Welcome to Admissions
Is This Your Child?
Does your child ask questions that catch you off guard? Become completely absorbed in an idea? Notice patterns, details, or connections that others miss?
Perhaps they have an unexpected sense of humor, an intense curiosity, a vivid imagination, strong emotions, unusual sensitivity, or a way of seeing the world that feels entirely their own.
Families often sense that their child experiences the world differently before they have the language to explain why.
You may already know that your child is gifted, or you may be trying to understand what you are noticing. You do not need to arrive at Tessellations with all the answers. You can begin by telling us about your young person.
Important Dates
Open House
October 17, 2026
Early Decision
Initial application materials due: October 23, 2026
Decision notification by: December 4, 2026
Enrolled by: December 11, 2026
Regular Decision
Initial application materials due: January 29, 2027
Decisions released: March 12, 2027
Enrolled by: March 19, 2027
Finding Your People
One of the joys of admissions is finding one another: families looking for a different kind of education and a school community ready to understand and embrace their young person.
At Tessie, young people find peers who share their curiosity, intensity, humor, and ways of thinking. Families find educators and other parents who understand both the joys and the complexities of gifted development. Again and again, new Tessie families tell us, “We found our people.”
Seeing the Whole Young Person
Our founding visionary and giftedness specialist, Anne Beneventi, expressed the belief at the heart of our school:
“At Tessie, we believe gifted children are not defined solely by intellect, but by their full humanity.”
That belief shapes how we teach, how we build community, and how we approach admissions. We want gifted young people to grow into healthy, confident people who know themselves, care about others, and remain excited about the world around them.
Understanding Gifted Development
Gifted children often develop asynchronously. Their intellectual, social, emotional, physical, and executive functioning skills may grow at different rates. A child may reason or express curiosity well beyond age-level expectations while still developing emotional regulation, organization, or social skills alongside their peers.
Our Admissions Committee considers these differences as part of each student’s learning profile. We want to understand both a child’s advanced abilities and what they may need from their environment, relationships, and school community to thrive at Tessellations.
A Holistic Approach to Admissions
Giftedness is complex and takes a different shape in every young person. Some demonstrate advanced reasoning, deep curiosity, intellectual intensity, creativity, or an unusual ability to recognize patterns and make connections. Remarkable strength in one area may sit alongside a need for more time or support in another.
That is why Tessellations uses holistic review. We bring together multiple sources of information, including cognitive and qualitative indicators of giftedness, observations of intellectual engagement, educational experiences, readiness for our inquiry-based program, and the family’s hopes for a school partnership.
No single score, assessment, classroom moment, or measure can tell the whole story. Together, these sources help us understand how a young person thinks and learns, what they may need from their environment, and whether Tessellations can offer the right combination of belonging, meaningful challenge, and support.
Admissions begins with a conversation. Bring us your questions, tell us what you are noticing, and let us get to know your family.
Not sure where to begin? Just Call Tessie.
The best way to understand Tessellations is to spend time here. Throughout the fall, we offer tours and admissions events for families exploring The Children’s Center, Early Years, Primary School, and Middle School.
Choosing a school for a gifted young person can bring many questions. You do not need to arrive with all the answers. Our Admissions Team and educators are here to listen, learn about your young person, and help you consider whether Tessellations may be the right place for your family.
During your visit, you can explore our learning spaces, meet members of the Tessie community, and see how inquiry, creativity, meaningful challenge, strong relationships, and social-emotional development shape each day. You will also have time to ask questions about gifted development, life at Tessie, and the admissions process.
Many families tell us that visiting Tessellations felt like finding their people. Young people see a place where their curiosity and intensity are understood. Parents meet educators and families who recognize both the joys and the complexities of gifted development.
Come visit Tessie. We would love to meet your family, hear what you are noticing, and help you consider your next step.
