Admissions

Welcome to Woodson Branch Nature School!

Three backpacks hanging on a wooden fence, each with different colorful designs.

Thank you for your interest in Woodson Branch Nature School!
We’re delighted to connect with you and guide you through the admissions process.

Whether you’re seeking a nurturing, nature-based kindergarten where imagination and play inspire lifelong learning, or exploring middle school options that integrate academics with hands-on experiences in the farm, forest, and arts, Woodson Branch is here to walk beside you.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions, or to schedule a call and tour. We’d love to meet you and share what makes our school such a special place.

We look forward to welcoming you into our community!

Warmly,
Kati Puglisi
Admissions Manager

(828) 206-5296 — School Office
office@madisoncclc.org

Our Schedule

FIVE DAYS A WEEK

8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

SCHOOL YEAR

Last week of August - Mid December
Last week of January - Mid June

SEASONAL BREAKS

Fall - To align with the week of Thanksgiving

Winter - Christmas through the 3rd week of January

Spring - To align with either the week before or after Easter.

Summer - Mid June - July

Enrollment Procedures

Guide to enrollment process at Woodson Branch Nature School, featuring sections on learning about the school, scheduling a tour, submitting an application, student visit and assessment, enrollment decision, completing paperwork, and celebrating enrollment, with icons of an owl, tree, person, clipboard, backpack, laptop, and speech bubble.
Sign for Woodson Branch Nature School with green background, orange and brown text, and green decorative leaves, mounted on wooden posts in a natural outdoor setting.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Since their earliest days, you’ve guided your child’s growth with love and intention—watching as they explore, question, and connect with the world around them. Now, you’re choosing a school that will shape their daily experience, their values, and their sense of belonging. At Woodson Branch Nature School, we understand the depth of that choice.

We believe every child deserves access to an education that honors who they are and how they learn. That’s why accessibility is woven into our mission. While we do not currently offer a sliding scale for our regular K–8 day program, our tuition is intentionally priced well below regional market rates as a core strategy to increase access for families. In addition, we provide in-house scholarships, participate in the North Carolina Opportunity Scholarship Program, and offer a sliding scale for our After School Program—making it possible for more children to experience the benefits of nature-based, whole-child education.

At WBNS, every child has the chance to grow in a place where they feel seen, supported, and inspired.

Tuition Rates

2025-2026

  • Cost per student / per year:  $10,100

Financial Aid & Affordability

  • At Woodson Branch Nature School, we are committed to making our nature-based, whole-child education as accessible as possible for families in our region.

    While we do not currently offer a sliding scale for regular K–8 day program tuition, our tuition is intentionally priced well below comparable independent school rates as a core part of our accessibility model. We also offer a limited number of in-house scholarships each year to help offset costs for families with financial need.

  • WBNS proudly accepts:

    • North Carolina Opportunity Scholarship

    • ESA+ (Education Student Accounts for children with disabilities)

    These programs may provide significant tuition support for eligible families. For example, a family of four earning less than $89,842 may qualify for the NC Opportunity Scholarship.

    To check your eligibility and apply:

    • Visit NCSEAA.org

    • Follow the instructions for Opportunity Scholarship or ESA+

    • Contact NCSEAA directly with any questions about the state scholarship process

    If you're interested in applying for an in-house WBNS scholarship, or have questions about affordability, please reach out to us at office@madisoncclc.org. We are here to help walk you through your options.

Madison County Community Learning Centers

MCCLC is an innovative, outdoor-focused community learning hub that empowers people of all ages through nature-based education, regenerative practices, and creative exploration.

By being a part of the initiatives for MCCLC, Woodson Branch has access to all the MCCLC campus has to offer.

Group of children on stage holding hands and taking a bow after a performance in a theater with red curtains and wooden floor.

Childhood Education

Empowering students to be confident, adaptable, and innovative leaders, ready to contribute positively to their communities and take their learning to the next level.

Group of women holding handmade brooms made of straw, standing on a wooden deck, smiling for the camera.

Farm & Food

Using our community-accessible farm as a living lab for regenerative agriculture, where we foster healthier bodies, minds, and ecosystems while modeling sustainable food production.

Five people working together on a sunny day, assembling or examining a greenhouse structure outdoors.

Community Education

Creating optimal spaces and programs, for people of all ages, to teach regenerative agriculture, Eco Arts, survival, and STEAM, strengthening balance and connection within our wider community.

People gardening outdoors on sunny day, planting flowers in a garden.

Community Resilience

Ensuring accessibility for all, especially in times of need, through scholarships, sliding-scale programs, food access, and mental health support, while equipping children and families to be part of the solution during crises.