✦   Opening August 2027 · 6 Founding Family Spots · Lake Norman, NC   ✦

Founding Member Enrollment · 2027

Secure Your Child's Place
Before It's Gone.

The Discovery Atelier opens August 2027 in the Lake Norman area, NC. We intentionally limit each group to 12 children — ensuring an extraordinarily intimate, child-centred experience that no large preschool can offer. Founding Family benefits — including a permanent rate lock, free early drop-off, and waived registration fee — close when the 6 founding spots are filled.

Join Free Waitlist ↓
Founding Spots Available Founding spots are limited · Apply early

Each application is reviewed in order of submission. The earlier you apply, the stronger your position.

Founding Member benefits close when the cohort is full or December 1, 2026 — whichever comes first. Standard monthly pricing resumes after.
Choose Your Path

Three Ways to Secure Your Place

Every family has different needs. We've designed three clear entry points — from zero commitment to maximum savings.

No Cost

Priority Waitlist

Free

No commitment required

  • Priority notification when spots open
  • Early access to school information evenings
  • Free "Bilingual Advantage" parent guide
  • Cancel or upgrade at any time

Waitlist does not guarantee admission. Spots are confirmed only upon accepted application.

$500 Deposit · Fully Refundable

Priority Reserve

$500 deposit

Applied to first month's tuition

  • Holds your position in the application queue
  • Priority review: 7-day decision (vs. 14 days standard)
  • $500 fully applied toward first month's tuition
  • 100% refundable if not admitted
  • 100% refundable within 30 days of acceptance
  • Enrollment fee: $300 (non-refundable)

Each group is intentionally capped at 12 children with 2 educators — a 1:6 ratio, more than twice the attention required by NC law.

What's Included

Everything in one enrollment. Nothing hidden.

Every family — regardless of which plan they choose — gets all of this from day one.

What Every Child Gets Included
German-English bilingual immersion — all year
Native German + English educators. Daily language immersion from day one.
Montessori & Reggio Emilia curriculum + all materials
Specialist program materials included — no extra fees for supplies during the year.
Maximum 10 children per day
Most preschools run 20–30 kids. We cap at 10 — so every child gets real, individual attention.
Bilingual-certified teaching staff
Certified in early childhood education. Both languages. Every day.
Structured daily schedule + monthly progress reports
You'll always know what your child is working on and how they're growing.
Founding Member Bonuses — Limited Time Only Normal Price You Save
Enrollment fee: waived
Normally due when you enroll — covered for Founding families.
$300
$300
Rate locked at $1,850/month — permanently
Standard rate is $2,050/month. You save $200/month, every month, for as long as your child is enrolled.
$2,050/month
$200/mo
Annual savings vs. standard rate
$200/month × 10 months = $2,000 saved per school year, every year.
Market rate
$2,000+/yr
Your Founding Family Rate — Full-Day Program
$2,050 / month
$1,850 / month
★★★★★
"We moved from Munich specifically for this program. The quality rivals anything we experienced in Europe — and we were very skeptical anything like this existed in North Carolina."
— Klaus & Jennifer Müller, Parents of Felix, age 3
★★★★★
"As former academics, we researched every option within 50 miles. The bilingual Montessori combination doesn't exist anywhere else in the Lake Norman area. We applied the same week we visited."
— Dr. Sophia & Michael Hartmann, Parents of Emma, age 4
Programs & Tuition

Simple, Transparent Pricing

School Year 2027/2028 · Opening August 2027 · Lake Norman, NC · Monday–Friday · 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM

Founding Family Rate ✦ Same full-day program · Rate locked permanently · First 6 families only $1,850 / month $18,500 per school year · enrollment fee waived ✓ All materials included · locked forever  ·  Morning & afternoon snacks included  ·  Children bring their own lunch

Part-time enrollment is not available — the program runs on a full-day, full-week rhythm by design.

Extended Care & Add-Ons

  • Early Drop-Off +$150/month — 7:30–8:45 AM
  • Late Pick-Up +$200/month — 3:30–4:30 PM
  • Early + Late Bundle +$320/month — Save $30/month
  • Enrichment Program +$95/month — Weekly specialist sessions

One-Time Fees

  • Enrollment Fee $300 — One-time upon enrollment (non-refundable) · WAIVED for Founding Families
  • Security Deposit Equal to one month's tuition — Fully refundable upon regular withdrawal
How It Works

Apply in Under 10 Minutes

01

Submit Your Application

Two short steps online. Takes 8–10 minutes. Choose your enrollment tier — Waitlist, Priority Reserve, or Founding Member.

02

We Review & Respond

Standard review: within 14 days. Priority Reserve: within 7 days. We'll schedule a brief child visit and parent call.

03

Your Spot Is Confirmed

Acceptance sent by email. Founding Members: year 1 tuition invoice issued. Reserve families: deposit applied to first month.

Our Promise

The Two-Week Happiness Guarantee

We are so confident your child will love The Discovery Atelier that we offer a full refund of your first month's tuition if they're not completely happy after the first two weeks of school. No questions asked. You take zero risk.

This is how confident we are in what we've built. We only succeed when your child thrives.

Objections Answered

Your Questions, Honestly Answered

My child has never heard German. Is it too late?

It's never too late between ages 3–5 — this is exactly the optimal acquisition window. Our immersion method is designed specifically for children with zero exposure. Most families have no German background at all.

What if my child is accepted but we change our mind?

Priority Reserve deposits are 100% refundable within 30 days of acceptance. Founding Member prepayments are refundable for 14 days after school opens (our Happiness Guarantee). After that, our standard cancellation policy applies.

Is the Founding Member discount really worth it?

For a Founding Family: enrollment fee waived ($300) + rate locked at $1,850/month vs. $2,050 standard ($200/month savings). Over a 10-month school year that's $2,000 saved — every year your child is enrolled. The rate never increases, so the longer they stay, the more you save.

What happens if we don't get a spot?

Priority Reserve deposits are returned in full. Founding Member prepayments are returned in full. Waitlist applicants are notified immediately and placed at the front of the 2027/28 cohort application process.

Why only 10 children?

Because real learning happens in intimacy. The industry standard is 20–30 children per group. We cap at 12 — intentionally. Every teacher knows every child by name, by strength, by the thing that makes them light up. That level of individual attention cannot exist in a large group. It's the single biggest difference between good childcare and extraordinary education.

When does school start and how long is the year?

The school opens August 2027. The school year runs August through May. Contact us for summer program availability.

What age does my child need to be?

Children should be born 2023 through summer 2024 and fully potty-trained. We accept children through age 5. Contact us if your child's birthday falls close to the cutoff.

Not Ready to Apply Yet?

Join the Priority Waitlist

Register your interest in under 60 seconds. You'll get priority notification when spots become available, early access to information events, and a free copy of our "Bilingual Advantage" parent guide.

No commitment. No cost. Unsubscribe at any time.

Secure Your Spot on the List

Your information is never shared or sold.

Founding Spots Are Limited

Every Day You Wait Is a Day Someone Else Doesn't.

The founding cohort closes when all 10 spots are filled. Once it's full, all applications go to the standard waitlist with no Founding Member benefits. Founding spots are limited — we recommend applying early.