Del Ray Montessori School Likely to Increase Enrollment

The Little School Around the Corner is about to get a little bit bigger. The City of Alexandria is likely to soon approve a request to increase the number of students at The Del Ray Montessori School.

The school, located at 100 E. Windsor Ave., currently can enroll 50 students but hopes to increase that to 64, according to documents filed with the City Planning Commission. The school started out as a daycare center in 2011, able to accept up to 21 children.

Also on the property is Creative Play School which has been in business for many years.

The Montessori school currently has a wait list for its 2014-2015 school year, according to its Web site; it will hold an open house on Saturday (adults only) from 9 to 11 a.m. The school and daycare currently offers enrollment for ages 2.5 to 12 years old.

The school plans to utilize an additional 857 square feet of existing space on the third floor of the church, which it says it will start to use in January.

Since students are dropped off, the school does not anticipate a big need for more parking spaces. Drop-off and pick up times are in the mornings with two afternoon pick-ups, at 1 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. The school either leases or has an agreement with other businesses for extra parking not available at the school.

The school operates as a non-profit, with board members, under a 501(c) 3 status meaning it is exempt from paying taxes.

Its tuition is $12,530 per year or less ($10,480) for those children who end their day at 1 p.m.; according to the planning documents, there are nine employees.

A city planning commission hearing is Thursday. City planning staff has recommended the proposal be approved.

PHOTO: The Del Ray Montessori School sign/school Facebook page