Admissions
Admissions Process
We are excited to learn more about your family! If you wish to be considered for enrollment in the Fall 2025 and beyond, please see below for the next steps:
- Join us for a Learning Tour!
- Complete an online application for each child and submit your application processing fee via PayPal by February 5, 2025. Please notify us if your email changes, as all of our correspondence is completed via email.
- After learning more about Cow Hollow School through our tours, virtual chats, or current families, please submit a letter of intent communicating what about Cow Hollow School resonates for your family and submit it by February 16, 2025
- Schedule your 30-minute Parent/Guardian Chat
- In alignment with the San Francisco Preschool Directors Group, Cow Hollow School, along with the many preschools in San Francisco and independent schools with pre or transitional kindergartens, will email letters of acceptance on March 11th, 2025 with decisions due March 18th, 2025.
Cow Hollow School strives to create a rich, vibrant community in our small school in the Presidio. For admissions, we consider the following:
- Gender and diversity balance within each class; including family structure, race and ethnicity, language, socioeconomic range, culture, learning style, and much more.
- The child’s age and the current developmental range of the class
- Siblings of current families are given preference (but we cannot guarantee their acceptance)
- Completion of all applicable steps in the application process.
Cow Hollow School admits students of any race, color, religion, disability, and national or ethnic origin, and accords to them all of the privileges, programs, and activities made available at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, disability, national or ethnic origin, or sexual orientation in the administration or its educational policies, admission policies, financial aid, and other school-administered programs.
Acceptable Age Range
If your child is 2 years old by June of the enrollment year, they will be considered for a 2/3-year-old class.
If your child is 3 years old by June of the enrollment year, they will be considered for a 3/4-year-old class.
If your child is 4 years old by June of the enrollment year, they will be considered for a 4/5-year-old class.
Pre-K/ and TK Age Children
Looking for another year of preschool before Kindergarten? Cow Hollow’s approach balances inquiry and anti-biased, social constructivist teaching and learning with structured skill building. During this 4th year of preschool, our inquiry-focused curriculum places value on the thinking, investigations, relationships, and theories of the young learner while amplifying the skills needed for reading, writing, and math processes. Through rich, learner-centered experiences, it is our goal to cultivate curiosity, critical thinking, stewardship, social responsibility, and a lifelong love of learning.
FAQ
How do I apply?
Click here to complete an application. Cow Hollow School does not have any restrictions as to when an application can be submitted other than your child must have a date of birth. Once your application and processing fee have been received, your application will be added to the wait pool. Please notify us if your email changes, as all of our correspondence is done via email.
Can I come on a tour?
Yes! We have many opportunities to tour the school. Learning Tours are offered October to February every year. Please register here!
What ages do you enroll?
We have eight classrooms at Cow Hollow School. If your child is 2 years old by June of the enrollment year, they will be considered for a 2/3-year-old class. If your child is 3 years old by June of the enrollment year, they will be considered for a 3/4-year-old class. If your child is 4 years old by June of the enrollment year, they will be considered for a 4/5-year-old class.
How many students are in each class?
For the 2024/2025 school year, there will be 13-16 children in our 2-3-year-old classes, 17-18 in each of our 3-4 year-old classes, and 18-22 in our 4-5-year-old classes.
What are the school hours and closures?
Our school operates a full-year, full-day program, from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm. The children are not present for the breaks listed below. We also prioritize professional development for our staff. As part of this commitment, we have two weeks during the summer and eight additional days throughout the school year, dedicated to professional growth, when children are not present.
-November holiday break (three days)
-Winter break (2 weeks)
-Spring break (1 week)
-Summer break (2 weeks)
I have a younger child or twins. Do I need to fill out a separate application now? Will we be guaranteed a sibling space?
Each child needs a separate application to be added to the wait pool. Please remember that siblings are considered priority, but there is no guarantee that we will have room and we do work by postmarked application fee date. Siblings of current students attending CHS receive top priority.
Does Cow Hollow serve Pre-K/ and TK Age Children?
If you are looking for another year of preschool before Kindergarten, Cow Hollow’s approach balances inquiry and anti-biased, social constructivist teaching and learning with structured skill building. During this 4th year of preschool, our inquiry-focused curriculum places value on thinking, investigations, relationships, and theories of the young learner while amplifying the skills needed for reading, writing, and math processes. Through rich, learner-centered experiences, it is our goal to cultivate curiosity, critical thinking, stewardship, social responsibility, and a lifelong love of learning.
I applied to Cow Hollow School previously, where am I on the wait pool?
By mid-February each year we will have a clearer picture of our wait pool for fall enrollment. We cannot provide additional details about your family’s placement in our wait pool, since we are considering several factors when determining each cohort of students, including, but not limited to; returning families, siblings, and diversity.
When will we find out if our child has been accepted?
In alignment with the San Francisco Preschool Directors Group, Cow Hollow School, along with the many preschools in San Francisco and independent schools with pre or transitional kindergartens, will email letters of acceptance on March 11th, 2025 with decisions due March 18th, 2025.
If your child does not receive an acceptance letter for the year that you have requested, they will remain in the wait pool. We will move your family to next class level unless you specify that you want your child removed from the pool or if we are unable to get in touch with you for confirmation (note that you do NOT need to submit another application for that child).
If you have further questions about our admissions process, email is highly preferred:
If you are unable to email, please call (415) 921-2328. Please add your child’s date of birth to all emails and notes.
Tours
Through the admissions process at Cow Hollow School, it is our goal to provide a multitude of windows into our program.
Learning Tours are required for applicants and are given several times a year.
If you have already submitted an application but have not attended a tour, DO NOT WORRY, your application will still be considered, and, should you be offered a spot, we will call you to schedule a separate tour. Our information-sharing Learning Tours are in-person and are offered during the school day.
During the admissions process, we will offer virtual discussions to help families learn more about our program. These are optional and we recommend attending a Learning Tour first. Topics for 2025/2026 admissions will be:
- November 7, 2024, 9-10:15 AM: Anti-Bias Curriculum at Cow Hollow School
- December 13, 2024, 9-10:15 AM: Inquiry-based Learning
- January 9, 2025, 9-10:15 AM: The Five Senses of a Community: Influence, Usefulness, Belonging, Competence and Respect
- February 6, 2025, 6-7 PM: Family Participation and Engagement
The Five Senses of a Community: Influence, Usefulness, Belonging, Competence, and Respect
This virtual talk will expand upon how, at CHS, the 5 Senses are used as both lens and guide to ensure that each voice is heard, participation and engagement are taught, actualized, and learned through authentic and meaningful experiences
Inquiry-based Learning
This virtual talk will illuminate the process, the benefits, and the joy within learning and teaching through questions, not knowing and the knots in knowing. This is the MAGIC that is CHS!
Anti-Bias Curriculum at Cow Hollow School
Family Participation and Engagement
Come chat with Krissi and current CHS families about the gifts of participation and engagement. Learn more about the Parents/Guardians Association, their committees and different ways to get involved at Cow Hollow School.
This chat will also be an opportunity to ask follow-up questions from your tour!
For another window into Cow Hollow School, please visit our Events Page, THE COLLABORATORY workshops.
We look forward to getting to know you and your family through our Admissions and COLLABORATORY events!
Learning Tours
Learning Tours are required for applicants and are given several times a year between October and February. We offer these tours during the school day to provide a glimpse into the community and an opportunity to see our teaching and learning in action.
Learning Tours are intended for, but not restricted to, families whose children are eligible to attend CHS in the Fall of the touring year. Tours typically last about 1 hour and 45 minutes and include a pedagogical and philosophical presentation from our executive director and conversations with current parents/guardians. Please note our tours are designed for adults only, wearable babies are more than welcome as well.
Families must attend a Learning Tour before attending any of the virtual chats.
Learning Tour Signup
Thank you for your interest in Cow Hollow School. Learning Tours for the 2025/2026 school year will be on the following dates:
- October 1, 9 and 29
- November 13 and 19
- December 4
- January 14 and 29
To learn more about Cow Hollow School, you can also follow us on Instagram@CowHollowSchool
For More about what’s happening at Cow Hollow School: November 2021 Heart Connection Admissions Newsletter, December 2021 Heart Connection Admissions Newsletter
Tuition
Tuition for the 2024/2025 school year will be $32,625.00. All ages will be full-day and full-year. Tuition will be the same across all classes. The start date for the 2025/2026 school year will be August 18, 2025.
Cow Hollow School uses the services of FACTS Tuition Management platform to offer different payment options. We offer three payment options: 1) pay in full, 2) semi annually or 3) nine payments. All initial tuition payments are due at the start of July. At the time of enrollment, a non-refundable deposit is due (which is credited towards your tuition) along with the signed membership agreement. Your enrollment spot is secured once both are received and processed.
Community Fund Program
Cow Hollow School is committed to honoring economic diversity and is dedicated to making our school accessible to all families. Through The Community Tuition Fund, our robust tuition assistance program, we can provide tuition assistance to a broad range of families. Adjustments are based on need, eligibility, and availability of funds. Every year we seek to fund 100% percent of applicants. On average 10% of the student body is supported by the CHS Community Tuition Fund, with grants ranging from 10% to 76% of the cost of tuition. Families are encouraged to apply for the Community Tuition Fund (CTF).
Determining eligibility for the Community Tuition Fund is a simple process: submit an online form along with supporting paperwork to our third party administrator, FACTS. FACTS keeps your information confidential, impartially analyzes the financial information families provide and assesses a recommended family contribution for tuition. Applying for the Community Tuition Fund has no bearing on acceptance to Cow Hollow School. Eligibility and grants accompany offer letters in mid-March every year.
Important Dates for Applying for Community Tuition Fund Applications for 2025/2026 Admissions:
- February 6, 2024: Last date to submit your completed application and all 2024 tax documents to FACTS for returning, sibling, legacy and new families. Please note we require 2024 tax filings to determine eligibility.
It is our goal that Cow Hollow School be accessible to any Bay Area family interested in applying. We encourage families to apply to Cow Hollow School regardless of socioeconomic circumstances. If you have any questions about the Community Fund or the process, please contact Sasha Chalak at [email protected].
To apply for the Community Tuition Fund (CTF), click here.
- *FACTS collects a processing fee that is not collected by Cow Hollow School
