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What age does my child need to be to start Preschool or PreK?

Children are welcome to begin our preschool program at age 3 and PreK at age 4. Children should be potty trained and turn 3 by September 1 of the enrollment year. Children who turn 3 after September 1 are welcome to begin on their birthday, provided space is available. PreK welcomes children who are 4 or 5 by September 1.

What age does my child need to be to start Kindergarten?

Children need to be 5 years old by September 1 of the year they begin Kindergarten. Our full-day Kindergarten program blends play-based learning with a strong academic and social foundation — setting students up for a lifetime of curiosity and growth from their very first year.

Can our child visit and experience a school day before applying?

Absolutely—and we highly encourage it. Shadow days give prospective students in grades 1–11 the chance to spend a full day alongside a current student in the same grade, experience our community firsthand, and enjoy a complimentary lunch with new friends. We think the best way to know whether Maranatha is right for your family is to simply show up.

What are school hours, and do you offer extended care?

The school day runs 8:00–3:00 pm for PreK and Lower School, and 8:15–3:10 pm for Middle and Upper School. Before-school care begins at 7:00 am for all grade levels.

After school, we offer:

X-Tended Day (PreK–Grade 4) until 5:30 pm
X-Tended Experience (Grades 5–6) until 5:30 pm
Supervised Study Space (Grades 7–12) until 5:30 pm
Enrichment Programs (PreK–Grade 4) featuring after-school clubs and classes, including cooking, coding, Spanish, pottery, Math Club, golf, and more.

Contact admissions

Learn more about X-tended Day

Does Maranatha provide transportation?

Families residing in School District 279 may opt into morning bus service. Students are routed through the nearest high school and arrive at Maranatha around 7:30 am. After-school busing is not available, though many families coordinate carpooling through our family directory.

Do new students need to take a placement test?

Testing requirements vary by grade. Kindergarten applicants complete a Readiness Assessment during their admissions interview with our Principal and Dean. Students entering grades 1–10 who haven't taken the NWEA MAP Assessment in the past year will be invited to campus for a shortened version—giving us a helpful snapshot of their strengths in language, reading, and math so we can set them up well from day one.

Is there an admissions deadline, and what if we miss it?

Maranatha offers three enrollment windows each year:

Priority Enrollment (Oct 1–Dec 31): Apply early for first-round acceptance
Open Enrollment (Jan 1–Jun 30): Applications accepted while space is available
Late Application (Jul 1–Aug 1): Reviewed individually based on space and timing

Miss a deadline? Your application can be reviewed individually or rolled forward to the next enrollment year without additional fees. We never want a calendar to stand between a family and the right school.

Contact admissions

Apply now

What fees are involved in the admissions process?

Application fee: $75 non-refundable per child, submitted with your online application
Financial aid application: $45 fee through our partner, FACTS
Enrollment deposit: $500 non-refundable upon acceptance—applied directly toward tuition
Annual re-enrollment fee: $75 during the priority window; increases to $150 on March 1 and $200 on May 1

Are there academic or character standards for admission?

Maranatha is a community built on shared faith and mutual commitment—and we take that seriously from the very beginning. New students are expected to meet three standards:

Spiritual Commitment: At least one parent is a committed follower of Jesus Christ, actively involved in a Christ-centered church, and in alignment with our faith statement
Academic Readiness: A student's history demonstrates consistent progress and the ability to thrive in our learning environment.
Character and Community: Students are in good standing at their current school and demonstrate behavior—in and out of school—consistent with our Values and Culture in Action

We don't view these as barriers. We view them as the foundation of something worth belonging to.

What are the possible admissions outcomes?

Acceptance: The student and family meet all MCA admissions criteria, and space is available in the applicant's grade.
Wait Pool: The student qualifies but no space is currently available; families are contacted directly when an opening occurs.
Denial: When a student or family does not meet admissions criteria, a personal phone call is made before any written communication.

What does the student body look like?

Maranatha welcomes students of every race, color, national origin, and ethnic background—our student body is 43% students of color, representing more than 100 churches across the Twin Cities. What unites our community isn't background or zip code. It's a shared belief that every student is made in the image of God and deserves an education that reflects that truth.

Does Maranatha offer financial aid or scholarships?

We believe a Maranatha education should be accessible to families who are the right fit—not just those who can easily afford it. Financial aid is available on a need-based basis through our partnership with FACTS. We encourage families to apply early, as assistance is awarded on a rolling basis. We do not offer merit-based or athletic scholarships. Our admissions team is happy to walk you through all the options available to your family.

Apply now

Explore Financial Aid

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Download Our PreK Guide

More than preschool — Bible, art, music, STEM, and play, rooted in faith from the very first day.

Meet

Jake Kerschner

Academic Chair

Our Admissions Process

1

Visit

2

Apply

3

Assess

4

Enroll

Frequently Asked Questions

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