their committees and different ways to get involved at Cow Hollow School.
This chat will also be an opportunity to ask follow-up questions from your tour!
For another window into Cow Hollow School, please visit our Events Page, THE COLLABORATORY workshops.
We look forward to getting to know you and your family through our Admissions and COLLABORATORY events!
Learning Tour and Observation Tour Descriptions
Tours are intended for, but not restricted to, parents whose child(ren) are eligible to attend CHS in Fall. Learning Tours typically last about 1 hour and 45 minutes and include a pedagogical and philosophical presentation from our director, conversations with parents and teachers, and a tour of the classrooms and school. Tours will be held in-person and are for adults only.
Families must attend a Learning Tour before attending an Observation Tour or any of the virtual chats.
Learning Tour Signup
Thank you for your interest in Cow Hollow School. Tour for the 2024/2025 school year are complete. If you are interested in a tour for admissions for the 2024/2025 school-year, please email [email protected] to inquire about other windows into our school. We look forward to meeting you and sharing more about Cow Hollow School!
To learn more about Cow Hollow School, you can also follow us on Instagram@CowHollowSchool
For More about what ‘s happening at Cow Hollow School: November 2021 Heart Connection Admissions Newsletter, December 2021 Heart Connection Admissions Newsletter
Tuition
Tuition for the 2024/2025 School-Year will be $32,625.00. All ages will be full day and full year. Tuition will be the same across all classes. The dates for the 2024/2025 school year will be August 19, 2024 (Start of new school year)- July 15, 2024 (End of school year).
Cow Hollow School uses the services of FACTS Tuition Management platform to offer different payment options. We offer three payment options: 1) pay in full, 2) semi annually or 3) nine payments. All initial tuition payments are due at the start of July. At the time of enrollment, a non-refundable deposit is due (which is credited towards your tuition) along with the signed membership agreement. Your enrollment spot is secured once both are received and processed.
Community Fund Program
Cow Hollow School is committed to honoring economic diversity and is dedicated to making our school accessible to all families. Through The Community Tuition Fund, our robust tuition assistance program, we are able to provide financial assistance to a broad range of families. Assistance is based on need, eligibility and availability of funds. Every year we seek to fund 100% percent of applicants. Historically to date, on average 10% of the student body is supported by the CHS Community Tuition Fund, with grants ranging from 10% to 76% of the cost of tuition. Families are encouraged to apply for the Community Tuition Fund (CTF).
Determining eligibility for the Community Tuition Fund is a simple process: submit an online form along with supporting paperwork to our third party administrator, FACTS. FACTS keeps your information confidential, impartially analyzes the financial information families provide and assesses a recommended family contribution for tuition. Applying for the Community Tuition Fund has no bearing on acceptance to Cow Hollow School. Eligibility and grants accompany offer letters in mid March every year.
Important Dates for Applying for Community Tuition Fund Applications for 2024/2025 Admissions:
- February 6, 2024: Last date to submit your completed application and all 2023 tax documents to FACTS for returning, sibling, legacy and new families. Please note we require 2023 tax filings to determine eligibility.
It is our goal that Cow Hollow School be accessible to any and all Bay Area families interested in applying. It is our hope that families will apply to Cow Hollow School regardless of financial circumstances. If you have any questions about the Community Fund or the process, please contact Trevor Valentino at [email protected]
To apply for the Community Tuition Fund (CTF), click HERE
- *FACTS collects a processing fee that is not collected by Cow Hollow School
