Waitlist Process & FAQs | The Homegrown School

Waitlist Process

Demand for quality child care is at an all-time high, and as a small, community-based program, we can only welcome a limited number of families at once. To stay organized and ensure fairness, we ask interested families to join our Waitlist. This helps us match families to future openings based on each child’s age and preferred schedule.

There is no fee to join our Waitlist, and families are free to decline an offered space and remain on the list if the timing or schedule isn’t a good fit.

How It Works

When a space becomes available, families within that specific age group are contacted in the order they joined the Waitlist, with priority given to siblings of currently enrolled children.

Please respond promptly!
Families offered a space have 24 hours to confirm intent to enroll. After that, the opening will be extended to the next family, and enrollment will proceed on a first-come, first-served basis based on receipt of required forms and fees.

Although notifications are sent in order, interviews and tours are scheduled based on response time. Families who do not reply within one week will be removed from the list to ensure fairness to others waiting.

Generally, all interested families are offered the opportunity to interview and tour before enrollment decisions are made. However, occasionally a space may be filled before every family has completed a visit.

Join our Waitlist

Waitlist FAQs

We understand that being on a waitlist can feel frustrating and uncertain. Below are answers to some of the most common questions we receive — shared in the hope that they’ll help you better understand our process and what to expect while you wait.

After many years in early childhood education, we’ve learned one thing for certain: family situations can change overnight. Openings are often unpredictable — sometimes they appear much sooner than expected, and other times a bit later than hoped.

If you ever have a family-specific question, please don’t hesitate to reach out by email. We’re always happy to provide clarification when we can.

Why should I sign up on the list if I haven't toured?

Due to our small size and limited availability, we can’t schedule tours for every interested family. Joining the waitlist ensures you’ll be contacted when a space in your child’s age group becomes available, and at that time you’ll be invited to tour before making any decisions.

How long is my wait?

Wait times vary widely depending on your child’s age and the schedule you need. Because our openings depend on children aging up or families moving, it’s difficult to predict exactly when a space will open.

Will we be told where we are on the Waitlist?

We don’t share numbered positions since openings are matched by both age group and schedule needs, not by list order alone. This allows us to fill spaces more efficiently when they become available.

Why was another family offered a space first?

Enrollment decisions are based on multiple factors including age compatibility, scheduling needs, and sibling priority. A family may be offered a space ahead of you if their needs align exactly with the opening that became available.

Will a part-time opening be available sooner than full-time?

Not necessarily. Part-time spaces are rare and depend on whether another family is looking to share a similar schedule. Full-time openings occur more frequently.

Why do you only tour by invitation?

Because our directors are also full-time educators, caregivers, and animal tenders, our availability for tours is very limited. We schedule tours only when we have an opening that fits your family’s needs to ensure our time together is meaningful and relevant.