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The Westwood School

United States, Dallas

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The school at a glance
Fees $18,995 - 26,695
Ages 1 - 18 years
Type Co-educational
Opened 1986
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum Montessori Curriculum, IB (MYP), IB (DP)
Taught languages Spanish, Mandarin
Typical class size 10
Strengths STEM, Visual and Creative Arts, Languages
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Lifestyle and Wellbeing
Stages Infant/Toddler Care, Preschool, Primary School, Elementary, Middle School, Secondary School, High School, Senior Secondary School
Introduction

Westwood School is a private PK-12 in Addison, Texas, offering a Montessori-IB curriculum for ages 12 months through 12th grade. The Toddler program combines Montessori method with IB concepts, while the Upper School delivers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme for grades 11–12, including the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, and Creativity, Action & Service. As an IB World School, Westwood emphasizes inquiry-based learning, a global perspective, and strong ties to the local Dallas community. The school has operated for over 30 years as a nonprofit independent institution guided by a Board of Directors and does not seek government funding. Facilities include MakerSpaces with 3-D printers and access to computers; students engage in design technology within an IB framework, as well as lighting and sound, film equipment, photography, and digital art tools. Curricula also feature writing and publishing, coding and game design, the Future City Engineering Contest, robotics, and languages including Spanish, Mandarin and Latin.

14295 Midway Rd, Addison, TX 75001

The Essentials

The Westwood School has typical class sizes of 10.

Location
The Westwood School is located at 14295 Midway Rd, Addison, TX 75001, United States. It is in the Dallas, Texas area.

Stages
Toddler through 12th grade. The program includes Toddler, Primary, Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, and Upper School, followed by Intermediate Years (7th–10th) and the Diploma Programme (11th–12th); bilingual studies in Spanish and Mandarin are offered from Toddler through 12th grade and the school serves ages 12 months through 12th grade.

Type
Private PK-12 school.

Pupil Nationality Mix
The student body represents over 40 nationalities.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
Lower Elementary and above wear a school uniform; Toddlers and Primary do not wear uniforms.

Food Options
Students may bring lunch or order through the school hot lunch program; no lunch deliveries are accepted. Lower School will offer cheese, hummus, fruit, vegetables and crackers if lunch is forgotten; Upper School may provide a simple on-campus meal (ramen noodles or macaroni and cheese) if lunch is forgotten.

Governance and Ownership
The Westwood School is a non-profit organization guided by a Board of Directors. The Head of School is an ex officio, non-voting member.
Fees

Annual tuition at The Westwood School ranges from USD 18,995 to USD 26,695 for 2026/27.

Application fees

- Application fee: USD 150.

Tuition fees (2026–2027 academic year) — annual amounts by level

- Toddler — Full time (12 months–3 years): USD 18,995.
- Toddler — Part time (3 full days or 5 half days): USD 15,995.
- Primary Year 1 & 2 — Full time (3–4 years): USD 18,995.
- Primary Year 1 & 2 — Part time (3 full days or 5 half days): USD 15,995.
- Kindergarten (5 years): USD 19,025.
- Elementary (1st–5th grade): USD 21,025.
- Elementary (6th grade): USD 21,075.
- Middle School (7th–8th grade): USD 23,695.
- High School (9th–10th grade): USD 25,195.
- High School (11th–12th grade): USD 26,695.

Note: the school's published figures are presented above as annual tuition amounts. No per-term (termly/semester) fees or a published per-term breakdown appear on the public tuition page, so exact per-term amounts are not available from the published materials.

Enrollment and facilities fees

- New-family combined Enrollment fee + Facilities fee: USD 2,000 (one-time).
- Current-family Facilities fee: USD 1,000 (annual).

Additional program and class fees

- Additional class and activity fees apply and are charged separately. These may include Athletics, Excursions & Visitors, ALPS, Community Spirit Fee, and Supplies. Specific amounts for these items are not published on the tuition summary page.

Uniforms and related costs

- Students begin wearing a school uniform starting in Lower Elementary; Toddler and Primary students do not wear uniforms. The school's public materials do not list fixed uniform pricing. Families are responsible for purchasing required uniform items.

Boarding

- The Westwood School operates as a day school with before- and after-school care options; no boarding program or boarding fees are published.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- A specific public billing schedule (for example: number of installments, dates for installments, or per-term billing dates) is not published on the tuition page. The tuition amounts above are presented as annual figures; the school's enrollment and billing policies that specify installment options or exact billing dates are provided through the school's admissions/enrollment materials and parent portals.

Fee payment methods and processing fees

- Accepted methods for program and tuition-related payments (as shown for summer and program registration materials) include payment by check and payment by major credit card using Tuition Express (credit card authorization / card-on-file options are used for current families). A credit-card processing fee is applied to card payments (examples on program pages show processing fees in the 2.5%–3% range). Specific payment arrangements for standard tuition (installment plans, ACH/ACH drafting, or card-on-file use for yearly tuition) are handled through admissions/enrollment paperwork and the school's payment portal.

Refund information and tuition protection

- A Tuition Refund Plan (third-party insurance plan) is used to protect families' tuition obligations in the event of withdrawal, extended medical absence, or dismissal. Key points of that plan include:
- Medical withdrawal or medical absence of 31+ consecutive days: the plan can reimburse 100% of unused insured fees (subject to plan terms).
- Withdrawal for non-medical reasons (e.g., move, change of plans) after attending more than 14 consecutive calendar days: the plan can reimburse 60% of unused insured fees (subject to plan terms).
- Dismissal after attending more than 14 consecutive calendar days: the plan can reimburse 75% of unused insured fees (subject to plan terms). Claims must be reported within 30 days of separation; benefit payments are made to the school and any remainder (if not required to settle the account) will be refunded to the family. Premium cost and enrollment in the Tuition Refund Plan are detailed in enrollment materials.

Other routine fees (examples from program materials)

- Before- and after-school supervision is offered; specific daily or weekly aftercare fees are set by program and are published in program descriptions (summer/afterschool example: afternoon childcare for summer listed at USD 80/week or USD 30/day in a summer program brochure). These program-specific fees vary by program and season.

Brief note on unavailable details

- Public materials list annual tuition amounts, the application fee (USD 150), the new-family and current-family facilities fees, and that additional class fees apply. The following items are not published in the school's publicly accessible tuition summary and program pages and therefore are not included above: a published per-term (termly/semester) fee schedule, a detailed public billing calendar with installment dates for standard tuition, itemized amounts for each additional class or activity fee, uniform price lists, and the school's full tuition payment contract terms. The Tuition Refund Plan document and program registration pages provide partial detail (refund insurance terms and accepted payment methods).
Academics

The Westwood School teaches Montessori Curriculum, IB (MYP), IB (DP) for students aged 1 to 18.

Curriculum
The Westwood School uses a Montessori-IB curriculum across Toddler through 12th grade. The Toddler program describes Montessori Method and International Baccalaureate Education for Students Ages 12 Months Through 12th Grade. The Upper School offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (DP) for Grades 11-12, a two-year course of study with core components including the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, and Creativity, Action & Service, with DP subject choices tailored to each student. Westwood is an IB World School delivering a Montessori-IB curriculum that emphasizes inquiry-based learning and a global perspective while fostering local community understanding. The Global Community and Our Mission emphasize intellectual curiosity, personal responsibility, and international mindedness as central to the curriculum.

Student Teacher Ratio
Student/Teacher ratio is 1:10. This indicates relatively small class sizes that support individualized attention and active participation.

Exam Results
Students complete the IB Diploma Programme (DP) in Grades 11-12, with core components Extended Essay, TOK, and CAS. The school's college counseling program supports students in identifying colleges that best match their interests and ambitions, contributing to a strong track record of college acceptance worldwide. The school reports a 100% graduation rate and college acceptances globally.

Higher Education Progression
Graduates continue their education at universities around the world. The Westwood Way College Counseling program provides personalized guidance to identify colleges that match students' interests and ambitions. Westwood's graduates have gone on to diverse universities worldwide. The school emphasizes international mindedness and a global perspective that prepares students for higher education.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The Westwood School centers its culture on three pillars: Character, Community, and Excellence. This framework guides students toward independence, self-confidence, and self-discipline. Leadership development is integrated into the daily curriculum, with the IB–Montessori environment fostering self-directed leadership. Leadership is cultivated at three levels—individual, team, and organizational—so students learn to express themselves, guide others, and work collaboratively. A small student–teacher ratio of 1:10 supports close relationships and personalized growth. Beyond the core curriculum, leadership education is reinforced through Adventure Leadership Programs (ALP) and other student-life activities that broaden leadership experiences.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Foreign language studies begin at the Toddler level, with Spanish and Mandarin offered from the early years and continuing through Preschool and Elementary. During Upper School, students may elect to specialize in Spanish or Mandarin, and Latin is studied in Grades 6–8. The Global Community emphasizes a diverse, international student body (over 40 nationalities) and bilingual studies from Toddler through 12th grade.

Mental Wellbeing
The Westwood School is committed to the emotional well-being of students and families. The COVID-19 Health & Safety Guidelines identify emotional wellness as a focus, with the school counselor, teachers, and staff helping students express and manage their emotions. Regular social-skill development is a priority for the 2021-2022 school year, and emotional support is provided alongside academics and extracurricular activities.
Parent Experience

History
The Westwood School is a nonprofit organization guided by a Board of Directors. Head of School Heather Lourcey joined Westwood in 1993 and was named Head of School in 2010. The school has existed for more than 30 years. Westwood is built on a Montessori foundation and offers an International Baccalaureate program, emphasizing a student-centered curriculum and international mindedness. It is an independent school that does not seek government funding.

Community
Westwood is an International School with a global community. The student body represents over 40 countries and Westwood welcomes families from the Dallas community and around the world. Westwood fosters community through the Westwood Community Association and school meetings that encourage every voice to be heard in a culture of kindness and respect. Westwood is independent and does not seek government funding, with financial aid resources available to eligible families.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The Westwood Community Association (WCA) is the school's parent-teacher volunteer organization; all parents, teachers, staff, and students are members. The WCA's mission is to encourage and strengthen Westwood's legacy in collaboration with the school and the community by facilitating the investment of time, gifts, and services by parents, students, and faculty. Involvement options include Mom's Club, Dad's Club, and a Sports Club (Preschool-5th grade). The WCA organizes social and fundraising events such as Family Fall Festival, Spring Fling (annual fundraising), Coffee Connections, and Moms' Nights and Dads' Nights. Volunteers can serve as event chairs, communications, level representatives, and various coordinators, with SignUpGenius used for sign-ups and annual elections of level representatives. For questions and coordination, the WCA provides designated contacts for communications, community, and finance, and elects representatives for each school level (Toddler/Preschool, Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, Upper School) to ensure continuity.
Facilities

Academic Facilities
Montessori method and International Baccalaureate education are offered for students ages 12 months through 12th grade. The IB Diploma Programme is offered in grades 11 and 12, with 100% of students in IB. Design technology emphasizes analysis, design, development, synthesis and evaluation within an IB-aligned framework. MakerSpaces exist in both Lower and Upper School with 3-D printers and access to computers starting in first grade. Students work with lighting and sound boards, photography and film development equipment, film cameras, editing tools, graphics software and projection equipment to support creative and analytical learning. The program includes writing and publishing books, coding and game design, the Future City Engineering Contest for middle school, digital portfolios and digitizing art, and a robotics club.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Athletics are offered from preschool through high school, including basketball, soccer and volleyball at younger levels; middle school offers volleyball, cross country, track and field, basketball and cheer, and high school participates in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS). Adventure Leadership Programs (ALPS) provide overnight trips such as scuba diving, mountain biking, surfing, canoeing and rock climbing. Robotics, coding and game design are offered through the technology program, and the Future City Engineering Contest provides additional project-based experiences.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Westwood combines Montessori foundations with the IB Diploma Programme for grades 11–12. The curriculum emphasizes inquiry, interdisciplinary connections and real-world learning across mathematics, sciences, languages, theatre and the arts. Spanish, Mandarin and Latin are offered to support international mindedness from preschool through high school. The student–teacher ratio is 1:10 and all 11th–12th graders participate in the IB Diploma Programme.

Arts & Creative
Westwood provides a fine arts program including music, visual arts and theatre. From preschool, students sing, create and perform; in elementary years they study music and art and participate in annual theatre productions. In the high school years students continue with theatre and visual arts and stage larger productions, including cross-year collaboration with IB Diploma students. Westwood has achieved state-level arts recognition, including TAPPS state championships in speech and visual arts.

Cultural & Language
Spanish, Mandarin and Latin programs are offered Preschool through High School. Westwood's global community includes families from over 40 countries, and students collaborate via video chats with IB/Montessori partner schools worldwide. There are summer study opportunities to travel and study in China or Spanish-speaking countries, broadening international perspectives. Latin is studied by Grades 6–8.

Social & Hobbies
Student Life at Westwood integrates leadership development into the daily curriculum. Adventure Leadership Programs (ALP) enable overnight trips such as scuba diving, mountain biking, surfing, canoeing and rock climbing. Westwood also offers a range of clubs and activities beyond academics, including experiences that foster teamwork and personal growth.

Community & Service
Westwood emphasizes service and giving back; students practice the art of giving back and mentoring, reinforcing a family-centered community. The Westwood Way fosters community involvement and partnership with parents, with opportunities for mentoring and service projects. The school draws families from around the world and the Dallas community, representing over 40 countries.

Leadership & Professional
Leadership development is integrated into daily curriculum, with three levels of leadership: individual, team and organizational—each building on the other. Students learn to be self-directed leaders who can influence change, facilitate group processes and mentor peers. The theatre and other productions provide opportunities to practice leadership, project management and collaboration with IB Diploma peers.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Athletics are offered from preschool through upper school, with teams and intramural options that promote fitness and teamwork. The Westwood Way emphasizes outdoor experiences and physical development as part of a balanced education. Adventure Leadership Programs expose students to outdoor activities such as scuba diving, mountain biking, surfing, canoeing and rock climbing to build confidence and resilience.
Languages

Language Provision
Spanish and Mandarin are taught; bilingual studies are available from Toddler through 12th grade.

Bilingual Teaching
Bilingual studies from Toddler through 12th grade.
Admissions

Admissions
Step One - Complete an Online Inquiry. The school invites families to complete an online inquiry to help the Admissions Team get to know applicants. After the inquiry is processed, access to the Admissions Portal is provided. The Admissions Team uses the portal to share next steps and information about the process. Step Two - Schedule a Personal Tour or Attend an Admissions Event. The school hosts admissions events October through January. These events are family-friendly and provide opportunities to meet teachers, student ambassadors, current parents and administrators. A private tour can be scheduled for a deeper look at Montessori in action (Lower School) and day-to-day Upper School activities. After submitting the online inquiry, you can self-schedule a tour within the admissions portal. Step Three - Apply. The priority deadline for the 2025-2026 school year is January 9, 2026. Applications submitted by this date are reviewed first, with space permitting review of later applications. Toddler–4 year old applicants complete online applications and the Admissions Team will reach out with next steps. Kindergarten–3rd Grade applicants upload progress reports and submit Teacher and School Administrator Recommendations; 4th–11th Grade applicants submit an online application including a handwritten student questionnaire, a writing sample, progress reports or transcripts, standardized test scores, and Teacher/School Administrator Recommendations; the application fee is $150. Step Four - Visit Days (Kindergarten - 11th Grade). After applications and accompanying documents are submitted, the Admissions Team schedules one or two visit days. Kindergarten students spend one day shadowing a buddy and observing peers and teachers. Applicants entering 1st Grade – 6th Grade spend two consecutive days with a buddy and Montessori assessments. Applicants entering 7th Grade – 11th Grade spend one day with a customized schedule and complete Math and English assessments. Step Five - Interview. Toddler–4 year old applicants have a Family Interview after submitting the application. Kindergarten–11th Grade applicants have a parent-only interview after the visit day. The interview lasts approximately 60 minutes. Step Six - Decision. Admissions decisions are issued on March 13, 2026 for those who met the January 9th priority deadline. Applicants who apply after the January 9th deadline receive decisions after the Admissions Committee reviews the applications. Families should reply within two weeks of the decision date.
School Events
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