2025-2026 Admissions

For the 2025-2026 school year, we are accepting applications for our Early Childhood programs through Grade 7.

Let’s Get Started.

We are glad that you are considering The Garden School of Marietta. The significance of choosing an educational path and community for your child is not lost on us! Our admissions process is designed to explore this potential fit so that you can make the best decision for your family and we can make the best decision for ours. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our admissions team at 770-765-2036 or via email at admissions@thegardenmarietta.org.

The Garden School of Marietta offers a Waldorf-inspired curriculum held primarily outdoors, incorporating hands-on experiences that appeals to students with varied learning styles. We expect students in Grades Four and above to be at or above grade level in academic subjects. Due to limited resources and the nature of our curriculum, The Garden School may not be a fit for students with learning challenges. As this is not our primary focus, our school environment can be a detriment to students who need a significant amount of extra learning or behavioral support.

*For the 2025-2026 school year, Grade 8 will be offered in our Upper Grades program.

Choose Your Program

    1. Visit us for a tour of the school or attend an open house to see our school in action.

    2. Complete the application for admissions online via TADS along with a non-refundable $100 application fee per child, a photo, and a copy of your child’s birth certificate.

    3. If your child is currently attending another school, please provide the teacher’s email here. We will request a Teacher Evaluation form on your behalf.

    4. Once all required documents have been received, we will contact you to schedule a visit to our school for student observation. More information will be provided to applying families.

    1. Visit us for a tour of the school or attend an open house to see our school in action.

    2. Complete the application for admissions online via TADS along with a non-refundable $100 application fee per child, a photo, and a copy of your child’s birth certificate.

    3. If your child is currently attending another school, please provide the teacher’s email here. We will request a Teacher Evaluation form on your behalf.

    4. Once all required documents have been received, we will contact you to schedule a two day visit to participate in the life of our school. More information will be provided to applying families.

    1. Visit us for a tour of the school or attend an open house to see our school in action.

    2. Complete the application for admissions online via TADS along with a non-refundable $100 application fee per child, a photo, and a copy of your child’s birth certificate.

    3. Submit the following:

    4. Once the application and all required forms are submitted, we will contact you to schedule a one-on-one assessment with the class teacher of your child’s grade.

    5. Students applying to the Grades Program are required to visit and participate for three full observation days. More information will be provided to applying families.

    6. After a successful observation visit, you will be contacted to schedule a parent interview.

Upload Admissions Documents

Grade Placement

How old does my child need to be for each program?

The cut-off date for entering our Grades programs is May 31st, rather than the September 1st of public schools. Premature or hurried academic instruction can sometimes hinder an organic love of learning. To prevent this, our school uses this earlier cut-off date for Grades entrance placement.

In a New York Times article From Finland, an Intriguing School-Reform Model, Dr. Pasi Sahlberg of Finland’s Ministry of Education and Culture says, “The first six years of education are not about academic success. We don’t measure children at all. It’s about being ready to learn and finding your passion.” Our Joyful Beginnings and Forest Kindergarten programs are play-based, allowing this time for children to develop their love and will for school and learning. Providing an extra year of growth for children with a summer birthday will allow that child to be on level socially and academically with his or her peers in school. Children who have turned 6 by May 31st of their Kindergarten year are considered a rising first grader, and all of our grades placement continues from that, as shown below.