Programs, Tuition, & Fees
As we near the close of admissions for the 2026–2027 school year, please note that all spaces have been filled. Applications submitted at this time will be placed on the 2026–2027 waitlist and/or considered for the 2027–2028 school year.
Valley Glen Campus:
Starting Age: 2.5 years old.
After enrolling in the 2 or 3-day program, each student will be required to attend in the 5-day program (Monday – Friday) the following academic school year.
Sherman Oaks Campus:
Starting Age: 2.5 years old
Only admits 5-day programs.
Application Process:
To submit an application for the September 2026 – August 2027 waitlist or September 2027 – August 2028 school year, please follow our two-step process:
You must select one of the program options below and click “Apply” Please note: you are able to change your program preference in the application.
Fill out the form, and the non-refundable application fee will be in your “cart”. Failure to complete checkout will prevent us from receiving your application!
SEPTEMBER 2026– AUGUST 2027 SCHOOL YEAR
FEES
Application Fee (non-refundable) due with application: $200
Event Fee (annual payment): $300
New Student Fee (one-time payment due upon enrollment): $2,000
Graduation Fee (one-time payment due June of your child’s graduation year): $300
TUITION
12 monthly payments per academic school year:
2-DAY PROGRAM: Tuesdays & Thursdays
$1,500/mo, $4,500/quarter, $18,000/yr — Part-time Hours: 8:30 am – 1:30 pm
$1,800/mo, $5,400/quarter, $21,600/yr — Full-time Hours: 8:30 am – 4:00 pm
3-DAY PROGRAM: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays
$1,800/mo, $5,400/quarter, $21,600/yr — Part-time Hours: 8:30 am – 1:30 pm
$2,100/mo, $6,300/quarter, $25,200/yr — Full-time Hours: Monday & Wednesday 8:30 am – 4:00 pm; Friday 8:30 am – 1:30 pm
5-DAY PROGRAM: Monday – Friday
$2,300/mo, $6,900/quarter, $27,600/yr — Part-time Hours: 8:30 am – 1:30 pm
$3,000/mo, $9,000/quarter, $36,000/yr — Full-time Hours: Monday – Thursday 8:30 am – 4:00 pm; Friday 8:30 am – 1:30 pm
“We searched the city for a school like Exploring Minds. Exploring Minds combines the Montessori method with the warmth and love of our own home.”
-Andrea and Tommy
“Our son, graduated from Exploring Minds Montessori Preschool this past June. We do not believe that he could have received a better education anywhere else. Not only were the students engaged in enriching academic activities, but were also taught about the importance of being a valuable member of their families, school, community, and world. We are both pleased and amazed at our son’s development over the past two years. This was made possible in by the commitment and dedication of the teachers, and their focus and attention to develop the “whole” child, as believed by the Maria Montessori Philosophy. This included exposing our son to drama, yoga, gymnastics, music, art, ballet, French and Spanish languages, and performing yearly large-scale productions.”
-Craig and Raquel
“Our daughter loves to go to school every day. And why wouldn’t she? Each day she’s surrounded with children ranging in age from 2-6 who love to learn. She is exposed each week to dance, music, French, Spanish, literature, science to name just a few of the areas covered. In addition, the teachers took it upon themselves to encourage my daughter to read and write at an early age because they knew she was ready to learn. I am so grateful for their knowledge and feel sure my daughter is benefiting socially and academically in a way she could not elsewhere.”
-Meghan and Oliver
“When your son doesn’t even turn around to give you a kiss “Goodbye!” when he runs in the school, you know you have chosen the best.”
-Shawn
“Thank you for bringing out the best in our children, for setting very high standards, for believing there are no limits, for encouraging and nurturing them to go beyond our highest expectations, and for doing it all with enthusiasm, dedication and love.”
-Wendy and Eric
“The love that the teachers have for the children is reflected in each child’s eyes as they walk through the purple door excited at the prospect of learning something new today.”
-Karen and David
“Our son, age 4 has been going to Exploring Minds since he turned 2 1/2. In fact we were a little reluctant to send him at such an early age, but felt that his desire to learn was more important. We have been amazed at what the school has exposed him too, truly amazing. Way beyond what we thought a child his age would be able to learn or grasp for that matter. How wrong we were. The best way to describe our first experience at the preschool (just the observation part) was a classroom full of children and you could almost hear a pin drop. Not what we expected to find with a room full of 2-5 yr. olds. My husband whispered to me “I want our son to come here”. And so you have it. A year and half later happy parents, happy child, just waiting for little brother to get old enough to join big brother at school.”
-Karen and Rick
“From the moment I walked through the door at Exploring Minds, I knew that it was the right place for our daughter and son. Teachers and students spoke to each other with kindness, respect, and genuine affection. The physical environment in the classroom was incredibly warm and inviting–I had to resist the urge to pick up the materials myself. As I watched the children engage with their projects, I wanted to be a kid again. I feel so lucky to have found a school that honors, encourages, and celebrates a child’s curiosity.”
-Oona
“From the moment our son started at Exploring Minds, we have felt welcomed with open arms. All of the teachers have shown an active interest in his growth socially and academically. They have taken the time to see who he is and, on several different occasions, I have been approached by various teachers who have warmly shared stories about him with me.”
-Leila and Josh
“When my daughter started at Exploring Minds Montessori I had no idea that I’d be having to look up things on the internet to keep up with her! I am constantly amazed at the depth of knowledge my toddler comes home with and how the teaching at Exploring Minds feeds her unending curiosity. Participating in so many arts, activities and languages as well as furthering our social responsibilities and the exploration of our world with its different cultures is invaluable to my daughter’s development. Enrolling my daughter in Exploring Minds Montessori is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”
-Amiira
“The Montessori philosophy of fostering independence and supporting and nurturing individual differences in the children’s development teaches both discipline and self- confidence. The teachers at Exploring Minds are exceptional in their dedication to education as well as loving guidance.”
– Dr. Beth
“Our daughter, now alumni, spent 2 wonderful years at Exploring Minds Montessori. Our son is, currently, in his second year. Our children have bloomed here. We can only tell you what a special and different preschool this is. The activities go full spectrum: from academics to arts. From gardening, to cleaning or preparing their snacks in their child size kitchen. Children learn to be independent, care for one another and teach each other. And Yes! They play a lot….”
-Marseille and Andy
“This small school with its tireless staff and its philosophy of inclusion and caring- for the environment and one another- has literally changed the lives of the students who attend and their parents who recognize how precious this preschool is. My 4-year-old daughter now insists on serving her guests first and herself last, something she observed and absorbed from her time at school. She also knows that you cannot float out of your bed and on to the moon because, “Gravity would pull you down, Daddy.” When my husband heard this his jaws dropped. And yet, everyday we experience more jaw-dropping moments due in large part to the quality of care she receives at Exploring Minds Montessori Preschool. It’s not just the exposure to dance and music, French and Spanish, art and science that impresses parents about this preschool. It’s the dedication of the teachers and the school’s director that wows us again and again. Rare is the institution that does not seem to be in it for the money and yet the staff at Exploring Minds constantly demonstrates that their motivation for working so hard is simply to affect the future for the better, one citizen at a time.”
-Cecilia
“One of the first things that appealed to me about Exploring Minds was the atmosphere. I walked into the school room house and discovered the neatly organized shelving at the children’s height, toilets and sinks at their height, a print of Vermeer on the wall, a rug on the floor with a figure inspired by Matisse, the wooden toys or tools for Montessori play and discovery. And then I met Doha. I wanted to be a student. My child has been exposed to an entire world through this school. The other part of the school experience that I found so appealing was treating the children as capable individuals. So often it was what we would like to do at home but sometimes we do not always allow the time it takes for the child to complete a task, such as cleaning up and putting away their job or pushing their chair in when they leave the table.”
-Laurie