Frequently Asked Questions


The number of Montessori schools is growing and key Montessori ideas are being integrated into many public schools and universities. Along with growing interest and acceptance, there are also questions and misconceptions. Here are some of the questions we hear most often.

What is the difference between a Montessori and conventional education? 

Montessori Approach to Curriculum... Conventional Approach to Curriculum...
Focus on holistic human development Focus on process
Child has input in lessons Teacher plans lessons without child input
Uninterrupted work periods Highly timetabled
Curriculum is an aid to education Curriculum is central to education
Rate of progress is determined by the child (ie. Curriculum is developmental) Rate of progress is determined by curriculum (ie. Standardized testing)
Focus on outcomes Focus on process
Curriculum follows child Child follows curriculum
Implementation is integrated (clearly connects subjects) Implementation is often segregated (presented as separate subjects)
Formative assessment Summative assessment
Strong accountability for child Weak accountability for child
Content is tied to characteristics of child Content is arbitrary/political
Curriculum is stable Curriculum changes regularly

  • Why does Montessori have multi-age classrooms?

    Multi-age classrooms afford us the luxury of adapting the curriculum to the individual child. Each child can work at his or her own pace while remaining in the community with his or her peers. In addition, the multi-age format allows all older children to be the leaders of the classroom community even those children who may be shy or quiet.

  • Is Montessori good for children with learning disabilities? What about gifted children?

    Montessori is designed to help all children reach their fullest potential at their own unique pace. A classroom whose children have varying abilities is a community in which everyone learns from one another and everyone contributes. Moreover, multi-age grouping allows each child to find his or her own pace without feeling “ahead” or “behind” in relation to peers.

  • Are Montessori schools religious?

    No. Montessori educates children without reference to a religious denomination. As a result, our classrooms are extremely diverse, with representation from all peoples, cultures, and religions.

  • Is Montessori a franchise? Who can open a Montessori school?

    Montessori is not a franchise. The term Montessori is not trademarked and anyone, regardless of training, experience or affiliation can open a “Montessori” school. It is essential that parents researching Montessori act as good consumers to ensure the authenticity of their chosen program.

  • Who accredits Montessori schools?

    Dr. Maria Montessori wanted to be sure that guides were trained correctly, methods were applied as she intended, and a complete set of authentic materials graced the shelves of classrooms. Today, there are two major organizations that carry on her work and are generally regarded as the standard for Montessori education. They are AMI (Association Montessori Internationale), which was created by Dr. Montessori herself, and AMS (American Montessori Society), which branched off from AMI in 1960. The two organizations maintain a positive working relationship and mutual respect for the work they both do. If you are looking for a high-fidelity Montessori program, it’s important to find a school that is connected to either AMI or AMS. There are different levels of connection, depending on how closely a school aligns their work with what is considered ideal.

  • Isn’t Montessori just a preschool?

    Montessori schools may be best known for their programs with young children, but the underlying educational method describes programs for students up through high school.

  • If children are free to choose their own work, how do you ensure that they receive a well-rounded education?

    Montessori children are free to choose within limits, and have only as much freedom as they can handle with appropriate responsibility. The classroom teacher and assistant ensure that children do not interfere with each other, and that each child is progressing at her appropriate pace in all subjects.

  • Montessori classrooms don’t look like regular classrooms. Where are the rows of desks? Where does the teacher stand?

    The different arrangement of a Montessori classroom mirrors the Montessori method's differences from traditional education. Rather than putting the teacher at the focal point of the class, with children dependent on her for information and activity, the classroom shows a literally child-centered approach. Children work at tables or on floor mats where they can spread out their materials, and the teacher circulates about the room, giving lessons or resolving issues as they arise.

  • Are Montessori schools as academically rigorous as traditional schools?

    Yes. Montessori classrooms encourage deep learning of the concepts behind academic skills rather than rote practice of abstract techniques. The success of our students appears in the experiences of our alumni, who compete successfully with traditionally educated students in a variety of high schools and universities.

  • Since Montessori classrooms emphasize non-competitiveness, how are students adequately prepared for real-life competition later on?

    Montessori classrooms emphasize competition with oneself: self-monitoring, self-correction, and a variety of other executive skills aimed at continuous improvement. Students typically become comfortable with their strengths and learn how to address their weaknesses. In older classes, students commonly participate in competitive activities with clear “winners” (auditions for limited opera roles, for example) in which students give their best performances while simultaneously encouraging peers to do the same. It is a healthy competition in which all contenders are content that they did their best in an environment with clear and consistent rules.