The Laurel School admissions table with the 2027–2028 Admissions Guide

Admissions

Admissions

A carefully planned JK–6 learning community, small by design, founded by experienced educators. Applications for 2027–2028 open November 1, 2026.

Apply · 2026–2027 Inquire

Fall Open House

Saturday, October 24, 2026 · 2:00–4:00 PM

Applications for Junior Kindergarten through 6th Grade open November 1, 2026.

7800 Salem Church Rd. N., North Chesterfield, VA 23237

We’ll confirm your RSVP by email within one business day.

Application Process

How to Apply

Our application process is straightforward and designed to help both you and us determine if The Laurel School is the right fit.

1

Submit an Online Inquiry

Share a few details about your child and family through our inquiry form. We respond within one to two business days.

Submit an Inquiry

Families who are ready may skip this step and go directly to the application.

2

The Laurel School Schedules a Call or Meeting

We reach out to schedule a call or an in-person meeting with parents to get to know your family and answer your questions.

3

Parents Complete the Application

Complete the Student Application Packet for your child. This can happen at any point in the process.

Start Your Application

4

Hawk for a Day

Your child spends a day at The Laurel School, joining a class and experiencing a full day of learning and community as a Hawk for a Day.

5

The Laurel School Reviews and Renders a Decision

We review the application, records, and family conversation together, and communicate an admission decision.

Dr. Johnathan G. Harris speaking with families at a Laurel School information session

Info Session

Come meet us. Ask anything. See who we are.

2026–2027 School Year

Tuition & Investment

We are committed to transparency. Below is a complete breakdown of the cost of attending The Laurel School for the 2026–2027 academic year.

Annual Tuition

$11,000

Per student · 2026–2027 academic year

Additional Required Fees

Enrollment Deposit
$800 (non-refundable, applied to tuition)
Activity Fee
$750 (non-refundable)
Parent Association Membership
$100 (annual)
Remaining Tuition Balance $11,000

Tuition Payment Plans

After the $800 enrollment deposit is applied, the remaining $10,200 balance can be paid via one of the following plans:

1 Payment

$11,000

Due by first day of school

2 Payments

$5,100

×2 (Aug & Jan)

10 Monthly

$1,020

/month · Jul–Apr

12 Monthly

$850

/month · Jul–Jun

Extended Day Program

After-school care available Monday–Friday, 3:30–6:00 PM.

  • $20 per day
  • Any student staying past 3:30 PM is enrolled in Extended Day.

Sibling Discount

First enrolled child Full tuition rate
Second enrolled child $1,000 discount
Each additional child $1,500 discount

Growing With Your Child

Junior Kindergarten & 6th Grade Coming 2027-2028

The Laurel School is built for the long run. For the 2027-2028 school year we will welcome our first Junior Kindergarten class (age 4) and open 6th grade, beginning our intentional expansion into middle school. Families who enroll now will have the opportunity to continue their child's education with us through middle school: same values, same community, same intentional approach.

Stay in Touch

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

If your question isn't here, please reach out. We're happy to talk.

No. The Laurel School is a secular, non-religious school. Our curriculum, instruction, admissions, and culture are fully independent of any religious affiliation. Families of all backgrounds and beliefs are welcome.
No. The Laurel School does not require uniforms. Students are encouraged to dress comfortably and appropriately for an active school day that includes time outdoors.
Yes. The Laurel School is fully co-educational. All programs, classes, and activities are open to students of all genders.
The Laurel School uses a research-based, structured-literacy foundation for reading, writing, and spelling. UFLI (University of Florida Literacy Institute) guides structured phonics and decoding, and Handwriting Without Tears teaches print and cursive letter formation. Across math, science, and social studies, instruction is sequential and evidence-based, taught in small classes so teachers can meet each child where they are. Like our independent-school peers, we do not participate in nationally normed or achievement benchmark testing — growth is measured through narrative progress reports, portfolios, and work samples. It is not Montessori, Reggio Emilia, or Waldorf — it is a Laurel framework built on evidence-based programs and small-by-design instruction. See the Academics page for grade-by-grade detail.
The Laurel School is a candidate school for the Middle States Association, one of the most respected and rigorous accrediting organizations in the country. Accreditation is a multi-year process of self-study, peer review, and continuous improvement, and we hold ourselves to that standard from the very start rather than waiting to grow into it. Our academics, financial practices, governance, and family engagement are built in alignment with Middle States standards as we move through candidacy toward full accreditation. Families are welcome to ask any question about our curriculum, staffing, safety, or accreditation status, and we believe transparency matters more than a seal.
It is not about reading or counting to 100. Teachers look for curiosity, the ability to follow simple directions, take turns, recover from small disappointments, and manage basic needs independently. If your child loves asking “why,” plays imaginatively, and can ask an adult for help, they are ready.
The right school is the one where your child will be known, not just enrolled. Walk in and notice how it feels. Are there fewer children than in a typical classroom? Does a teacher notice your child without you having to ask? Does it feel like a community that fits your family’s values? Trust your instincts. You know your child better than anyone.
No. The best thing you can do this summer is keep doing what you are already doing: reading together, playing outside, and letting your child explore the world. A healthy, curious preschooler is a ready Kindergartner.
Yes. The Laurel School offers a summer camp rooted in the same experiential, outdoor-centered learning families see during the school year. Details, dates, and enrollment information will be shared as the program is finalized.
Yes. The Laurel School offers after-school programming for students from Beulah Elementary and Salem Church Elementary. Programming reflects our small-by-design approach: intentional, unhurried, and built around meaningful play, reading, and creative time.

Want the full guide?

We wrote a complete Kindergarten readiness guide for parents who are asking all the right questions and not sure where to start.

Read the Full Article →
A quiet library reading nook at The Laurel School

Is The Laurel School the Right Fit?

Who The Laurel School Is For

The Laurel School is a strong fit for families who are looking for something specific. If these sound like your family, we'd love to meet you.

A school where your child is known by name, welcomed by teachers, and seen as an individual every single day.

Strong foundational academics: literacy, math, writing, and science, with a pace that builds genuine mastery and a love of learning.

Small class sizes, strong relationships, and a pace that gives every child room to think, grow, and thrive.

Close communication with teachers: narrative progress reports, regular updates, and a genuine partnership with your family.

A school where your child is encouraged to ask questions, pursue interests, and take time to think deeply, with space to grow at their own pace.

Equal Access

Non-Discrimination Statement

The Laurel School admits students of any race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or family structure to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.

The Laurel School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, tuition assistance programs, and other school-administered programs.