Admissions Packet Inserts for 2023-24

PS1 Facts

History & Location

Founded in Santa Monica in 1971 by Eleanor and Joel Pelcyger.

School Facts

209 Students and 161 Families

Independent K-6th grade coed elementary school

• School hours: 8:45 am – 3 pm (2 pm on Tues)

• Extended care: 7:30 am – 6 pm

Enrichmentclassesbefore & after school

3 Bus Routes: North (Malibu/Pacific Palisades), South (Inglewood/Marina del Rey), East (Culver City/Mar Vista)

Classroom Facts

4 Multi-age Clusters of Classrooms with a 2-year age-range in each

• 9 classrooms

Avg Class size is 24

K–1 Classrooms capped at 22 Adjoining retreat and outdoor spaces for each classroom

Faculty

18 Lead teachers; 2 Lead Teachers in each classroom

• 5 Specialists (Art, Music, P.E., Library, The Studio)

• 4 Members of LEARN - Director of Teaching & Learning; Child Development, Learning, and Math Specialists

10:1 student-to-teacher ratio

5:1 student-to-faculty, staff, & admin ratio

Urban Campus

Award-winning, sustainable urban campus in the heart of Santa Monica

Arts & Ceramic Studio, Music Room, Library, Rooftop Garden, The Studio (STEAM Space), Large Multi-purpose Room/Gym/Performing

Arts Stage

• Community Room

Two outdoor play yards:

12th Street Yard includes a climbing wall, sand box, bamboo garden, sport court, field and Santa Monica’s oldest Coastal Live Oak Tree shading an outdoor stage

EuclidYard includes a play structure, sand box, sport court and field

Independent Middle School Matriculation History

Archer

Brentwood

• Buckley

• Campbell Hall

Crossroads

Geffen Academy at UCLA

Harvard-Westlake

• Marlborough

• Milken

• New Roads

Wildwood

Windward

Tuition Assistance (TA) at PS1

• $1.6 m in Funds have been applied to 29% of the student body for the 2023-2024 school year.

Avg TA amount is $26, 540 or 71% TA Funds

Diversity

• 17% male faculty

43% faculty and staff of color

49% students of color

20 languages spoken at home other than English

39 ZIP Codes

81 feeder schools

Admissions

• 36 Openings for Kindergarten

• Dec 8, 2023 app deadline for K

• Birthday cut-off date: Age 5 by December 1st, 2024

Applications for 1st - 6th grade processed yearround on a space-available basis

Tour Reservations, Application, Evaluation Forms

psone.org/admissions/welcome

Questions

(310394-1313 ext. 107 or admissions@psone.org

Beth Kemp, DirectorofAdmissions

Evelyn Cazún, AssociateDirectorofAdmissions

Accreditation and Memberships

LOS ANGELES INDEPENDENT SCHOOL CONSORTIUM

THE ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION

THE PRIVATE SCHOOL VILLAGE

CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF PRIVATE SCHOOL ORGANIZATIONS

CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL ALLIANCE

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS

COUNCIL FOR ADVANCEMENT AND SUPPORT OF EDUCATION PRIVATE

AXIS

Visiting PS1

School Tour

Sept–May

To better understand PS1 Pluralistic School’s educational philosophy and program, one must experience it! The Tour will give you a clearer picture of a PS1 education, engage thought-provoking ideas about education on the whole and further inform you as you set out to find the best learning environment for your child. The Tour includes an overview of our educational philosophy and curriculum, a tour of our campus and visits to classrooms, and a Question & Answer (Q&A) period presented by a panel of administrators, teachers and students.

An application does not have to be submitted before taking a tour. Tours are for parents only. Space is limited and reservations are required.

Tour dates from September–January primarily serve families looking for enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year. To sign up for an upcoming tour, go to: psone.org/admissions/inquiries-tours

Parent Interview

October–February

Both parents (when applicable) are required to attend the Parent Interview. The Parent Interview lasts for approximately 45 minutes and is an opportunity for parents to discuss their family’s educational expectations and goals.

Child Visit

November - February

The Child Visit is a time for your child to try PS1 on and to interact with their age group. This visit will provide us with an opportunity to observe and get to know your child in our setting and a chance for your child to experience PS1 with a group of same-age children. Specific Child Visit guidelines are shared with an applicant family ahead of the Child Visit appointment to ensure a great visit.

Other Ways To Visit Family Festival

One Sunday in the Fall

Themed activities and games bring the PS1 community together. There is something for everyone at the Family Festival!

Alumni Parent Coffees

Why our K–6th educational model? How do PS1 students really fare after PS1? Get the answers to these questions and so much more with PS1 alumni parents and without administrators or staff present.

Parent Education

PS1 hosts guest speakers and seminars that typically relate to parenting and child development throughout the year. Our mission is to provide a respectful, supportive environment in which parents may gather and share challenges and strategies for raising children in the presence of a trained professional. For example, PS1 is a member of Common Sense Media (CSM) and we will be inviting parents to several speaking engagements throughout the year sponsored by CSM.

Visits to Campus are Subject to Change

For all of these ways to visit PS1, reservations are required. More opportunities as well as further details will be shared throughout the season.

If you have any questions about visiting PS1, contact the Admissions Office at (310) 394-1313 ext. 107 or at admissions@psone.org

Tuition & The Tuition Assistance Program

PS1 Pluralistic School admits students of any race, color, religion, national and ethnic origin, sexual orientation or other legally protected status to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national and ethnic origin, sexual orientation or other legally protected status in its hiring or in the administration of its educational policies and programs, admissions policies, tuition assistance programs or other school-administered programs.

Payment Plan

Tuition may be paid annually, semi-annually, or up to ten-month payment plan.

Tuition Assistance

The decisions to admit a student and to provide Tuition Assistance are two separate, simultaneous processes. Tuition Assistance is provided on the basis of demonstrated financial need and with two priorities. Our first priority is to increase the socioeconomic diversity of the student body. Our second is to support currently enrolled students in completing their PS1 education.

We believe that the primary financial responsibility for a student’s education rests with the family. Because our available funds are generous but limited, we expect that families applying for Tuition Assistance have made use of all other available resources.

2023-2024

Admissions Application Fee

$ 150 One time only

Tuition & Fees

$ 37,585 Annual Tuition (8:45 am–3:00 pm, except early dismissal days)

$ 425 Parents Community Fee: one per family

$ 200 Student Activities: per child

$ 1,000 Capital Fee: per child

$ 1,500 New Student Enrollment Fee (one time only)

Applying for Tuition Assistance

PS1 is a member of School & Student Services (SSS) by Community Brands, an organization that helps independent schools manage their Tuition Assistance programs. A complete PS1 Tuition Assistance application includes: (1) SSS’s Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) submitted to SSS and (2) a copy of the family’s complete 2023 Federal Income Tax return (Form 1040) uploaded to SSS. In the case of separation or divorce, both parents must submit required materials. A family must reapply every year to determine continual participation in the Program. As a new family applying for admission and Tuition Assistance, please indicate on your application for admissions that you intend to apply for the Program. Families applying will be sent relevant forms via email in late December.

Sources of Tuition Assistance

Tuition Assistance at PS1 is funded by a combination of operating income, endowment income, school fundraisers, contributions, and grants from foundations and other groups. 21% of tuition income is allocated to Tuition Assistance.

PS1 is not subsidized by any government agency or private organization. We are an independent school and non-profit, tax-exempt corporation run by a volunteer Board of Directors.

Childcare Optional: Before and after school; fees do not include enrichment classes which require separate sign-up

$ 8.25 HourlyRate: Early Morning Care (7:30–8:30 pm) and After School Child Care (available from dismissal until 6:00 pm.)

$ 2,600 Annual Rate: Total for the entire year (can be payable over 9 months)

Philanthropy & Community

A Guide to Giving at PS1

Philanthropy at PS1 Pluralistic School

The generosity of many supports the vitality and health of our school. The collective generosity from our community assures that PS1 continues to be run in a fiscally sound manner as it has been over the past halfcentury. Each and every dollar donated and invested is focused toward the education of our children. Philanthropy is not just important at PS1, it is essential.

The cost to run this extraordinary school is greater than the funds received from tuition, so an important facet of our community is for volunteer parents to help raise the money needed to bridge that gap. Independent schools, like PS1, receive no government funding, and all our resources, this beautiful campus included, have come from tuition and the generosity of families, grandparents, alumni, faculty and staff as well as friends of the school.

PS1 Pluralistic School Vision Statement: Celebrate the Many; Build One

Your generosity and the generosity of those who came before us allow for:

An Inspiring Campus

Since the school’s inception in 1971, PS1 has carefully grown into a robust and vibrant campus in the heart of Santa Monica. Through sustainable fund raising efforts and in strategic collaboration with its Board of Directors, the school proudly owns all its buildings as well as the soil beneath them. The PS1 families of today enjoy that legacy and ensure it continues by contributing to the ongoing fiscal health and vitality of the school. The campus we enjoy today is thanks to the generosity and thought of those who came before us. It is up to us to help assure that the generations of students yet to come to PS1 experience the same sense of place that we enjoy today.

An Extraordinary Faculty

We have an extraordinary faculty whose salaries and benefits must stay competitive with other independent schools. Not only do we have two lead teachers in each classroom, we have specialists in the areas of Art, Library, Music, and PE, plus a Director of the STEAM program to enhance the interdisciplinary experience for our students. Also, we have a full-time Learning Specialist, Child Development Specialist and Math Specialist to support our faculty. Your children are provided with resources to assure an educational experience that is grounded in character development and academic rigor.

Fund Raising at a Glance

Two Main Fundraisers

Our Advancement team and all of the dedicated parent volunteers working on fund raising at PS1 are mindful of the school year being a time when families connect and grow together, so the school limits its fund raising to one drive in the fall and one event in the spring. Families are asked to contribute to both of these fundraisers, each being vital to the school’s operations and diversity. Year after year our families, Board members, faculty, and staff have given generously to support our fall five-week Annual Fund, where every dollar goes to the current year’s operating expenses.

Fall Fund Raising: Annual Giving at PS1

While each family pays tuition, there are other monies that help fund a student’s experience at PS1. Families make gifts of all amounts to Annual Giving to help assure a Pluralistic experience for each and every student. Income generated from PS1’s endowment also goes toward funding the tuition assistance budget of $1.6 million.

Spring Fund Raising: The PS1 Gala Benefiting Tuition Assistance

Our second fundraiser is an enormously successful community event primarily focused on raising money for Tuition Assistance. Our families volunteer time and resources to provide items for our Silent and Live Auctions, and raise their paddle to Fund the Tuition Assistance Program. PS1 is committed to providing a diverse student body so that all families benefit from interacting with others who have different traditions, lifestyles and ways of being because elementary school years are the time to know and understand the benefits of these differences. Through our Tuition Assistance Program and community outreach, we are able to create a wonderfully rich and diverse student body. Our students currently come from eighty-one different preschools or feeder schools and thirty-nine different ZIP codes.

This community-wide event brings together many to celebrate the one!

Admissions Checklist

Submit application by September 29, 2023, for Sibling Families or December 8, 2023, for New Families

Priority will be given to applications received on or before the deadline which means we are able to guarantee the scheduling of required admissions appointments. There are no guarantees we will have the ability to schedule families who submit an application past the December 8 deadline.

Tour the School

Both parents/guardians (when applicable) are required to tour the School before the Parent Interview appointment. Separate tours may be attended. Reservations are required.

For dates and the sign up, go to our website: psone.org/admissions/inquiries-tours

TOUR DATE FOR PARENT 1

TOUR DATE FOR PARENT 2

Required School Forms given to your current school. Form(s) due to PS1 by January 12, 2024

School Forms are confidential and, therefore, need to be submitted directly to PS1 by your child’s current school. All forms are downloadable from our website at: psone.org/admissions/applicationsforms

Please fill out the top portion and give the form(s) to your child’s current school.

a. PreK-K Evaluation for Kindergarten entry — OR

b. Elementary Teacher Recommendation, Administrator Recommendation, AND Transcript Release Form for 1st - 6th grade entry

Parent Interview

Once an application has been submitted and parents have toured, the Admissions Office is able to schedule two appointments: one being the Parent Interview, the other the Child Visit. Both parents (when applicable) are required to attend the Parent Interview. The Parent interview lasts for approximately 45 minutes and is an opportunity to discuss their family’s educational expectations and goals. PARENT INTERVIEW DATE

Child Visit

The Child Visit is a time for your child to try PS1 on and to interact with their age group. This visit will provide us with an opportunity to observe and get to know your child in our setting and a chance for your child to experience PS1 with a group of sameage children. Specific Child Visit guidelines are shared with an applicant family ahead of the Child Visit appointment to ensure a great visit. CHILD VISIT DATE

IF APPLICABLE: Tuition Assistance application materials requested (check the box in the admissions application).

Please check appropriate box in the admissions application to receive the Tuition Assistance application materials if you plan to apply for Tuition Assistance. This is a separate process from the admissions application. Materials will be emailed to you in mid December 2023 and the deadlines to apply are February 5, 2024, for SSS and PS1 application materials and April 15, 2024, for completed tax returns.

September – February Parent Interview and Child Visit appointments

September 29, 2023

Deadline for Sibling Admissions Application

December 8, 2023

Deadline for New Admissions Application

January 12, 2024

Deadline for Required School Forms from Current School

February 5, 2024

Deadline to apply for Tuition Assistance Program (PFS and relevant tax forms submitted to SSS)

March 8, 2024

Notification of Admissions decision (5 pm)

March 15, 2024

Deadline to respond to Admissions Notification (12 pm)

April 15, 202

Tuition Assistance Deadline to submit completed 2023 tax returns to SSS