MARYGROVE FAQ

Our first day of school started on Tuesday, September 7, 2021. 

Contact us at 313-651-8500 or MarygroveCenter@sfish.org for a tour

Not necessarily. Priority will be given, however, to families who reside in a 1- to 2-mile “catchment” area surrounding Marygrove.

• These priority areas are the same as The School at Marygrove’s catchment areas.
• Families living elsewhere are invited to apply, but will not receive the neighborhood enrollment priority. 

• These priority areas are the same as The School at Marygrove’s catchment areas.
• The primary area is bound by Seven Mile to the north, Parkside St. to the east, Fenkell St. to the south, and Appoline St. to the west.
• The secondary area is bound by Eight Mile to the north, Schoolcraft St. to the south, and Marlowe St. to the west. Please refer to the catchment area map for the eastern boundary. 

• Yes! All of the valued Marygrove campus partners, including Starfish Family Services, are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Our student enrollment priority criteria ensure a diverse student community within a diverse Marygrove campus community.
• Our curriculum is based on social justice and was crafted to uplift a diverse spectrum of little learners in an urban setting.
• Our staffing plan focuses on recruiting the most passionate and talented employees and educators who represent the families we serve. 

• Applications are accepted year-round and are reviewed on a monthly basis.
• If your child is not enrolled during the monthly application review, families may choose to join the waitlist.
• Applications on the waitlist will be considered in subsequent monthly reviews based on when the application was first submitted, along with the enrollment priorities. (See also “Applying & Enrolling”) 

• Our center is unique in that it reflects a “braided model” of enrollment.
• This means that some students may be eligible for federal- or state-funded support  and others pay private tuition.
• 2024-2025 school year tuition rates:
• Infants and toddlers – $375 per week or $19,500 annually
• Preschoolers – $325 per week $16,900 annually
• Extended care fee – $50.00 per week
• Scholarships or other types of subsidy assistance may be available.
• Starfish Family Services will work with families who may need resources to help offset tuition costs. 

• Studies have shown a very real need for more early childhood seats. According to IFF, 27,000 children in Detroit lack access to early childhood education.
• We are excited to help serve the neighborhoods by helping fill this gap and are eager to work with providers in the area to ensure every child has an equal opportunity to the best education possible. 

The first step of the enrollment process is filling out our online pre-registration form. Once submitted, you will be contacted by a Family Advocate, who will help you complete the enrollment process. This includes providing a list of required documents.  Documents reflecting proof of income are needed for families to be eligible for federal- or state-funded support, or possible scholarships and other subsidy assistance. 

Starfish bases decisions on enrollment criteria, along with the availability of seats within each program option. Questions we may ask:

• Does your family live in the primary or secondary priority areas?
• Does your child have a sibling already enrolled at the Marygove EEC or The School at Marygrove.
• Has your child has been diagnosed with disabilities or chronic health conditions, that would benefit them from being in our specialized preschool setting? 
• Family economic needs, such as whether the parent(s) or caregiver(s) are employed, and the number of parents in the household, etc. 

• Enrollment decisions are made as openings become available.
• If your child is not enrolled, you will have the option to join the waitlist.
• Applicants will be considered based on when your family’s application was submitted, along with the enrollment priorities. 

You will work with your Starfish Family Advocate and our School Administrative Assistant to complete all the required forms and any applicable registration fees. 

• 2024-2025 school year tuition rates:
• Infants and toddlers – $375 per week or $19,500 annually
• Preschoolers – $325 per week $16,900 annually
• Extended care fee – $50.00 per week
• Scholarships, state and federal program options, or other types of subsidy assistance may be available. 

• Yes. There is an annual registration fee, which secures your child’s space for the following school year.
• 2024-2025 registration fee: $200 per student 

No. There is no tuition discount if more than one child in a family attends. 

• Yes! If your child stays at the Starfish Early Education Center until they enter kindergarten AND they are residents of the city of Detroit, they will be guaranteed a place in The School at Marygrove’s kindergarten class.
• Additional seats will be available at The School at Marygrove for students who did not attend the Starfish Early Education Center or who are not residents of Detroit. 

12 classrooms with no more than 8 children in infant/toddler classrooms and 16 in preschool classrooms. 

School is in session Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with extended day programming offered daily from 4:00-6:00 pm. 

• We believe academic and social success is achieved through a whole-child focus. This means offering high-quality early childhood education and addressing behavioral health needs.
• The Marygrove Early Education Center will provide comprehensive early childhood programming that connects families with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers to the services they need to flourish. 

Great First Eight (for infants and toddlers) and Connect4Learning (for preschoolers) are brand-new, high-quality curricula customized specifically for EEC little learners.

• Developed in collaboration with nationally recognized University of Michigan education scholars
• Culturally responsive and aligned to the latest research and standards
• Priority is placed on diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Aligned to national standards in science, social studies, mathematics, literacy, social and emotional learning, and social justice
• STEM & social studies emphasis
• Focus on interactive, hands-on learning and individual creativity
• Crafted for a seamless transition as children graduate from preschool to K-12 on the same campus.

Starfish supports each child’s individual development to reach their highest potential. We encourage little learners with individualized lesson plans that are responsive to each child’s interests, strengths, and needs. 

• The developers of the Great First Eight and Connect4Learning curriculums will support our early childhood teaching teams.
• In addition, Starfish’s Early Childhood Specialists are trained in both curriculums and provide classroom support for teachers to implement the curriculum.

• We require that teachers hold a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education (or equivalent degree program) with a minimum of two years of experience working in an early childhood classroom.
• It takes far more than a degree, however, for the right person to flourish at Marygrove. They need passion, purpose, and potential.
• Educators who are dedicated to celebrating diversity and equity in the classroom.
• Educators who are fearless about jumping into a pioneering environment that is very high profile.
• Educators who are committed to radically redefining education for young children.
• Educators who are committed to partnering with families to successfully support their little learners.

The University of Michigan SOE, the Detroit Public Schools Community District, Marygrove Conservancy, and Starfish Family Services will engage in shared professional development that supports the campus and its mission.