Admissions

Admissions:

School Opening:

La Puerta will open in the fall of 2010 with a multi-age classroom for Kindergarten—6th grade students similar to a one room school house. To allow for gradual growth, we will add a multi-age classroom each year so that by the school’s full inception there will be:

þ Pre-K/Kindergarten Class þ 3rd/4th Grade Class

þ 1st/2nd Grade Class þ 5th/6th Grade Class

We are also considering classes to accommodate 7th and 8th graders in the future.

We will begin accepting applications for enrollment on April 5th, 2010.

Applications are now available for you to download or call the school office at (505) 685-0006 to request an application to be mailed to you.

The Application Process

Admission to La Puerta School for the Arts, Sciences and Agriculture is a “rolling admissions” process. This means that families are interviewed and decisions made for the upcoming school year as completed applications are received at the school. Therefore, it is recommended that interested families begin the application process upon receipt of admissions material.

1 Submit a completed application form and a non-refundable $25 application fee to the school (Make check payable to La Puerta School). Please make sure to answer all questions on the form as completely and fully as possible. Note: We will not process an application without the fee payment.

Please mail your completed application and fee to:

La Puerta School for the Arts, Sciences and Agriculture

Admissions

PO Box 61

Abiquiu, NM 87510

2. Arrange with your child’s current school to send copies of your child’s progress reports, report card, and short-cycle assessments/standardized test results (if available) to our school office by using the attached Request for Records form.

3. Once we have received your application and fee we will call you to schedule an interview. The interview provides an opportunity for families – parents/guardians and students - to visit the school and to discuss La Puerta’s mission, curriculum and philosophy as it relates to your child’s unique talents, special interests and learning style.

4. Once your child has been accepted a $275 non-refundable materials and insurance fee will need to be paid and a Tuition and Enrollment Agreement signed. All fees and tuition are listed in the Tuition and Fee Schedule. Tuition assistance may be available for those who apply and qualify. Financial Aid Policy.

Considerations for admission:

þ Resources available to meet the educational needs of the applicant

þ Family willingness to participate in child’s educational journey

þ Giving priority to children of staff members

þ Giving priority to siblings of students who are currently attending La Puerta

To be admitted into kindergarten, a child must be five years old by September 1^st.

Notice of Non-Discriminatory Policy as to Students

La Puerta School for the Arts, Science and Agriculture admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs and athletic and other school-administered programs.

Classrooms and other Building Structures:

La Puerta sits on 8.4 acres with ample space for gardens and outside exploration. We have been very fortunate to acquire an 1,800 sq. ft. modular unit that has two classrooms. Minor improvements need to be made to the classrooms as well as a deck built around the structure prior to the school’s opening. Improvements also need to be made to the existing corral so that animals will have an enclosed space to live. In addition to garden plots designed and maintained by the students, we have plans to construct a greenhouse for year-round use.

Financial Aid

Financial aid may be available to those who apply and qualify. Please contact the school office at 685-0006 for more information on how to apply for financial assistance.

Educate New Mexico offers scholarships to qualifying students.

“ENM is an independent, non-profit organization established by volunteers to promote and finance excellent educational opportunities for students from low-income families. Our purpose is to assist low-income families with children entering grades K-12 offset the cost of tuition at the school of their choice through a program of tuition assistance. All funding is from private business and charitable and individual contributions.”

Visit ENM’s website for more information on how to apply for a scholarship.