Yes, as a charter school under California statutes, the Museum School is a public school, though not subject to the same rules and regulations as other San Diego City Schools. It is free to try innovative methods of staffing, curriculum, and instruction. It links the school with the learning opportunities of the Children's Museum/Museo de los Ninos and a wealth of other community resources.

• What students does the school serve?

The school presently serves 3^rd, 4^th, 5^{th, and 6th} grades. We aim to have the enrollment reflect the ethnic and social-economic diversity of San Diego. Our total enrollment for 2003-2004 is ~75 students.

• What are the school hours?

The formal school program operates from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., a longer than normal school day to better fit family schedules. Parents may drop their children off as early as 7:00 a.m. and pick them up as late as 6:00 p.m.

• Is there a breakfast and lunch program?

Yes, we participate in San Diego City Schools' federally supported school food program. Families need to fill out an application to see if they qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Parents must arrange transportation for their children. Some families may try using the public transportation system if con vienent, and the extended hours will facilitate drop-off and pick-up before and after work.

• What is the yearly calendar?

We generally follow the San Diego City Schools year round calendar beginning in September and ending the following July, with month long holiday breaks around December/January, and March/April. More specific information regarding any changes is given at the orientation meeting.

Following our Parent Orientation Meetings (dates to be announced), if you conclude that you would like to choose the Museum School for your child, your application will be processed. If there are more applications than available spaces, we will, as required by state law, hold a lottery by June and you will be informed of the results one week later. A waiting list will be established for future openings.

• Will sibling preference be honored?

Yes.

• Will there be any extra charges or costs for parents?

No. There may be occasional optional activities beyond the normal program for which a nominal charge may be made.

• Is parent involvement important?

Yes. We believe that parental involvement is essential for the educational success of your child and the school. Our parents are involved in every aspect of the school, including monitoring their children’s homework, staff/parent conferences, School Council participation, assisting with study trips, sharing interests and skills, helping at events and fundraisers, volunteering in the classrooms, and in past years––even helping to build our school, and move us and remodel our classrooms to make them more terrific learning environments!

Request an application from The Museum School or download a copy from our website, complete it, and send it to The Museum School, 211 Maple St., San Diego, CA 92103. You can request an application by mail or phone (619-236-8712).