Montessori

In Des Moines, the one I called was around $5000 a year. But there was absolutely nothing on their website to indicate what the price is. I would recommend calling them, and then visiting, we were extremely impressed with the one we saw.

I actually prefer Waldorf, but it wasn't available here in Rapid City, SD where I just moved to. The Montessori School here is called Childrens House (you can see everything about it at chkids.net ) and it is wonderful. Terribly expensive though- I have a 3rd grade girl and a kindergarten boy. I am sending him to all day kindergarten because my daughter goes all day and we live 22 minutes from the school, so I can't be driving hours a day. So all told, I am paying $10,000 a year for them combined. The kindergartener is more expensive. $5,500 a year for all day kindergarten and the 3rd grade tuition is $4500 per year. The only reason I am doing it is that we just relocated from a small town where they went to a small (affordable) Waldorf school - and I have child support that covers most of it. Good luck!!!

Here in Milwaukee Montessori school is free. It is part of MPS. My daughter has been going since K4. It is quite different than normal school.

I haven't been on in a while, so you may not be reading responses anymore, but I thought I'd add my two cents based on your responses.

First, you should know that I taught at Oak Hill Montessori in Shoreview for 6 years. My daughter still attends Oak Hill, though I am now at the University of MN. She started in the Toddler program, and is now in the Elementary program. I wouldn't move her for the world and I truly believe that there is no other school like Oak Hill. I plan to have her stay at Oak Hill through eighth grade, the highest grade that they have. Having been both a parent and a teacher at the school, I can assure you that it is a caring, positive place for children where they learn independence and academic skills.

Secondly, you should know that there are two accreditation programs for “Montessori” schools, and that there is no trademark on the name “Montessori” so that anyone can put the name on any program. This means that you must do your homework. The two accreditation programs are AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) and AMS (American Montessori Society). The two programs are different, and you need to decide which side of the fence you want to be on. AMI schools must adhere to very strict international guidelines and must stay true to the original methods of Maria Montessori. There are only a few AMI schools in the Twin Cities, of which Oak Hill is one. You can find a complete listing on the AMI website by clicking AMI/USA, and choosing “schools.” AMS schools have taken the approach that they should adapt Maria Montessori’s methods to fit changing technology. There are some wonderful AMS schools, but there are also some not-so-good AMS schools – at least in my opinion. Each one is slightly different. If you choose an AMI school, they will be pretty similar to one another. In my opinion, there is no such thing as a Montessori “daycare” as the idea of Montessori is essentially an academic one.

You will find very different tuition schedules at different schools. Many of them also have a tuition assistance program which supports families in sending their children to a private school. As is the case with most private schools, the tuition is almost never what it actually costs to send your child to a private school – the difference is made up with fund-raisers and gifts.

It’s unfortunate that people like Moriah have bad experiences in their quest. At Oak Hill, parents must observe in the classroom and go through an orientation by the Head of School as part of the application process. A Montessori classroom that is adequately staffed and supplied and staffed by professionals will not have children rolling on the floor. While it is true that Montessori schools foster independence, this is not to say that there is a free-for-all. Visitors very often comment on how diligently children are working and how deeply engaged children are with their work.

At Oak Hill, there are also families who commute from all over the Twin Cities, Hudson, and River Falls to attend the school, and families often carpool. I encourage you to check out the website and call with any questions. The application process for next year is starting now. Their website is www.oakhillmontessori.org, and the phone number is ###-###-####. Feel free to contact me if you have other questions – I’d be more than happy to share my experiences.

Good luck with your search.

Check out Oak Hill Montessori in Shoreview. They have a website and I think they post their tuition and fees online.

Hi B.!

You're a great mom to do your homework and see what will work out best for your daughter!!!

I went to OAK HILL MONTESSORI in Shoreview for five years(waaay back when). I believe they accept children starting at 6 weeks old. Last time I checked tuition and schedule was online (tuition is more expensive than our is).

We now send our children to MN RENAISSANCE ACADEMY in Anoka. Great!!! Love it. Our kids love it- one in Preschool and on in Kindergarten, but both in same classroom. Tuition is around $5600 for the school year. Optional care available from 6 am to 6 or 6:30 pm, and is also available through the summer and on school holidays- basically it's always open for care except the actual major holidays. Information available online too!

My brother and sister in law send their boys to STEP BY STEP in Plymouth/ Wayzata and LOVE it. They have been in the program since birth (now 4 and 2 years). No complaints from them at all.

Have another friend whose son is in Children's House (Roseville I think?) and love it as well. They just chose a half day program for him. I know their tuition is slightly higher than our is... I think they're online as well.

It's a personal decision.

When I went back to work this year, I figured I could spend the same amount on daycare or I could send them somewhere educational and nurturing. We all love it. It's a good thing for us. It's a different way of learning and education. It may seem a bit quirky at first, but is good. Fosters independence, kindness, compassion, thinking, concentration, and so much more.

There's an open house at our school tomorrow night from 5:30- 7:30 pm for anyone interested in it.

Hope this helps. Please feel free to email me if you have questions. I check this email a couple of times per week.

Blessings,
G. Hubble

The price isn't going to be based on the fact that it's Montessori, the price will be based on what kind of school it is.

There are in-home daycares that use Montessori principles, there are daycare centers that are Montessori, there are nursery schools that are Montessori, there are public schools that are Montessori, and there are private schools that are Montessori.

The most well-known is Lake Country, which is a private school and quite pricey.

Good luck!

I am highly recommending you check out Paidea Child Development Center! http://www.paideachild.com/ They are down the street from 3M right behind Walgreens at 10th/Century. Our (now 8 year old) daughter went to Paidea starting at age 3 for preschool through Kindergarten. I really can't say enough about the director, Lynn Jessen! I credit her approach to my husband and I learning tips and techniques that made us better parents! It's a wonderful center that I recommend anyone to!

My 4 yr. old attends Montessori school in Anoka. They can enroll at age 2 1/2. For pre-k for the entire year full-time, which is Mon-Fri 8am-2:45pm, was $5620.00. There is also a deposit and other fees, about $300 to start. It is worth it to me I work nights and needed full time child care anyway. I can't begin to tell you how wonderful it is! She comes home wanting to clean up after herself and can do so many things that I wouldn't have imagined her doing for another couple years. I LOVE the school and the Montessori method of learning.

I would check into Nokomis Montessori. It is a magnet school near you. It was our second choice for out daughter (our first choice was Battle Creek Environmental Magnet and we LOVE it). We visited it and were very happy with it. I do have a daycare child that goes there and has been very happy and I know that her Grandma is a Montessori teacher and was also very pleased with Nokomis Montessori. You have to get in early usually, so I don't know if that will work for you. If you can get your child in for pre-k then there is a 99% chance they can get in for K and Up.

We are lucky to have a Montessori daycare and school in St. Paul right off 35E & Randolph. It is not accredited due to the day care portion of it, but we have been very happy with the switch for our boys.
Usually, Montessori schools only accept children who are 3 and up (and potty trained) and that is typically in a preschool into grade school setting). This is a nice way to have siblings together and learning the Montessori method from a young age.
Most Montessori schools do cost more because the teachers need extra certification and they are paid more. We pay a little bit more than we did when the children were at New Horizon, but we feel it has been worth it.
As all of the moms have said her, the method can be reinforced at home and is such an ideal method for all aspects of life.
In St. Paul, I believe the Montessori schools are public schools and therefore free so that is something to look forward to when you daughter is of school age. Good luck!

Each school will be different depending on what you want. Some have part time some have extended hours. The price will be different for different ages too. I would go to each on and ask for a tour and information. Check it out. I loved it for my son who when to preschool there. Each one will be a little different. Go and see. They will be more then happy to assist you, and If they are not. Do you really want to go to that one?

Hi,

We recently switched our son to Montessori Stepping Stones Toddler Program from his daycare. We switched him because it was much closer to our work than his prior daycare. We put him back in his old daycare after five days at Montessori. There were several issues we had with the school, for example, the way the teachers spoke to the children was not at all my idea of how children should be communicated with. In addition, there appeared to be little or no structured activities throughout the day, which the program considered part of its "teaching independence" philosophy, but really was 36 two to four year olds rolling around on the floor doing whatever they wanted. There are other things also, but I won't go on and on. The Montessori School he attended was private--tuition was ~$12,000 per year. We had already paid $2500 prior to our son's start date based on the tuition payment schedule of the school. Although our son was only there for five days, we did not get any of our money refunded. I thought I was just paranoid mom until several of our colleagues withdrew their children also. Anyhow, I would definitely NOT recommend a Montessori School, or if you do choose a Montessori School, to be very cautious about signing any contract, and to make sure you spend at least one day observing in the classroom.

I hope this is helpful.
M.

Becareful anyone can call themselves a Montessorri yet not even be accredited with that type of school and just be a regular ole daycare/preschool.

My daughter went to a Montessori that was equal in price to daycare centers and my neighbor is a teacher at a different Montessori that is also equal in prices of a daycare center.

A second to Bath - check that the Montessori is registered with the American Montessori Association, if you want your child to attend a real Montessori. My daughter attends a Montessori in Burnsville and we pay almost $1000 per month. That is for the hours 8:45am through 3:00pm. Her school does have extended daycare from 7:00am through 5:30pm, but that will cost you more. Here is the website, although I am sure it is too far for you. www.cyprusschool.com/