Student Eligibility

CJM accepts applications from any student eligible to attend a Polk County public school. Our primary focus is to serve families in the Greater Winter Haven area. (We provide free bussing within a certain radius of the school for our K-8 students. Please contact the office for full details.)

All students must have successfully completed the previous grade level, or be the correct age on or before September 1st the year they are applying for.

Lottery Process – Kindergarten through 8th Grade

CJM’s Kindergarten through 8th grade programs operate as a Polk County Charter School. This allows us to offer an authentic Montessori education that is equally accessible to all families. CJM will not discriminate based upon factors such as race, religion or disability.

Open Enrollment Applications

Each year, we accept applications for all our current grades during Open Enrollment.

Selection Process

If more students apply than we have opening for, we select students for enrollment in a random lottery drawing. This means that all students who submit a complete application on or before the deadline will have an equal opportunity to attend CJM. The following students will have preference in admission:

  • Children of current full-time CJM staff and current CJM board of directors.

  • Students entering kindergarten who have completed the full-day VPK program at CJM.

  • Students entering kindergarten who have completed the half-day VPK program at CJM.

  • Siblings of students currently enrolled at CJM.

    • NOTE: This enrollment preference does not apply to siblings of students who have been dismissed, have withdrawn, or have declined seats.

  • Siblings of students selected within the same lottery.

  • Students who have completed a full academic school year or contiguous time equivalent (8 consecutive months) within the prior 24 months at CJM or another Montessori school that has been recognized by AMI or AMS as an Associated/Associate Member school, or a membership level of greater value.

After the initial lottery drawing, an applicant waiting pool will be established. As a space becomes available during the school year, an eligible student will be randomly selected from the applicant waiting pool.

Year-Round Applications

Applications will be accepted year-round. Any applications received after the deadline will be placed in the secondary waiting pool. In the event the applicant waiting pool is exhausted and there is an availability, an eligible student will be randomly selected from the secondary waiting pool to fill the space.

Future School Years

The applicant pools do not carry over to the following year school year. Those still interested in CJM will need to reapply during the next open enrollment period to enter the random lottery process again.

Removal From Waiting Pool

Students can only be removed from waiting pools if the parent/guardian requests, in writing, the student be removed. Submitting an application to CJM does not remove you from any other charter, magnet or choice school waiting lists or lottery pools.

Enrollment Procedures – Kindergarten through 8th Grade

When a student’s name is drawn and selected for enrollment, we will notify the parent/guardian. Once a parent has accepted the seat they will automatically be taken to the online enrollment forms. All forms must be completed by the due date to finalize enrollment. Failure to complete and return the packet will result in forfeiting the seat.