2026–2027 Enrollment

Admissions

A carefully planned K–5 learning community, small by design, founded by experienced educators. Now accepting applications for 2026–2027.

Apply

You Are Invited

Open House

Visit the campus, tour the classrooms, and meet the founders. Learn about our mission, philosophy, and daily life at The Laurel School. Families welcome.

Saturday, August 8, 2026
2:00 PM
The Laurel School
7800 Salem Church Road
North Chesterfield, Virginia 23237
Why We Founded Laurel
Academic excellence and joyful childhood are not in conflict. We built a school where both are true.
Our Philosophy
The Laurel Framework: our own methodology, built here, for children like yours.
Admissions & Enrollment
Learn about our process, tuition, and how to join our community.
Our Culture
Safety, kindness, accountability, curiosity, and community guide everything we do.

Reserve Your Spot

Our Open House is on Saturday, August 8, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Please register below.

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.

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.

Download the Student Application Packet (PDF)

4

The Laurel School Reviews and Renders a Decision

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

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.

  • Full-time: $400 / month
  • Part-time: $250 / month
  • 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

Expanding to Middle School

The Laurel School is built for the long run. We are intentionally expanding one grade level each year, beginning with 6th grade in 2027. 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. Heggerty anchors phonemic awareness, 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 new independent school, and we are not yet accredited. Accreditation is a multi-year process that begins after a school has been operating, and we have intentionally built The Laurel School to meet that standard from day one. Our academics, financial practices, governance, and family engagement are aligned with the standards of a recognized regional accreditor, and we are actively preparing our application for candidacy. Families are welcome to ask any question about our curriculum, staffing, safety, or operations — 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.

Request More Information

Tell us about your family. We will follow up within two business days.

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How Did You Hear About Us?
Open House
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