California is home to some of the best Montessori schools in the country. Montessori education is known for fostering independence, encouraging self-directed learning, and promoting holistic development. It is an excellent choice for parents who wish to give their children a hands-on, individualized learning experience. However, one common concern for many parents is the cost. While some Montessori schools can be expensive, several affordable options in California still maintain high educational standards. Below is a list of the top 30 best affordable Montessori schools in California.
1. Montessori Shir-Hashirim
Shir-Hashirim Montessori School serves children aged 2 to 6, preparing them for the top Montessori elementary schools in the area. The school offers a primary program and a summer program for preschoolers. Students at Shir-Hashirim Montessori are encouraged to grow independently and as part of the school community, progressing at their own pace in practical life skills, math, and language. Additionally, the school requires families interested in enrollment to participate in a parent-and-me program.
2. Baxter Montessori
Baxter Montessori School, a private institution in Los Angeles, CA, has been delivering quality education since 1970. It serves students from kindergarten to 3rd grade, offering affordable tuition and employing skilled teachers who follow the Montessori method. Known for its effective teaching, the school has built a strong reputation over its 50+ years of service.
3. New World Montessori School
The school fosters an inclusive environment where children of various abilities, races, cultural backgrounds, and ages collaborate, play, share, and learn from each other. Additionally, it offers Spanish and Mandarin classes, emphasizing its commitment to cultural diversity. The school takes pride in creating a space where children from diverse backgrounds can learn and grow together.
4. Beverlywood Montessori Preschool
Beverlywood Montessori Preschool provides a safe, welcoming environment for children starting at age 2. For those not fully potty-trained, the school offers a dedicated potty training program. In addition to its core Montessori curriculum, the preschool incorporates a Spanish immersion program, ensuring a well-rounded educational experience for young learners.
5. Stoney Point Montessori Preschool
Stoney Point located offers early childhood education following the Montessori method. The school caters to both infants and preschool-aged children and is affiliated with several prominent educational organizations, including the American Montessori Society. The curriculum focuses on a well-rounded approach that emphasizes cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development.
6. LOK Preschool & Child Care Center
At LOK, they emphasize structured, curriculum-based learning to ensure your child is well-prepared for kindergarten, rather than simply offering daycare. With over 25 years of experience, they have an approach that fosters both academic and personal growth. The brand-new facility features a modern play structure and incorporates outdoor learning, providing an enriching environment for children to explore and develop.
7. Southern California Montessori School
The Montessori pre-primary program serves children aged two and a half to six years. They provide year-round sessions to accommodate different family schedules. At Southern California Montessori School, teachers prioritize helping children learn, explore, and play. Like other Montessori schools, they encourage children to take charge of their learning and discover at their own pace.
8. Angels Montessori Preschool
Angels Montessori Preschool and Kindergarten offers a Montessori program for children aged 2 to 6 years. The preschool provides a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment where children can thrive. With a focus on supporting each child’s social, emotional, cognitive, and physical growth, the experienced staff are dedicated to helping them learn and develop.
9. Goldenwest Montessori Schools
This approach allows children to learn at their own pace, promoting independence and creativity in a nurturing environment. The school caters to early childhood education, primarily serving children in a day care setup, with operations running Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. The school is a small facility with a license to accommodate up to 45 children, providing a close-knit environment for personalized attention.
10. Bright Montessori School
Bright Montessori School provides various choices for half-day and full-day programs. The school focuses on nurturing knowledge and creativity, equipping children for our culturally diverse world. Each day, the dedicated teachers follow a structured schedule that incorporates both indoor and outdoor play, as well as interactive learning with Montessori materials.
11. American Montessori Preschool
American Montessori Preschool provides care for infants from 6 weeks to 24 months and preschool programs for children aged 2 to 5. They take pride in creating a nurturing environment that benefits every child. Regardless of their abilities or needs, the staff gives personalized attention to each child, encouraging them to concentrate and explore activities independently.
12. Crenshaw Montessori Academy
Crenshaw Montessori Academy welcomes students starting at age 2 and provides education up to first grade. With several years of experience, the certified teachers at Crenshaw Montessori focus on each child’s individual needs. They employ the Montessori method and an exceptional curriculum to deliver advanced academic instruction.
13. Global Montessori School of Westwood
They emphasize developing cognitive, physical, and social skills through classes that cover subjects like language, reading, and mathematics. The Global Montessori School delivers an authentic Montessori experience, offering a structured yet natural learning environment.
14. Kids Collective
Kids Collective is an environmentally-focused preschool that integrates both Montessori and Reggio Emilia philosophies into its educational approach. The Montessori curriculum features five key activity areas: practical life, sensory exploration, language arts, mathematics, and cultural studies. Additionally, the Reggio Emilia approach emphasizes child-led learning and recognizes the environment as a crucial “third teacher.”
15. La Casita Bilingue Montessori
La Casita Bilingue Montessori creates a unique bilingual learning environment rooted in the Montessori philosophy. The teachers, who are all fully bilingual, carefully design and prepare each learning activity, ensuring an exceptional experience for every child.
16. Media Center Montessori Preschool
Media Center Montessori Preschool is a private school committed to nurturing children and creating a learning environment that supports their development using the Montessori approach. With a focus on fostering independence, creativity, and critical thinking, the school implements hands-on learning methods backed by over a century of proven success in early childhood education.
17. Montessori Academy
Montessori Academy implements a dynamic academic curriculum that nurtures children’s social, emotional, and physical development. They provide a range of offerings, including programs for children aged 2 to 6, both full-time and part-time enrollment options, a low child-to-teacher ratio, provided snacks, and potty training assistance.
18. Diamond Bar Montessori
The school combines Montessori education with the Common Core State Standards and a STEAM program, creating an environment where children can explore, learn at their own pace, and develop independence. The curriculum features daily, weekly, and monthly lesson plans, enriching each child’s learning in core areas such as language, phonics, math, and cultural arts, while the STEAM program ensures continuous progress.
19. New Horizon Montessori
The Montessori learning environment fosters curiosity, independence, and enthusiasm by offering students the freedom to explore based on their individual needs. It encourages active learning through hands-on experiences that engage both the mind and body.
20. St. Paul Lutheran Child Development Center
St. Paul Lutheran Child Development Center, located in Mountain View, California, provides early childhood education for children aged two to six. The center offers a nurturing environment that fosters cognitive, social, and emotional development, emphasizing a well-rounded curriculum to prepare children for school.
21. Sunrise Montessori School
Sunrise Montessori School provides a three-year program starting for children as young as two, focusing on kindergarten readiness. Certified Montessori instructors ensure personalized learning with small class sizes. The school operates in two valley locations, offering extended care hours for added convenience.
22. Academy of Thought and Industry
Academy of Thought and Industry is a modern school network for middle and high school students, inspired by Montessori principles. It emphasizes fostering independence, curiosity, and self-motivation in adolescents through a personalized and engaging educational approach. This network blends academic rigor with real-world skills, encouraging students to take ownership of their learning.
23. Montessori Harbor Mesa School
By age three, children will start learning math and language using textured sandpaper numerals and letters. They’ll grasp alphabet sounds phonetically and begin reading and forming short words. They’ll also explore continents, animal anatomy, and other fascinating scientific topics, fostering early curiosity and cognitive development.
24. Trust Montessori School
Trust Montessori provides preschool, kindergarten, Grade 1, after-school, and summer programs. It fosters academic, physical, social, and life skills in a respectful and nurturing environment. The curriculum is designed to promote independence, critical thinking, and a love for learning, aligning with proven Montessori methods recognized globally for holistic child development.
25. Crenshaw Montessori Academy
Crenshaw emphasizes that early childhood is crucial for developing essential concepts, values, attitudes, and foundational skills across various learning areas. Its specialized, self-paced curriculum empowers children to progress at their own pace, fostering confidence and personalized growth. Research shows that this individualized approach enhances cognitive development, setting a strong foundation for future learning.
26. Open Mind School
OpenMind is an affordable Montessori school committed to shaping students into global leaders and innovators. It fosters a nurturing environment where children develop the skills to drive positive change in the world, emphasizing hands-on learning and critical thinking.
27. Montessori Of Stevenson Ranch
Montessori at Stevenson Ranch offers a nurturing environment for infants, toddlers, preschool, and kindergarten children. The school emphasizes safety, cleanliness, and exploration, fostering self-discovery in its students. Teachers celebrate diversity and promote acceptance, helping each child build confidence and express their individuality. Classrooms are equipped with age-appropriate Montessori materials, encouraging curiosity, structured learning, and a sense of accomplishment through task completion.
28. Emerson Montessori School
Emerson Montessori preschools serve children aged 6 months to 6 years, offering a foundational education rooted in the Montessori philosophy. They emphasize individualized learning through engaging activities that develop cognitive, social, and emotional skills. Parents can feel assured knowing their children receive high-quality care from trained educators who support their growth and development.
29. Futureland Montessori
Futureland Montessori, located in Buena Park, CA, caters to children in grades 1-3. This private school emphasizes the Montessori approach, promoting independence and creativity through a unique curriculum designed for holistic development. Currently, the school maintains a low student-to-teacher ratio of 5:1, ensuring personalized attention for its small enrollment of around five students.
30. Northwood Montessori School
Northwood Montessori School offers enrollment for children aged 1 year to those entering first grade. This educational institution emphasizes a child-centered learning approach, fostering independence and curiosity through hands-on activities and collaborative play.
California offers a wide variety of affordable Montessori schools that provide quality education and adhere to the Montessori philosophy. From public charter schools to private institutions with sliding-scale tuition fees, parents can find an option that suits their child’s educational needs and their budget. The schools listed above represent a diverse array of teaching approaches, settings, and special programs, ensuring that every family can find a Montessori education that fits their lifestyle and values.