On this page, we cover private schools in the Edmonton area that offer Montessori programs and support. This includes accredited Montessori schools in downtown Edmonton, Sherwood Park, St. Albert, Beaumont, Ridgewood, Strathcona, Westmount, Garneau, Glenora, Allendale, Cloverdale, and Dovercourt.
For a more complete guide to Montessori education, including a discussion of the Montessori philosophy and curriculum, start with our introductory guide.
There are lots of private Montessori schools in Edmonton. These schools vary in terms of their classroom practices, curricular approaches, program offerings, and special needs support. The schools listed below reflect this diversity. They can be filtered for a wide range of features.
For general advice on how to choose and evaluate private schools, check out our choosing a school guide and read advice from top education experts. For advice on choosing Montessori schools, see our main Montessori school guide and our Montessori choosing guide. To learn more about choosing the right preschool, check out our dedicated guide.
Private school expos are a great starting point for finding a school, at any level. We have annual private school expos in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, Calgary, and Halton-peel. These expos allow you to speak with lots of private schools in Canada, many of which are Montessori schools, all in one place. Find a Montessori school near you.
Another great resource in your school search is the Our Kids parent discussion forum. The forum is an ideal place to discuss options and debate topics related to Montessori schools and preschools. Our community of parents, educational experts, school officials, and alumni can help answer your questions and stimulate your thinking.
Attending open houses is a great way to learn more about private schools. For general advice on open house visits, check out our guide on school visits.
The cost of Montessori schools in Edmonton tends to be lower than the cost of other private schools in Edmonton. In fact, Montessori schools are usually on the lower side of private school tuition in general.
Private school tuition can range from $5,000 to over $30,000 per year for day students. There are no public Montessori schools in Edmonton, though some public schools use certain Montessori principles and materials.
Many schools offer needs-based financial aid, such as bursaries or tuition relief. Other schools, though not as many, offer scholarships, which are given based on merit—for instance, in academics or athletics. You can learn more about need- and merit-based financial aid in our dedicated guide. You can also check out our guide to preschool costs.
Below, you’ll find the range of costs for Montessori private schools and preschools in Edmonton:
| Tuition (day school) | Students receiving financial aid | Grade eligibility for financial aid | Avg. aid package size (annual) |
|---|
Primary curriculum | Secondary curriculum | Curriculum pace | Academic culture | Average class size | Language immersion | Special needs support | Tech integration |
|---|
Legend:
Montessori schools, in Edmonton and other cities, often have large mixed-age classes with high teacher-to-student ratios. They also tend to have lots of interaction, student-to-student teaching, and group and independent work.
Below, the Montessori philosophy and teaching approach is discussed in more detail. For more comprehensive coverage, see our main Montessori school guide.
The Montessori philosophy of education is unique. Some of the main principles of this philosophy are the following:
Student-centred: There's no set curriculum. Students are free to move around the class, choose their own work, and determine the pace of their studies. This can make for a dynamic learning environment.
Uninterrupted work time: Montessori schools give children lots of uninterrupted work time, especially at the elementary level. In many schools, they’re given at least one 3-hour, uninterrupted work period to focus on their chosen work, free of interruptions. Uninterrupted work periods are believed to improve children’s concentration, self-discipline, and work habits.
Concrete learning: Similar to Waldorf and Reggio Emilia, learning tends to be concrete and hands-on. At the primary and elementary level (and sometimes at the secondary level), kids work with lots of different concrete materials, including “manipulatives”—or self-correcting puzzles.
Montessori children also work with blocks, rods, spindle boxes, and many other materials. Concrete learning engages many of the senses. And, research has shown that it can speed up learning, especially for younger children and children with special needs.
No external rewards: In primary and elementary school, kids aren’t given tests or assignments, or graded on any of their work. Kids also aren’t praised very much, and when they are praised, it’s for effort—not outcome. Progress is assessed informally, through observation and developmental rubrics, rather than formally, through grades or report cards.
Montessori teachers rarely provide direct instruction. They almost never stand at the front of the class and lecture to all the students. And when they do lecture, the lectures are usually short, interactive, and engaging.
More often, though, teachers move around the class, and give lessons to or guide students. They usually work with students one-on-one or in small groups. They often encourage students to repeat and practice activities, and they plan projects to meet each student’s learning needs. Their primary role is to connect students with their work, rather than to impart knowledge to them. Teachers are thus viewed more as “guides” or “mentors” than “teachers” in the traditional sense.
Montessori schools, in Edmonton and other cities, have mixed-age classes, with kids aged 0-3 (toddler), 3-6 (primary), 6-9 (lower-elementary), 9-12 (upper elementary), and so on. The mixed-age classroom informs the teaching approach and learning environment.
Most Montessori classes have lots of group work. Kids work together in small groups on projects and tasks, with some guidance from the teacher. Kids help each other, and older kids often mentor their younger classmates, by helping with them with their work and modelling appropriate behaviour. This can reinforce knowledge and skills learned in the classroom, for both older and younger kids.
There are some great Montessori schooling options in Edmonton, Alberta. Edmonton Montessori schools tend to follow traditional Montessori principles, such as self-directed studies, individualized learning, concrete learning, and uninterrupted work time. They also focus on educating the whole child and trying to cultivate important values and character traits. That said, in Edmonton, as elsewhere, there’s some variation in how Montessori principles are implemented.
Edmonton is the capital of Alberta—one of the largest provinces in Canada. It’s a world-class city with a burgeoning economy and plenty of cultural attractions. As far as education is concerned, it has many appealing public and private school options.
It’s home to the main campus of the University of Alberta, a first-rate institution. It also has a number of other renowned post-secondary institutions. These include the Concordia University College of Alberta, MacEwan University, King’s University College, NorQuest College, and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. The publicly funded Athabasca University and the University of Lethbridge also have campuses in Edmonton.
