How to Apply
PlayThrive provides Mandarin education with a whole-child approach so that our students learn how to become compassionate leaders and lifelong learners. Choosing a Mandarin education that suits your child is a big decision, and we hope that our admissions process gives you a sense of what you can expect with our Mandarin immersion program.
Get to know us with a virtual tour. Once you’re ready to apply to PlayThrive, please carefully review the application process below. For additional questions, please email contact@playthrive.org.
Orion Campus Program
All students on the Orion campus are eligible to attend
- A tour is required for new families. Please email contact@playthrive.org if you would like to sign up for tour. Please include your name, your child’s name, grade in the new school year, likely school program, and your child’s Mandarin experience in the email.
- Current PlayThrive families please email admin for sibling registration.
- Online application is opening soon
- Non-refundable application fee: $75
- Non-refundable application fee: $75
Enrollment Priority
Priority is given to students who are
- Siblings from PlayThrive students (current and alumni)
- Children of PlayThrive or Orion staff members
- PlayThrive Board members’ children (prioritized based on board tenure and must have been part of PlayThrive minimum of 6 months)
- Students from Orion MI Program
- Students from Orion Co-op Program
- Students from non-RCSD schools
- *There will not be TK class if we don’t have enough classrooms.
| Application Schedule | |
| Current Student Registration | 01/28-02/11/2026 |
| Virtual Tour | 12/10/2025 01/14/2026 02/04/2026 02/25/2026 03/18/2026 04/15/2026 05/13/2026 (at 11 am) |
| New student open application period (1st round) | 03/04-03/11/2026 |
| New student acceptance notification (1st round) | 03/18-03/25/2026 |
| New student confirmation (1st round) | By 04/01/2026 |
| New student open application period (2nd round) | 04/15-04/22/2026 |
| New student acceptance notification (2nd round) | 04/23-04/30/2026 |
| New student confirmation (2nd round) | By 05/07/2026 |
| New student open application period (3rd round) | 05/13-05/20/2026 |
| New student acceptance notification (3rd round) | 05/21-05/29/2026 |
| New student confirmation | By 06/05/2026 |
“As a full-time professional and single mom, it is of utmost importance that my child is being cared for without my presence, with an organization I trust, and with teachers I trust. PlayThrive has provided me with exactly that. Extending the Mandarin language, and being conveniently located on the same campus as the Mandarin Immersion program, I have received great peace of mind, as my child now is a 2nd grader, and is enrolled at PlayThrive for the 3rd year. The teachers from each year’s experience, have all shown exceptional care, and passion in what they do, as evidenced by the time, effort, heart, and creativity they put into the cultural events, project-based learning activities, routinely newsletters, and individual attention and care to the children.”
– Melody, 2nd grade parent